Top 10 Action Verbs to Use on Your CV

The words you choose on your CV can make the difference between landing an interview and being overlooked. Action verbs—also called power words—transform your resume from a passive list of duties into a dynamic showcase of achievements. In 2026, with AI-powered ATS systems analyzing resumes more intelligently than ever, using the right action verbs is crucial for standing out.

Why Action Verbs Matter

Recruiters spend an average of 6-7 seconds on an initial resume scan. During this brief window, strong action verbs immediately signal competence, leadership, and results orientation. Compare these two examples:

The second example uses powerful verbs ("Led," "Orchestrated") that demonstrate ownership and impact. It also quantifies results, making achievements tangible.

Action Verbs by Category

Here are 50+ high-impact action verbs organized by the type of skill or achievement they best represent:

Leadership & Management

Use these when describing team leadership, strategic direction, or managerial responsibilities:

Example: "Spearheaded company-wide digital transformation initiative affecting 500+ employees across 4 departments."

Achievement & Results

Perfect for highlighting measurable outcomes and successful projects:

Example: "Exceeded quarterly sales targets by 42%, generating $2.3M in new revenue within 6 months."

Technical & Development

Essential for software engineers, developers, IT professionals, and technical roles:

Example: "Engineered microservices architecture that improved system scalability by 300% and reduced latency by 45%."

Communication & Collaboration

Great for roles requiring teamwork, client relations, or cross-functional coordination:

Example: "Negotiated partnerships with 5 Fortune 500 clients, resulting in $4M annual contract value."

Creative & Innovation

Ideal for marketing, design, product development, and creative roles:

Example: "Conceptualized and launched award-winning marketing campaign that increased brand awareness by 67%."

Weak Verbs to Avoid

Eliminate these passive, vague phrases from your resume:

• "Responsible for..." → Replace with specific action verbs that describe what you actually did
• "Assisted with..." → Sounds junior and passive. Use "Supported," "Collaborated," or describe your specific contribution
• "Worked on..." → Too vague. What did you specifically accomplish?
• "Helped..." → Minimizes your contribution. Use "Contributed," "Enabled," or quantify your impact
• "Involved in..." → Implies you were tangentially related, not actively driving results
• "Duties included..." → This is a job description, not an achievement. Focus on outcomes

How to Use Action Verbs Effectively

1. Start Every Bullet Point with an Action Verb

Never begin with "I" or passive phrases. Jump straight into the action.

2. Pair Verbs with Quantifiable Results

Action verbs become exponentially more powerful when paired with metrics:

• "Increased sales by 35%"
• "Reduced customer churn from 22% to 14%"
• "Managed portfolio of $12M in assets"
• "Trained 50+ new employees"

3. Vary Your Verb Choices

Don't use the same verb repeatedly. If you've already used "Managed" twice, switch to "Led," "Supervised," or "Coordinated" to keep your resume dynamic and engaging.

4. Match Verbs to Seniority Level

Choose verbs that reflect your actual level of responsibility:

5. Align with Job Description Keywords

Review the job posting and identify the verbs they use. If they say "drive growth," use "drove" in your achievements. This helps with ATS keyword matching while maintaining authenticity.

Industry-Specific Examples

Software Engineering

• "Architected cloud-native infrastructure supporting 10M+ daily active users"
• "Optimized database queries, reducing page load time by 60%"
• "Pioneered CI/CD pipeline that decreased deployment time from 4 hours to 20 minutes"

Marketing

• "Launched multi-channel campaign that generated 2,500 qualified leads"
• "Spearheaded content strategy resulting in 150% increase in organic traffic"
• "Orchestrated product launch reaching 500K impressions in first week"

Finance

• "Streamlined financial reporting processes, reducing month-end close by 3 days"
• "Analyzed investment opportunities yielding 18% ROI over 2-year period"
• "Negotiated vendor contracts saving $450K annually"

Healthcare

• "Coordinated patient care for 200+ individuals with chronic conditions"
• "Implemented infection control protocols reducing hospital-acquired infections by 28%"
• "Mentored 15 nursing students through clinical rotations"

Final Tips for Maximum Impact

1. Front-load your bullets: Put the most important information (verb + result) at the beginning of each bullet point
2. Be specific: "Increased" is good; "Increased by 47%" is better; "Increased quarterly revenue by 47% through targeted email campaigns" is best
3. Use past tense for old roles, present tense for current: "Managed" vs. "Manage"
4. Avoid adverbs: "Successfully completed" is redundant—the completion itself implies success. Just say "Completed"
5. Stay truthful: Use verbs that accurately represent your level of involvement and impact

By strategically incorporating these action verbs throughout your CV, you'll transform it from a passive list of responsibilities into a compelling narrative of professional achievement. Remember: your resume should be a marketing document that sells your value, not just a historical record of where you've worked.