CV Power Words / Power Verbs

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Power words / verbs are instrumental in the success of your CV. Ideally, you should aim to use some of these words at the beginning of bullet points. For example, we see many CVs with points such as “I was responsible for increasing sales through cold calling.” This would sound better with a power word starting the sentence, “Increased sales through cold calling”.

The use of action words / power verbs is essential in the promotion of your skills and experience.

The words you use will obviously depend upon your experience / industry so try not to just stuff your CV full of power words in the hope that this will look good. For example, a candidate applying for a managerial position will want to make use of words such as "oversaw, developed, improved and reduced", whereas someone looking for a more creative role will want to use words such as "designed, compiled and created".

Power verbs to accentuate organisational skills:

Arranged Categorised Collected Compiled Corrected Distributed Filed Incorporated Logged Maintained Monitored Observed

Ordered Organised Prepared Recorded Registered Reserved Responded Reviewed Scheduled Screened Supplied Updated

Power verbs used to highlight achievements:

Achieved Built Created Developed Established Expanded Founded Identified Implemented

Increased Initiated Instigated Launched Lead Managed Reduced Solved Streamlined

Other power verbs:

Administered Advised Analysed Approved Completed Conducted Controlled Coordinated Defined Delivered Demonstrated

Designed Instructed Introduced Maintained Negotiated Oversaw Performed Planned Presented Supervised Supported

Looking for a more extensive list of example power verbs?