The first word of each bullet point sets the tone for your whole CV. “Responsible for sales” sounds passive; “Increased sales by 25%” sounds like someone an employer wants to hire. This guide gives you more than 150 action verbs, grouped by skill, and shows how to use them.
Why action verbs matter
Recruiters scan your CV quickly. Starting every bullet point with a strong verb makes your achievements easy to spot, avoids repetition and keeps your sentences short. Specific verbs also tell the reader what kind of contribution you made — leading, building, saving or improving.
Before and after examples
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Responsible for managing a team. | Led a team of 8 sales officers to 115% of the annual target. |
| Helped with the company website. | Redesigned the company website, increasing enquiries by 30%. |
| Worked on reducing costs. | Cut monthly printing costs by 40% by moving reports online. |
| Duties included customer support. | Resolved 50+ customer queries a day with a 96% satisfaction score. |
How to use action verbs well
- Use a simple formula: action verb + what you did + the result, ideally with a number.
- Choose the tense carefully: past tense for previous roles, present tense for your current job.
- Don't repeat yourself: vary your verbs so every bullet point feels fresh.
- Be honest and precise: say “supported” if you supported and “led” only if you led.
- Match the job: a manager role calls for leadership verbs; a technical role calls for technical ones.
150+ action verbs by category
Leadership
- Led
- Directed
- Supervised
- Managed
- Coordinated
- Headed
- Oversaw
- Mentored
- Coached
- Delegated
- Guided
- Motivated
- Spearheaded
- Chaired
- Orchestrated
Achievements and results
- Achieved
- Exceeded
- Surpassed
- Delivered
- Won
- Earned
- Attained
- Completed
- Secured
- Outperformed
- Reached
- Awarded
- Generated
- Produced
- Accomplished
Improvement
- Improved
- Increased
- Reduced
- Cut
- Boosted
- Streamlined
- Optimised
- Accelerated
- Enhanced
- Upgraded
- Strengthened
- Revamped
- Simplified
- Modernised
- Transformed
Creating and building
- Created
- Designed
- Developed
- Built
- Launched
- Founded
- Established
- Introduced
- Initiated
- Pioneered
- Invented
- Formulated
Communication
- Presented
- Negotiated
- Persuaded
- Wrote
- Edited
- Authored
- Briefed
- Communicated
- Promoted
- Pitched
- Published
- Advocated
- Liaised
- Corresponded
- Translated
Analysis and research
- Analysed
- Assessed
- Evaluated
- Investigated
- Researched
- Measured
- Forecast
- Audited
- Identified
- Diagnosed
- Tested
- Mapped
Technical
- Engineered
- Programmed
- Automated
- Configured
- Deployed
- Integrated
- Migrated
- Debugged
- Maintained
- Installed
- Coded
- Architected
- Troubleshot
- Scaled
Organisation and administration
- Organised
- Planned
- Scheduled
- Arranged
- Prioritised
- Catalogued
- Documented
- Processed
- Recorded
- Compiled
- Standardised
- Allocated
Sales and customer service
- Sold
- Closed
- Acquired
- Retained
- Expanded
- Upsold
- Converted
- Prospected
- Resolved
- Assisted
- Served
- Onboarded
Teamwork and support
- Collaborated
- Partnered
- Supported
- Contributed
- Facilitated
- Trained
- Educated
- Volunteered
- Cooperated
- United
- Encouraged
- Empowered
Finance
- Budgeted
- Reconciled
- Saved
- Invested
- Recovered
- Balanced
- Calculated
- Projected
- Controlled
- Administered
- Funded
- Valued
Problem-solving
- Solved
- Fixed
- Rectified
- Restored
- Overhauled
- Corrected
- Prevented
- Untangled
Weak words to replace
- “Responsible for” → managed, led, oversaw
- “Helped” → supported, contributed to, assisted
- “Worked on” → built, developed, delivered
- “Did” → completed, carried out, achieved
- “Was in charge of” → directed, supervised, headed
Put your new bullet points to work in Free CV Maker — press Enter in the achievements box and a new bullet appears automatically. For the rest of your CV, read how to write a CV.
Frequently asked questions
What are action verbs on a resume?
Action verbs are strong verbs such as led, increased or built that start each bullet point. They make your experience sound active and focused on results instead of duties.
Should resume bullet points be in the past or present tense?
Use the past tense for previous jobs (managed, delivered) and the present tense for your current job (manage, deliver). Keep the tense consistent within each role.
What words should I avoid on a resume?
Avoid weak phrases such as responsible for, helped with, worked on and duties included. Replace them with a specific action verb and a measurable result.
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