Action verbs are essential for bolstering your resume because they increase its impact and results-orientedness.
Strong action verbs like “led,” “implemented,” or “designed,” as opposed to weak verbs like “helped” or “worked,” establish a confident tone that presents you as someone who takes charge and produces outcomes. They assist in transforming ambiguous activities into precise accomplishments by framing your efforts in a way that effectively conveys your value.
Saying you:
“worked on the website” is not nearly as appealing as saying you
“collaborated with designers and developers to revamp the company website, increasing user engagement by 25%.”
Recruiters can better grasp your influence and actions due to this differentiation – in the second example your action, influence and impact/ result is clear; all because of the appropriate use of action verbs to quantify what you did.
How to Use Action Verbs Effectively
1. Start Bullet Point with a Strong Verb
Steer clear of “I” or “My responsibilities included” at the beginning of sentences.
Rather, use a powerful word that encapsulates your contribution at the start of each bullet in your work experience section.
For instance:
“Initiated a cost-cutting plan that resulted in reduction of yearly expense by 30%.“
2. Tailor Verbs to the Role You’re Applying For
Carefully read the job description, and if you can, use the same terminology in your CV.
Use verbs like “led,” ,”supervised” or “coordinated” if the position places a strong emphasis on leadership.
Use verbs like “analysed,” “evaluated,” or “interpreted” if the topic is analytics. Read the JD well to identify the skillsets needed then match the action verbs you choose to speak to what the recruiter and hiring manager are looking for.
3. Combine Verbs with Quantifiable Results
Pair action verbs with impact. You can illustrate impact through numbers, percentages and other measurable outcomes.
For example:
“Spearheaded a three-month social media effort that increased brand engagement by 40%.“
Over 90 Powerful Action Verbs to Use (Use them as fit – they are Grouped)
Below are over 90 verbs you could consider incorporating in your resume to back different skillsets that could convince a recruiter/ hiring manager that you have what they are looking for. Its more impactful when these action verbs are used at the start of your bullet points as you pair them with results.
A. Management / Leadership
- Led
- Oversaw
- Managed
- Directed
- Coordinated
- Delegated
- Supervised
- Chaired
- Executed
- Facilitated
For example: “Led a team of over 30 experts to develop national policy on X in 3 months“
B. Result Oriented
- Exceeded
- Delivered
- Achieved
- Surpassed
- Outperformed
- Reached
- Completed
- Generated
- Increased
- Reduced
For example: “Delivered 2 grants for new program in 6 months at time when global funding for X was shrinking“
C. Creativity / Innovation
- Created
- Developed
- Designed
- Engineered
- Initiated
- Innovated
- Revamped
- Modernized
- Launched
- Built
For example: “Developed the inaugural strategy for X organization that ensured successful entry in Europe in 1 year“
D. Collaboration / Communication
- Communicated
- Presented
- Negotiated
- Collaborated
- Mediated
- Liaised
- Authored
- Advised
- Briefed
- Informed
For example: “Collaborated with global teams to plan for annual Summit that was attended by X, X, X stakeholder from the industry“
E. Problem Solving
- Investigated
- Analyzed
- Resolved
- Identified
- Streamlined
- Diagnosed
- Evaluated
- Assessed
- Optimized
- Troubleshot
For example: “Troubleshooted cause of the system failure and fixed it leading to organization averting imminent loss of $1 million from downtime“
F. Service Support / Oversight
- Assisted
- Supported
- Aided
- Advised
- Responded
- Helped
- Maintained
- Resolved
- Processed
- Monitored
For example: “Advised the Minister of Health on appropriate pandemic response which led to saving 2 million lives in 2021“
The above are some action verbs you could consider to utilize to have powerful achievements on CV (they are not conclusive you can use others too). Knowing these action verbs is one thing, using them appropriately is a different thing. Some people utilize them albeit wrongly in the CV which shouldn’t be the case…
Mistakes to Avoid when Writing Your CV / Using Action Verbs:
❌ Passive Language
Phrases that are not action-oriented include “tasked with” and “responsible for.” They diminish the impact of your contributions.
Rather than: In charge of overseeing events
Say: Planned and carried out more than ten business events, each with more 300+ attendees
❌ Generic phrases or Vague
“Worked on a big project” doesn’t convey much information. See… What did you do? Also, What was the outcome?
As an alternative, “I worked on redesigning the firm website, which improved mobile usability resulting in a 22% increase in average session time”. The alternative shows exact thing you did and also shows the impact of your actin i.e. success. Be specific in your CV.
❌ Excessive use of Same Verb
Repetition is good, but not so good in your CV. I have shared an ammunition of action verbs you could use, and I am sure you have hundreds more action verbs. Use different action verbs to illustrate impact and keep whoever skims through / reads your CV interested.
Final Thoughts
A strong CV relies heavily on action verbs. They turn boring summaries into gripping stories / bullet points that demonstrate to hiring managers your abilities and accomplishments.
Your CV will read better and you will have a better chance of getting an interview if you use strong, clear action verbs and match them with quantifiable results. A minor adjustment yields a significant benefit! Start small and see great progress you will make in your quest to landing your dream job.
Therefore, review your resume before submitting your next application. Bold, dynamic verbs should be used in place of passive phrases.
Make every statement matter, and allow your deeds to speak louder than your title. All the best Champion!
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