100+ Powerful Action Verbs to Make Your CV Stand Out in 2025
Take a look at your current CV. Do your work experience bullet points start with phrases like "Responsible for," "Duties included," or "Tasked with"? If so, you're making a very common mistake that can make your CV sound passive and uninspired. In a competitive job market, recruiters are not just interested in what your duties were; they want to know what you *achieved*. The single most effective way to transform your CV from a boring list of tasks into a compelling story of your accomplishments is by using strong, specific action verbs. These "power words" make your experience sound more dynamic, showcase your initiative, and grab the attention of both hiring managers and the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) they use. This article provides an extensive list of over 100 powerful action verbs, categorized by skill, to help you upgrade your CV today.
Why Are Action Verbs So Important?
Before diving into the list, it's essential to understand the impact of these words. Strong action verbs:
- Demonstrate Proactivity: They portray you as a "doer"—someone who takes initiative and drives results, rather than someone who simply waits for instructions.
- Grab Attention: Recruiters scan CVs quickly. Dynamic words like "Accelerated," "Engineered," or "Orchestrated" are far more engaging than "Managed" or "Handled."
- Are ATS-Friendly: Many action verbs are also keywords that ATS software is programmed to look for when scanning for specific competencies like leadership or problem-solving.
- Lead to Quantifiable Results: Action verbs naturally set the stage for you to include a measurable outcome. For example, "Increased sales by 20%" sounds much more natural than "Was responsible for sales, which increased by 20%."
The Ultimate List of Action Verbs for Your CV
Here is a comprehensive list, categorized by the type of skill or accomplishment you want to highlight. Find the ones that best describe your achievements.
For Leadership & Management Skills
Use these when you've guided a team, managed a project, or taken charge of a situation.
- Accelerated
- Chaired
- Coordinated
- Delegated
- Directed
- Enabled
- Guided
- Inspired
- Led
- Managed
- Mentored
- Orchestrated
- Oversaw
- Produced
- Supervised
For Communication & Teamwork Skills
Use these to show how you've worked with others, presented ideas, or handled relationships.
- Advocated
- Authored
- Collaborated
- Communicated
- Convinced
- Corresponded
- Documented
- Explained
- Mediated
- Negotiated
- Presented
- Promoted
- Publicized
- Reported
- Synthesized
For Technical & Engineering Skills
Use these to describe your experience with building, fixing, or improving technology.
- Architected
- Automated
- Built
- Coded
- Configured
- Debugged
- Deployed
- Engineered
- Implemented
- Integrated
- Maintained
- Programmed
- Remodeled
- Repaired
- Upgraded
For Creative & Innovative Skills
Use these when you've designed, created, or introduced something new.
- Conceptualized
- Created
- Designed
- Developed
- Established
- Fashioned
- Founded
- Illustrated
- Initiated
- Instituted
- Introduced
- Launched
- Pioneered
- Prototyped
- Revitalized
For Research & Analytical Skills
Use these to highlight your ability to gather, interpret, and draw conclusions from data.
- Analyzed
- Assessed
- Audited
- Discovered
- Evaluated
- Examined
- Forecasted
- Identified
- Interpreted
- Investigated
- Measured
- Modeled
- Researched
- Surveyed
- Tested
For Achievement & Growth Skills
These are some of the most powerful verbs as they directly signal positive results.
- Achieved
- Attained
- Completed
- Decreased
- Exceeded
- Expanded
- Generated
- Grew
- Improved
- Increased
- Maximized
- Optimized
- Outperformed
- Reduced
- Streamlined
How to Use Action Verbs: Before vs. After
Let's look at a practical example of how to transform a work experience section from passive to active.
Before (Passive Language):
- Responsible for the company blog and social media.
- Duties included writing posts and making reports.
- Was in charge of a small team.
After (Active Language with Action Verbs):
- Orchestrated the company's content strategy across the blog and all social media platforms.
- Authored and published over 50 articles, increasing organic search traffic by 75% in one year.
- Analyzed performance metrics using Google Analytics and presented monthly growth reports to leadership.
- Mentored and supervised a team of two junior content writers.
The difference is dramatic. The "After" version is specific, achievement-oriented, and paints a clear picture of a proactive and successful professional.
Go through your own CV today and look for opportunities to replace passive phrases with powerful action verbs from this list. A simple change in wording can make a world of difference. The structured templates on CVWale are designed to help you craft these impactful, action-oriented bullet points with ease.