Strong 'action' verbs

A straightforward, but effective, technique that can lift your CV and help you to describe your role or contribution to a task in an authentic way is to employ strong 'action' verbs.

Using action verbs at the beginning of a bullet point or early in a sentence can help convey both the content and the quality of your contribution.

Some useful English examples include:

Achievement

Accomplished
Achieved
Acquired
Advanced
Attained
Boosted
Capitalized
Closed
Completed
Conserved
Delivered
Discovered
Doubled
Enhanced
Exceeded
Expedited
Finished
Furthered
Gained
Generated
Implemented
Improved
Led
Lifted
Maximized
Negotiated
Produced
Reached
Reduced
Secured
Sharpened
Showcased
Sourced
Steered
Stimulated
Succeeded
Surpassed
Sustained
Targeted
Upsold
Won

Communication

Advised
Advocated
Authored
Briefed
Campaigned
Chaired
Coached
Coauthored
Composed
Consulted
Conveyed
Convinced
Corresponded
Counseled
Critiqued
Defined
Demonstrated
Documented
Drafted
Edited
Educated
Fielded
Illustrated
Informed
Instructed
Lobbied
Outlined
Persuaded
Presented
Promoted
Publicized
Recommended
Resolved
Reviewed
Wrote

Taking initiative

Built
Created
Designed
Developed
Devised
Engineered
Established
Founded
Formalized
Formulated
Implemented
Incorporated
Initiated
Launched
Negotiated
Pitched
Produced
Proposed
Set up
Started

Research

Analyzed
Assembled
Assessed
Audited
Calculated
Compiled
Determined
Discovered
Evaluated
Examined
Explored
Forecasted
Identified
Interpreted
Interviewed
Investigated
Mapped
Measured
Modeled
Projected
Qualified
Quantified
Reported
Searched
Surveyed
Tested
Tracked
Visualized

Organization

Administered
Arranged
Authorized
Budgeted
Coordinated
Directed
Managed
Monitored
Navigated
Operated
Orchestrated
Oversaw
Partnered
Planned
Produced
Programmed
(Re)organized
Restructured
Scheduled
Verified

Change or improvement

Centralized
Clarified
Converted
Digitized
Enforced
Ensured
Inspected
Integrated
Merged
Modernized
Modified
Overhauled
Redesigned
Refined
Refocused
Rehabilitated
Remodeled
Reorganized
Replaced
Restructured
Revamped
Revitalized
Simplified
Standardized
Streamlined
Strengthened
Transformed
Updated

Team management

Aligned
Cultivated
Directed
Enabled
Facilitated
Fostered
Guided
Hired
Mentored
Mobilized
Motivated
Recruited
Shaped
Supervised
Taught
Trained
Unified
United