# Action Verbs for a Resume or CV: 96 Strong Words > Action verbs for your resume or CV: 96 strong words grouped by skill, with before and after examples, and how to choose verbs you can defend. Canonical: https://www.cvchapchap.com/blog/action-verbs-for-resume **Short answer:** action verbs are the words that start each bullet on your resume or CV: Drafted, Trained, Reduced, Sold. A strong action verb says what you did in one word, so a recruiter sees your work at a glance. Choose the verb that is true for your role, follow it with what you did, and end with the result. Below are 96 action verbs for a resume or CV, grouped by the kind of work they show, with before and after examples. ## Why action verbs matter on a resume Recruiters skim. A bullet that opens with "Responsible for" or "Duties included" makes them read the whole line to find out what you did. A bullet that opens with a verb tells them in the first word. | Instead of | Write | | ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | Responsible for training new staff | Trained 6 new cashiers on the till and stock system | | Duties included handling complaints | Resolved customer complaints by phone and email | | Worked on the monthly reports | Prepared the monthly sales report for the regional manager | | Helped with the website | Updated product pages on the company website weekly | ## 96 action verbs for a resume or CV, by skill ### Leading people and projects Use only when you were in charge. Led, Directed, Managed, Supervised, Coordinated, Chaired, Headed, Oversaw, Delegated, Mentored, Coached, Trained. ### Building and creating For things that exist because of you. Built, Created, Designed, Developed, Launched, Founded, Established, Introduced, Set up, Drafted, Produced, Wrote. ### Improving and fixing Say what got better, and by how much if you know. Improved, Reduced, Increased, Streamlined, Simplified, Upgraded, Restructured, Resolved, Fixed, Cut, Raised, Strengthened. ### Analysing and researching For work with data, evidence or reports. Analysed, Assessed, Audited, Calculated, Evaluated, Forecast, Investigated, Measured, Researched, Reviewed, Tested, Tracked. ### Communicating and persuading For people you informed, convinced or served. Presented, Negotiated, Advised, Persuaded, Explained, Briefed, Reported, Corresponded, Facilitated, Represented, Promoted, Answered. ### Helping and serving Honest verbs for support roles. They are strong when they are true. Assisted, Supported, Served, Helped, Handled, Processed, Prepared, Organised, Scheduled, Maintained, Recorded, Welcomed. ### Selling and winning For targets, clients and money brought in. Sold, Won, Secured, Generated, Closed, Exceeded, Grew, Expanded, Acquired, Retained, Converted, Sourced. ### Technical and hands on For tools, systems and practical work. Installed, Configured, Operated, Programmed, Repaired, Engineered, Automated, Deployed, Inspected, Serviced, Assembled, Migrated. ## The one rule: pick the verb you can defend A strong verb that is not true is worse than a plain one that is. "Led the project" invites the interview question "Tell me how you led it", and if you assisted, the answer will show. Assisted, Supported and Prepared are strong verbs when they are accurate, especially with a clear result. This is also how employers spot inflated or AI-written CVs; see [can employers tell if you used AI](https://www.cvchapchap.com/blog/can-employers-tell-if-you-used-ai). ## How to quantify achievements on a resume Add a number when you know it: how many, how much, how often or how fast. "Processed about 40 orders a day" or "Cut stock errors in half over six months" shows scale. If you do not know the number, describe the result in words ("so the audit closed on time") instead of guessing. Never invent a figure. ## Action verbs in your CV summary and skills Use verbs in your profile too ("Manage stock for two branches"), but keep the skills section to nouns: tools, languages and abilities. Our guides to the [CV personal profile](https://www.cvchapchap.com/blog/how-to-write-winning-personal-profile-cv) and [skills to put on a CV](https://www.cvchapchap.com/blog/skills-to-put-on-cv) show both. ## Mistakes to avoid with action verbs * Starting every bullet with the same verb. * Mixing tenses: past tense for past jobs, present for your current one. * Using a leadership verb (Led, Managed, Directed) for work you supported. * Stacking buzzwords ("spearheaded synergies") instead of saying what happened. More in [common CV mistakes](https://www.cvchapchap.com/blog/common-cv-mistakes-costing-you-jobs). ## How CV Chap Chap helps with action verbs The [AI CV Agent](https://www.cvchapchap.com/ai-agent) writes your duties as action-verb bullets from what you tell it, and keeps your own verb: a line that opens with Managed, Led or Oversaw is sent back unless you used that word yourself. Look at real [CV examples](https://www.cvchapchap.com/cv-examples) to see the verbs in context, then check the result with the [ATS CV checker](https://www.cvchapchap.com/ats-cv-checker). Good action verbs for a resume are short, specific and true: one per bullet, followed by what you did and what changed. > Turn your duties into strong, honest bullets. [Build your CV with the AI CV Agent](https://www.cvchapchap.com/ai-agent). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What are action verbs on a resume? Action verbs are the words that start each bullet point, such as Drafted, Trained, Reduced or Sold. They show what you did in one word. ### What are good action words for a CV? Choose verbs that match your work: Led or Coordinated for leadership, Built or Designed for creating, Improved or Reduced for results, Analysed for data, Assisted or Supported for support roles. The best verb is the one that is true. ### What can I say instead of "responsible for" on a resume? Start with what you did: Managed, Handled, Prepared, Ran, Maintained or Supervised, followed by the task and its result. ### How do I quantify achievements on my resume? Add a number you know is true: how many, how much, how often or how fast. If you do not know the number, describe the result in words. Never invent figures. ### Should resume bullets be past or present tense? Past tense for past jobs and present tense for the job you have now. ### Is "assisted" a weak word on a CV? No. Assisted is a strong, honest verb when you supported someone else's work, especially with a clear result. Claiming you led work you assisted with is what hurts. ### Ready to Create Your Professional CV? Put these tips into practice. Build a stunning, ATS-friendly CV in under 3 minutes with CV Chap Chap. 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