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500+ Action Verbs for a CV to Use in 2025

500+ Action Verbs for a CV to Use in 2025

• Update: 17/06/2025

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You've written a CV filled with extraordinary achievements, impressive skills, and a compelling introduction that demonstrates you're the ideal fit. The only problem is that your job application sounds repetitive.

There’s an easy way to fix it. In this guide, I’ll show you some remarkable action verbs for CVs to make your readers invite you for an interview immediately.

In this guide, you will find:

Definition of action verbs
500 examples of action words for a CV.
Where to include action words in your CV.
How to choose the right action verbs for a CV.

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What are action verbs?

Action verbs, also known as dynamic verbs, are words that describe activities, including both physical movement and mental processes. You can use action verbs for CV descriptions that highlight your past duties and accomplishments. Using a variety of action words not only shows your impact in the workplace but also creates a highly engaging CV.

500 Examples of action words for a CV

These lists of CV action verbs are more than quick fixes—they’re also springboards for coming up with your own action words to describe past responsibilities and key successes.

Action verbs to describe leadership & management

Leadership skills can be described by action verbs that demonstrate you're a person who takes initiative and drives results. These words convey authority, direction, and strategic decision-making. Use them to highlight roles where you guided teams or managed essential projects.

Directed
Supervised
Oversaw
Coordinated
Delegated
Orchestrated
Executed
Facilitated
Chaired
Spearheaded
Managed
Guided
Operated
Headed
Shaped
Streamlined
Unified
Appointed
Established
Governed
Mobilised
Prioritised
Reorganised
Resolved
Consolidated

Action words to highlight communication

Strong communication is key in any workplace. These action verbs help demonstrate your ability to share ideas, inform others, and express yourself clearly. Ideal for roles involving writing, speaking, or presenting.

Presented
Conveyed
Explained
Informed
Persuaded
Advocated
Corresponded
Wrote
Publicised
Briefed
Reported
Negotiated
Edited
Advised
Outlined
Clarified
Illustrated
Articulated
Consulted
Mediated
Promoted
Translated
Proposed
Expressed
Communicated

Action words for teamwork & collaboration

Practical teamwork skills are applicable across various industries. These verbs show how you contributed to group efforts, supported colleagues, and worked toward common goals. Use them to show you're a reliable and cooperative team member.

Collaborated
Partnered
Assisted
Supported
Participated
Contributed
Engaged
Coordinated
United
Networked
Teamed
Combined
Consulted
Joined
Volunteered
Helped
Backed
Synergised
Shared
Merged
Connected
Interacted
Co-created
Liaised
Integrated

Power words to highlight problem-solving

Every employer wants people who can solve problems efficiently. These action words demonstrate how you’ve tackled challenges, found solutions, and improved outcomes. They’re ideal for technical, operational, or strategic roles.

Solved
Resolved
Diagnosed
Investigated
Debugged
Analysed
Identified
Repaired
Improved
Simplified
Refined
Evaluated
Overcame
Streamlined
Adjusted
Innovated
Revamped
Mediated
Detected
Strategised
Rectified
Modified
Prevented
Corrected
Reengineered

Action words describing creativity & innovation

Creative roles demand more than routine thinking. These action verbs reflect your ability to invent, design, and bring new ideas to life. They’re perfect for marketing, design, or product-based jobs.

Designed
Created
Invented
Conceived
Developed
Brainstormed
Formulated
Imagined
Visualised
Sketched
Drafted
Devised
Built
Customised
Styled
Originated
Illustrated
Reimagined
Revitalised
Enhanced
Modernised
Remodelled
Prototyped
Shaped
Composed

Action verbs for analytical tasks & research

Research and strong analytical skills are essential in data-driven roles. These words show how you’ve examined information, made sense of data, and supported better decisions. Use them if your work involves investigating, evaluating, or assessing.

Analysed
Researched
Interpreted
Evaluated
Examined
Studied
Measured
Investigated
Forecasted
Tracked
Quantified
Audited
Assessed
Compiled
Tested
Verified
Assumed
Synthesised
Reviewed
Categorised
Detected
Observed
Calculated
Modelled
Estimated

Power words describing achievement & success

Showcasing your relevant achievements helps your CV stand out. These verbs highlight what you’ve accomplished and how you’ve gone above and beyond. Use them to demonstrate results and outcomes.

Achieved
Delivered
Exceeded
Reached
Outperformed
Completed
Attained
Secured
Surpassed
Gained
Earned
Captured
Succeeded
Accomplished
Finished
Fulfilled
Maximised
Realised
Won
Advanced
Celebrated
Triumphed
Expanded
Grew
Broke (records)

Action verbs for financial duties

Handling money, budgets, and resources requires trust and precision. These action words show your financial awareness and accountability. Ideal for finance, operations, or project-based roles.

Budgeted
Audited
Invested
Allocated
Forecasted
Analysed
Appraised
Balanced
Reconciled
Calculated
Controlled
Estimated
Monitored
Reduced
Increased
Procured
Projected
Secured
Reviewed
Evaluated
Financed
Audited
Advised
Saved
Negotiated

Action words for sales & customer service

Sales and service roles rely heavily on effective communication and persuasion. These verbs highlight your ability to attract, retain, and support customers. Use them to demonstrate your ability to create value and build relationships.

Sold
Upsold
Promoted
Advised
Delivered
Supported
Retained
Converted
Marketed
Explained
Informed
Demonstrated
Persuaded
Contacted
Resolved
Closed
Attracted
Responded
Listened
Suggested
Fulfilled
Negotiated
Recommended
Replied
Engaged

Power words for education & training activities

Training others shows leadership and communication skills. These action verbs reflect your ability to teach, coach, and support development. Ideal for educators, managers, and support professionals.

Taught
Trained
Coached
Mentored
Educated
Advised
Instructed
Demonstrated
Guided
Explained
Supported
Facilitated
Presented
Tutored
Evaluated
Assessed
Encouraged
Led
Developed
Tested
Assisted
Onboarded
Informed
Scheduled
Enrolled

Action verbs describing planning & strategy

Strategic thinking involves preparation, foresight, and decision-making. These verbs show how you’ve built plans, mapped out steps, and guided projects. Use them to show your big-picture thinking.

Planned
Developed
Designed
Organised
Created
Formulated
Implemented
Coordinated
Scheduled
Arranged
Mapped
Scoped
Devised
Prepared
Forecasted
Programmed
Set (objectives)
Outlined
Prioritised
Streamlined
Anticipated
Strategised
Built
Researched
Drafted

Action verbs for technology & IT tasks

Tech roles require precision, problem-solving, and innovation. These verbs show your ability to build, maintain, and improve digital systems. Perfect for IT, engineering, and digital roles.

Programmed
Coded
Configured
Installed
Engineered
Implemented
Designed
Automated
Built
Debugged
Developed
Maintained
Upgraded
Tested
Launched
Integrated
Networked
Systematised
Optimised
Created
Migrated
Modified
Deployed
Secured
Troubleshot

Action words for efficiency & productivity

Productivity is all about working smarter. These action words can show how you’ve saved time, reduced waste, and improved output. Use them to highlight your efficiency and focus.

Streamlined
Organised
Simplified
Improved
Optimised
Enhanced
Accelerated
Reduced
Saved
Scheduled
Refined
Consolidated
Managed
Completed
Delegated
Coordinated
Eliminated
Increased
Boosted
Updated
Delivered
Shortened
Automated
Standardised
Advanced

Action verbs for creative arts & media

Artistic work combines skill with expression. These action verbs reflect your ability to create, edit, design, and perform. Ideal for creative industries like media, publishing, and the arts.

Illustrated
Designed
Composed
Edited
Photographed
Sketched
Drafted
Shot
Crafted
Produced
Styled
Acted
Directed
Performed
Animated
Conceptualised
Curated
Broadcast
Narrated
Scripted
Filmed
Mixed
Published
Recorded
Portrayed

Action words for marketing & branding

Marketing roles need creativity and strategy. These action words help demonstrate how you promoted products, built brands, and contributed to growth. Use them to show your commercial impact.

Marketed
Promoted
Advertised
Campaigned
Positioned
Branded
Publicised
Sponsored
Targeted
Strategised
Launched
Highlighted
Boosted
Sold
Communicated
Presented
Showcased
Enhanced
Engaged
Captured
Differentiated
Created
Distributed
Identified
Managed

Action words for administration & support tasks

Admin and support roles keep businesses running smoothly. These verbs reflect your ability to organise, manage, and assist. They’re ideal for office-based or operations roles.

Organised
Scheduled
Filed
Maintained
Arranged
Ordered
Managed
Supported
Coordinated
Responded
Logged
Booked
Recorded
Monitored
Processed
Handled
Prepared
Updated
Researched
Entered
Purchased
Controlled
Tracked
Classified
Dispatched

Action verbs for legal & compliance

Legal and compliance professionals ensure that businesses adhere to regulations, manage risk effectively, and remain protected. These action verbs reflect your attention to detail, integrity, and regulatory knowledge. They’re suited to legal, HR, finance, or governance roles.

Advised
Interpreted
Drafted
Complied
Enforced
Investigated
Audited
Negotiated
Reviewed
Consulted
Updated
Reported
Documented
Filed
Witnessed
Summarised
Represented
Mediated
Analysed
Oversaw
Registered
Approved
Notified
Verified
Recommended

Power words for operations & logistics

Operations and logistics rely on planning, movement, and precision. These verbs demonstrate your ability to manage supply chains, coordinate schedules, and maintain system functionality. Use them if you work in warehouses, transport, or production.

Dispatched
Delivered
Transported
Scheduled
Managed
Monitored
Ordered
Stocked
Tracked
Coordinated
Warehoused
Packaged
Inspected
Operated
Loaded
Unloaded
Distributed
Allocated
Shipped
Routed
Inventoried
Maintained
Assembled
Fulfilled
Processed

Action words for human resources & recruitment

HR and recruitment roles focus on people, policy, and growth. These action verbs show how you attract talent, support teams, and shape culture. They’re ideal power words for CVs involving hiring or people management.

Recruited
Interviewed
Hired
Onboarded
Trained
Scheduled
Coached
Developed
Advised
Supported
Resolved
Mediated
Promoted
Managed
Evaluated
Assessed
Appraised
Motivated
Encouraged
Retained
Fostered
Implemented
Consulted
Handled
Facilitated

Action verbs for general duties & transferable qualities

Some action verbs work across all roles and industries. These words are flexible, powerful, and help describe a wide range of responsibilities. Use them to round out your CV and add variety.

Completed
Managed
Led
Supported
Created
Designed
Helped
Oversaw
Developed
Handled
Organised
Built
Participated
Resolved
Delivered
Worked
Maintained
Provided
Executed
Assisted
Improved
Coordinated
Produced
Achieved
Contributed

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

How to use action verbs in a CV?

You can include active verbs in all the CV sections when writing your CV. Let’s start with the top of the document and go through all essential CV components.

1. Utilise action verbs in your CV profile

Your personal statement must make a great first impression on the recruiter. Structure your achievements using the CAR (Challenge-Action-Result) structure and place strong action words at the front. This means your personal statement will only contain 2–3 action words. And that’s enough to make a huge impact.

2. Add action verbs to descriptions of past duties

Your job descriptions will be more effective (and you'll make a better CV overall) if you begin each bullet point with an action word (especially if you have limited work experience). This will help paint a picture of you as a driven, hard-working employee who takes the initiative.

3. Incorporate action verbs in your skills section

The most important thing when listing your skills in your CV is to back up each skill with a sentence showing how you’ve used that skill at work. Whether each supporting sentence begins with an action word or not, be sure to build it around accomplishments and quantify whatever you can.

4. Use action words in a CV mindfully

Follow these guidelines on using action words on a CV to ensure your document leaves a strong impression:

Avoid buzzwords and corporate jargon like ‘actualised’ or ‘synergised’ that lack clear meaning.
Steer clear of confusing or misused verbs such as ‘disrupted’, ‘leaned in’, or incorrect verbs like ‘impacted’.
Be cautious with words that might carry negative or risky connotations.
Choose strong verbs that accurately capture your achievements—don’t settle for bland words like ‘initiated’ if you really ‘spearheaded’ a project.

By combining carefully chosen action verbs with a well-crafted CV, you significantly improve your chances of catching a recruiter’s attention and landing an interview.

Our analysis of 6 million CVs made with our builder reveals that*:

The average time to create a compelling CV is 25.92 minutes.
38.81% of CVs exceed 300 words, 18.64% are between 100 and 300 words, and 42.55% are under 100 words.
Typically, users include 6 skills in their CVs.
The average number of jobs listed in a CV is 2.85.

*The data comes from a period of the last 12 months (August 2023–August 2024).

Example of action words for a CV in context

Yasmin Buckley

Quality Assurance Officer

077 7777 7777

yasmin.buckley@lcmail.co.uk

linkedin.com/in/yasminbuckley

Personal statement

Diligent quality assurance officer with 8+ years’ experience working in higher education / vocational training and automotive industries. Recently coordinated and undertook five internal quality audits appropriate to the needs of the International Banking School and the demands of partner organisations, resulting in 100% of external audits being passed. Seeking an opportunity to apply technical and people management skills in the role of quality assurance manager at Portfusion.

Work experience

Quality Assurance Officer

International Banking School, Manchester

August 2017–present

Contributed to the maintenance, review and updating of 1500+ IBS quality assurance policies and procedures.
Implemented and monitored 45+ IBS policies and procedures across IBS campuses in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Prepared quality monitoring and quality enhancement reports that led to 3 top-down initiatives that are projected to increase profits by 5%.
Supported IBS’s complaints and academic appeals processes, ensuring timely responses in 97% of cases.

Quality Assurance Specialist

Autodigenous, Manchester

June 2015–July 2017

Drafted 10+ quality assurance policies and procedures across the company.
Performed routine inspections and quality tests, uncovering hundreds of incidental issues and 28 systemic problems.
Reported issues with solution propositions to superiors, with over 70% of these solutions being accepted for further development.
Identified and resolved 10+ workflow and deployment issues.

Education

BSc (Hons) Political Science (2:1), 2010–2014

Manchester University, Manchester

Skills

Quality assurance: working knowledge of tools, methods, and concepts of quality assurance, familiar with QAA guidelines.
Ability to work well under pressure: often juggled multiple policy threads and audit work while working to conflicting deadlines.
Written communication: wrote high-quality reports using quantitative and qualitative data for internal and external audiences.
Oral communication: presented findings and strategies to both technical and lay audiences as well as board members, on several occasions.
Data collection and analysis: compiled, analysed and evaluated qualitative and quantitative data to incorporate into reports.

Additional qualifications

ISTQB CTFL, 2016

Languages

Ukrainian—advanced

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

I hope this article has helped you see the potential of well-chosen and well-placed action words in your CV.

Seeking more guidance on CV writing? Check these articles:

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with LiveCareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Sources

About the author

Maciej Staszek Tomaszewicz

Maciej is a certified career expert who brings over a decade of expertise in crafting tailored CVs and cover letters. He combines deep industry knowledge with a friendly, accessible writing style, aiming to empower job seekers with practical tips and insightful career advice.

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