Bullet points that begin with weak phrases like “responsible for” or “worked on” hide your impact. Starting with a precise action verb makes your CV shorter, clearer and more convincing.
Before and after
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Responsible for training new staff | Trained 12 new staff members, cutting onboarding time by 30% |
| Worked on the company website | Redesigned the company website, raising enquiries by 45% |
| Helped with month-end closing | Streamlined month-end closing, finishing 3 days earlier |
Action verbs by category
Leadership
Led, Directed, Headed, Managed, Supervised, Coordinated, Mentored, Coached, Delegated, Oversaw, Guided, Motivated, Chaired, Spearheaded
Achievement
Achieved, Exceeded, Surpassed, Earned, Won, Attained, Delivered, Completed, Outperformed, Secured, Reached
Growth
Increased, Grew, Boosted, Expanded, Doubled, Tripled, Raised, Accelerated, Improved, Maximised, Strengthened
Saving & efficiency
Reduced, Cut, Saved, Lowered, Streamlined, Simplified, Automated, Consolidated, Optimised, Eliminated, Minimised
Creation
Built, Created, Designed, Developed, Launched, Founded, Established, Introduced, Initiated, Pioneered, Produced, Wrote
Analysis
Analysed, Assessed, Evaluated, Examined, Forecast, Identified, Investigated, Measured, Researched, Tested, Audited
Communication
Presented, Negotiated, Persuaded, Explained, Trained, Educated, Advised, Consulted, Collaborated, Liaised, Reported
Customer & sales
Sold, Converted, Retained, Served, Resolved, Acquired, Closed, Pitched, Upsold, Satisfied, Supported
Organisation
Organised, Planned, Scheduled, Prioritised, Arranged, Coordinated, Maintained, Processed, Recorded, Tracked, Prepared
Technical
Programmed, Engineered, Configured, Installed, Integrated, Debugged, Deployed, Maintained, Upgraded, Modelled, Calculated
How to use them well
- Use past tense for previous jobs and present tense for your current job
- Vary your verbs so bullets do not all start the same way
- Follow the verb with what you did and the result, ideally with a number
- Pick verbs that match the level of the job (Led and Directed for senior roles)
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