Power words, action words or powerful verbs, take an average CV from zero to hero in seconds. A verb is a ‘doing’ word’ which is used to describe actions and forms the heart of a sentence. Clog your CV with bland and overused verbs and you run the risk of prospective employers getting bored with the same, old, clichéd language.
However, choose a mix of the right, exciting, active and well thought-out word choices and hiring managers can instantly recognise your ability to be successful. Using keywords in your CV can give potential employers a sense of your work ethic and helps them understand what you have to offer and why you are the right person for the job. Just remember to make sure your chosen verbs are industry-specific too!
Read on to find out the 50 powerful verbs, which you can use to transform your CV.
If you’ve lead a project or team
If you were in charge of leading a project from start to completion or were responsible for supervising a team, it would be easy to use the generic verbs ‘managed’ or ‘led’. However, these terms are often over-used on CVs. If you really want to stand-out, why not try these eye-catching verbs instead:
- Authorised
- Chaired
- Coordinated
- Directed
- Executed
- Implemented
- Mentored
- Planned
- Supervised
- Spearheaded
To show off time-management skills
To an employer, time and money are precious commodities. If a job hunter can demonstrate how they contributed to a company or implemented measures that boosted the business, they are worth their weight in gold. To really showcase this accomplishment, try these words:
- Conserved
- Calculated
- Decreased
- Deducted
- Diagnosed
- Formulated
- Integrated
- Revamped
- Simplified
- Streamlined
To highlight leadership skills
Leadership experience gets a massive tick from any prospective employer. Strong management skills show that a candidate can put people first. Alongside this, it also suggests that you have great communication skills and the ability to direct, coach and effectively build successful relationships.
It’s important to get across to the prospective employer the true nature of your contribution, especially if you want to show what a truly inspirational leader you are.
Therefore, pick relevant verb choices to expand upon the fact that you ‘led’ a team. For example, it may be that you actually handpicked, mentored and oversaw an entire team. Therefore, you may want to try ‘cultivated’ or ‘recruited’ instead. This way you show the hiring manager what you are truly capable of.
Don’t let your great work and management prowess go unnoticed – try out some of our suggestions below:
- Cultivated
- Directed
- Facilitated
- Guided
- Mentored
- Motivated
- Recruited
- Shaped
- Trained
- United
If you’ve implemented a change
Prospective employers’ ears prick up if the words ‘developed’, ‘changed’ or ‘improved’ are mentioned within a CV. To the potential employer, this evidences a candidate’s drive, ability to use initiative, enthusiasm and their business acumen.
However, you can take this one-step further and instead of using the monotonous examples mentioned above, spark the prospective employers’ interest with the following:
- Centralised
- Consolidated
- Customised
- Integrated
- Overhauled
- Redesigned
- Refocused
- Replaced
- Simplified
- Upgraded
If you’ve run or introduced a new project
Prospective employers thrive on candidates who have the X-factor. This may be a natural flair for business, a hugely creative mind or just plain ingenuity. Nothing shows off your talent better than taking a great idea, developing it and bringing it to life for all to see.
So make sure your ability springs off the page at a prospective employer. If you have initiated a new project that yielded great results, try using these inspiring verbs:
- Designed
- Devised
- Founded
- Engineered
- Formulated
- Founded
- Initiated
- Launched
- Pioneered
- Spearheaded
To summarise, exciting CVs entice prospective employers, so if you want to stand out from the crowd then include a variety of the compelling verbs outlined above. These need to describe the actions you take in the workplace which add value to fellow workers, clients and customers.
Use a variety of power words to keep your CV interesting, avoid repetition where possible and only use words that you actually understand and are familiar with. Finally, try to use a broad range of terms to really show the hiring manager the true scope of your accomplishments.
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