Action verbs for CVs: Power words that make you stand out

Did you know that recruiters and hiring managers only spend an average of 6-7 seconds reading a CV if it fails to capture their attention? It might be even less if you use boring language and don’t empoy CV action verbs to keep them interested.

CV action verbs are a powerful way to make you stand out above the hundreds of generic applications that end up on the rejection pile.

Instead of passive language that turns potential employers off or even bores them to tears, strong action verbs for CVs help to keep the reader engaged and leave a lasting impression.

You only have a small space with which to impress on a CV, so it’s important to make every single word count.

Sharpening up the language with strong CV action verbs help to propel sentences forward and encourage further reading. But they also help you to more clearly communicate your motivation and experience

That’s why we’ve compiled over 250 action verbs for CVs (UK job applications specifically) that, when combined with one of our expertly crafted CV templates, can help you capture the attention of recruiters and land you your dream job.

How should you use action verbs on a UK CV?

One thing many of us are guilty of is using a weak passive voice instead of strong active language on a CV. We often do this without even realizing it. But this is a definitive turn off for recruiters.

You might not think it makes much of a difference, but deliberate word choice is key to persuade potential employers to give you a chance.

Crafting more detailed, specific, and compelling descriptions of your skills and experience communicates that you know your value and what you can bring to the table.

Eliminating all passive language is the first step to take to improve your CV. Scan through your descriptions and identify any instances where 2 words can be replaced with one stronger verb.

For example, replace passive phrases such as ‘have accomplished’ or ‘were developed’ with active voice verbs.

There’s no need to use the passive voice. Starting the sentence with ‘accomplished’ and ‘developed’ is much more to-the-point and snappy. It also improves readability.

The next step is to weed out weak verbs in all of the descriptions of your skills, jobs, and accomplishments. Replace them with power words that better reflect your abilities.

Aim to combine powerful verbs with quantifiable results to demonstrate both the action you took and the positive effect it had.

Where to use action verbs on your CV

It’s important to use strong action verbs throughout your CV. But pay particular attention to including power words in bullet point lists.

Starting a description of duties and responsibilities in each of your previous positions with an action verb immediately gives a strong impression of your abilities.

Likewise, aim to start bullet points in lists of your skills and qualifications with action verbs, if they fit. There may also be no real need for any verb in the context. For example, using ‘studied’ when you can simply state a completed course name.

One you have replaced weak language on your CV, you should also go over your cover letter to ensure that you’ve included strong action verbs that will help to catch the eye of hiring managers.

The best CV action verbs to use as a replacement for generic words

Most CVs are positively littered with the same tired old phrases, such as ‘duties included’, ‘worked on’, and ‘responsible for’ and overused words like ‘assisted’ or ‘oversaw’.

Luckily it’s pretty easy to identify faulty word choices that lack strength and clarity and replace them with more empowered and detailed options.

Some of the most generic verbiage commonly found and their much better replacements include:

• Talked to → Instructed
• Increased → Maximized
• Responsible for → Accomplished
• Came up with→ Conceptualized
• Spoke → Collaborated
• Met → Exceeded
• Supervised → Directed
• Worked on → Upgraded
• Resulting in → Delivered
• Saved → Reduced
• Changed → Overhauled
• Managed → Motivated
• Carried out → Improved
• Held/started → Initiated
• Shared → Communicated

As you can likely see, many of the replacement words help to convey a much more confident tone than the initial choice.

You’ll also notice that swapping out one for the other will immediately steer the phrase towards starting with an action verb and change the voice from passive to active.

Below you can find many more examples of strong action words for CVs that showcase your strong work ethic, introduce your accomplishments, and demonstrate that you work well with others.

Action verbs for accomplishments

• Accomplished
• Accelerated
• Achieved
• Actualized
• Administered
• Advanced
• Amplified
• Analysed
• Arranged
• Assembled
• Boosted
• Built
• Capitalised
• Championed
• Completed
• Constructed
• Converted
• Created
• Deciphered
• Developed
• Discerned
• Dispatched
• Drove
• Enacted
• Endeavoured
• Enhanced
• Established
• Exceeded
• Executed
• Expanded
• Expedited
• Finalised
• Founded
• Fulfilled
• Generated
• Grew
• Guided
• Handled
• Headed
• Impacted
• Improved
• Increased
• Initiated
• Implemented
• Instituted
• Lifted
• Managed
• Mastered
• Maximised
• Operated
• Outpaced
• Organized
• Prepared
• Processed
• Produced
• Raised
• Realised
• Reached
• Saved
• Sharpened
• Simplified
• Sparked
• Spearheaded
• Steered
• Stimulated
• Supervised
• Surpassed
• Tabulated
• Volunteered

Note: Many of these action verbs can also be used to replace generic headings in your CV, such as “duties included” or ‘actions encompassed’.

Action verbs to demonstrate communication skills

• Addressed
• Arbitrated
• Campaigned
• Clarified
• Collaborated
• Conveyed
• Convinced
• Corresponded
• Critiqued
• Defined
• Documented
• Energized
• Enlisted
• Enlivened
• Instructed
• Interpreted
• Lectured
• Lobbied
• Liaised
• Mediated
• Moderated
• Performed
• Persuaded
• Promoted
• Presented
• Publicized
• Recruited
• Reported
• Represented
• Reviewed
• Suggested
• Spoke
• Synthesized
• Trained
• Verbalized

Action verbs to display teamwork

• Blended
• Co-authored
• Collaborated
• Cooperated
• Co-produced
• Forged
• Gathered
• Joined
• Married
• Merged
• Partnered
• Teamed up
• United
• Wove

Action verbs to showcase management and leadership skills

• Advised
• Advocated
• Augmented
• Attained
• Centralised
• Chaired
• Coached
• Consolidated
• Coordinated
• Counseled
• Cultivated
• Defended
• Delegated
• Differentiated
• Directed
• Educated
• Empowered
• Enabled
• Endorsed
• Enforced
• Ensured
• Evaluated
• Forecasted
• Fostered
• Groomed
• Guided
• Identified
• Inspired
• Instructed
• Integrated
• Leveraged
• Mentored
• Monitored
• Motivated
• Optimised
• Orchestrated
• Oversaw
• Predicted
• Prioritized
• Proved
• Recommended
• Reconciled
• Regulated
• Rehabilitated
• Renovated
• Reorganized
• Replaced
• Resolved
• Served
• Shaped
• Scheduled
• Supervised
• Supported
• Taught
• Trained

Industry-Specific CV Action Verbs

If you have a specialized job, then you’ll want to tailor your CV closely to your profession to ensure you come across as an expert.

It’s important not to get bogged down with long-winded jargon. But using industry specific action verbs when writing your CV show that you are a relevant asset to your field.

Browse the industry-specific action verbs for popular occupations below to find the power words that can help you in your individual career.

Action words for creative fields

• Acted
• Authored
• Brainstormed
• Briefed
• Composed
• Conceptualised
• Conceived
• Crafted
• Curated
• Derived
• Designed
• Drafted
• Edited
• Engineered
• Fashioned
• Illustrated
• Imagined
• Influenced
• Intensified
• Invented
• Modelled
• Originated
• Outlined
• Proofread
• Prototyped
• Published
• Redesigned
• Researched
• Strategised
• Storyboarded
• Transcribed
• Translated
• Visualised
• Wrote

Action verbs for sales-oriented or financial roles

• Audited
• Captured
• Classified
• Collected
• Compiled
• Conserved
• Converted
• Dispensed
• Equalised
• Earned
• Generated
• Halted
• Investigated
• Lowered
• Maintained
• Maximised
• Minimised
• Negotiated
• Purchased
• Recognised
• Secured
• Won

Action verbs for technical fields

• Advanced
• Appraised
• Architected
• Automated
• Coded
• Computed
• Deployed
• Detected
• Devised
• Diagnosed
• Discovered
• Formulated
• Installed
• Launched
• Networked
• Planned
• Programmed
• Rewrote
• Refined
• Retrieved
• Tested
• Troubleshot
• Upgraded
• Validate

Hopefully, these action verbs for UK CVs will get your creative juices flowing and allow you to craft the perfect calling card you need to get ahead. If you’re still literally lost for words, take a look at our CV examples for further inspiration.

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