Recruiters have the attention span of a goldfish on espresso. LinkedIn says 75% of resumes get binned in under 10 seconds. That’s barely enough time for them to judge your font choice, let alone your “hard worker” claims.
If your CV is full of did, helped, and worked, you’re basically telling them, “I existed.” And while that’s technically true, it’s not a hiring strategy.
Solution: Strong, targeted CV action verbs that make your bullet points pop and your application scream, “Hire me before your competitor does.”
Also, if you still think passive voice is harmless, go skim this guide before you embarrass yourself.
Action Verbs: Your Resume’s Secret Weapon
These are not just “verbs.” They’re the linguistic caffeine that wakes up a sleepy recruiter. They replace limp phrases like responsible for with words that show you did the thing, owned it, and got results.
- Weak: Was responsible for leading a team.
- Strong: Led a team of 12, surpassing quarterly targets by 25%.
It’s the difference between “I went on a trip” and “I discovered a hidden city and brought back treasure.” Same idea, better packaging.
Why You Need Them (and Yes, You Do)
- Instant Impact: Action verbs are neon signs for your achievements.
- ATS-Friendly: Applicant Tracking Systems feed on keywords. Give them what they want.
- Professional Vibes: You stop sounding like an intern with a thesaurus.
- Clarity: They cut through fluff faster than your boss cuts budgets.
- Efficiency: More meaning, fewer words. Your CV is not a memoir.
The CV Action Verbs Hall of Fame
Because you came here for a list, here’s a list. Categorized for your convenience (and my sanity).
Leadership & Management
- Managed – You were the boss. Managed a 15-person dev team to launch a feature early.
- Led – Took charge without breaking into a sweat.
- Delegated – Gave people work they couldn’t complain about.
- Oversaw – Supervised like you meant it.
- Coordinated – Made chaos look organized.
Development & Innovation
- Developed – Built something that worked.
- Engineered – Solved problems with actual skill.
- Implemented – Turned a plan into reality.
- Optimized – Made it better, faster, stronger.
- Designed – Created something from scratch.
If you want to level up how you phrase these, bookmark The Art of Paraphrasing.
Communication & Collaboration
- Negotiated – Got what you wanted without a fistfight.
- Presented – Spoke to humans and lived to tell the tale.
- Collaborated – Worked with others without mutiny.
- Advised – Gave useful guidance for once.
- Authored – Wrote something worth reading.
Also worth a look: Phrasal Verbs for Business English if you want to sound less like a grammar bot.
Analysis & Problem-Solving
- Analyzed – Dug into data without crying.
- Resolved – Fixed something broken.
- Streamlined – Removed nonsense from the process.
- Evaluated – Judged wisely (or at least convincingly).
- Identified – Spotted a problem before it exploded.
Sales & Growth
- Achieved – Actually hit your goals.
- Generated – Brought in revenue, leads, or ideas.
- Secured – Landed the deal.
- Expanded – Made it bigger.
- Exceeded – Beat the target and enjoyed it.
How to Slip Them Into Your CV Without Sounding Fake
- Match the Job Ad – Use their keywords against them.
- Pair With Numbers – “Increased X by Y%” is recruiter catnip.
- Mix It Up – No one wants to read “led” 14 times.
- Keep It Human – ATS loves data, humans love personality.
- Use Bullet Points – Paragraphs in CVs are crimes.
Need interview help too? Read this guide so you don’t blow it at the final stage.
Before & After (Because Proof > Theory)
Before:
- Worked on marketing campaigns.
- Was responsible for social media.
After:
- Led targeted campaigns, boosting engagement by 35%.
- Managed social media across 5 platforms, adding 10K followers.
Final Word
Your CV is not a diary entry. Stop underselling yourself with verbs that sound like background noise. Swap them for words that make recruiters stop scrolling. Then watch the interviews roll in.