The Action Verbs

Top Verbs Preferred by Employers

• Led – Demonstrates leadership and responsibility.
• Managed – Shows capability to oversee projects or teams.
• Developed – Indicates creativity and the ability to build or improve things.
• Implemented – Shows execution skills, turning plans into action.
• Achieved – Highlights success and accomplishment.
• Increased/Improved – These verbs effectively quantify success, such as increasing revenue or improving efficiency.
• Negotiated – Demonstrates skills in persuasion and reaching beneficial agreements.
• Collaborated – Important for showing teamwork and working well with others.
• Streamlined – Indicates efficiency and the ability to simplify complex processes.
• Advised – Shows expertise and the ability to guide others.

Analytical: These verbs are particularly effective for individuals who want to showcase their ability to work with data, conduct research, and make informed decisions. Encouraging the use of these verbs can help articulate analytical strengths clearly to potential employers.

• Analyzed – Shows the ability to examine data or situations closely.
• Assessed – Indicates evaluating or estimating the nature, ability, or quality of something.
• Calculated – Useful for jobs that require numerical or financial analysis.
• Compared – Demonstrates the ability to identify similarities or differences.
• Evaluated – Conveys the ability to make judgements based on criteria and standards.
• Investigated – Indicates in-depth examination and research skills.
• Mapped – Useful for indicating strategic planning or complex analysis.
• Measured – Shows the ability to quantify or assess the dimensions of an object or situation.
• Quantified – Demonstrates the ability to express or measure the quantity of something.
• Researched – Indicates thorough study and investigation on a subject.
• Solved – Shows problem-solving skills.
• Tested – Useful in situations where a hypothesis or product is put to the test.

Communication: These verbs help portray an individual’s ability to interact, share, and connect with others effectively, which is crucial in many professional roles. If you are in leadership or client-facing roles, these verbs can be instrumental in conveying your competency in verbal and written communication.

• Communicated – Broadly covers all forms of communication.
• Presented – Shows the ability to convey information effectively in formal settings.
• Conveyed – Indicates the successful transfer of information or ideas.
• Articulated – Demonstrates the ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.
• Collaborated – Highlights teamwork and the ability to work well with others.
• Negotiated – Shows persuasive communication and ability to reach mutual agreements.
• Facilitated – Indicates guiding and easing a process or discussion.
• Authored – Useful for those who have written reports, publications, or other significant documents.
• Persuaded – Demonstrates the ability to convince others or promote an idea.
• Coordinated – Indicates organizing and harmonizing group efforts effectively.
• Liaised – Shows the ability to act as an intermediary, effectively communicating between groups or individuals.
• Consulted – Indicates providing expert advice, which involves two-way solid communication skills.

Creativity: These verbs can help paint a picture of you as a dynamic, inventive professional capable of bringing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to your role. It’s a great way to set you apart in your job applications, especially in industries that value originality and forward-thinking.

• Created – A broad verb for all types of creation and innovation.
• Designed – Indicates the ability to conceive and execute a plan or idea visually or structurally.
• Innovated – Shows the ability to introduce something new or to think outside the box.
• Conceptualized – Highlights the ability to form an original idea or concept.
• Pioneered – Indicates being the first to develop or use a new method, idea, or approach.
• Devised – Suggests inventing something through careful thought or planning.
• Transformed – Demonstrates the ability to change something dramatically in form, appearance, or character.
• Revitalized – Shows bringing new life or vigour into a project or idea.
• Customized – Indicates modifying something to suit a particular individual or task.
• Orchestrated – Implies arranging or directing diverse components to create something harmonious or effective.
• Integrated – Suggests combining one thing with another to create a whole.
• Refined – Demonstrates improving something by making small changes.

Flexibility: By using these verbs, you can effectively convey your ability to stay agile and responsive in various situations. This is an invaluable trait for professionals at any career stage, especially for those looking to take on roles that require quick thinking and adaptability.

• Adapted – Shows the ability to change or be changed to fit new circumstances.
• Adjusted – Indicates modifying or altering in response to different conditions.
• Pivoted – Demonstrates a significant change in strategy or approach.
• Revised – Suggests changing something in light of new information or circumstances.
• Modified – Indicates making partial changes to improve a system or process.
• Shifted – Demonstrates a change in position, direction, or tendency.
• Transitioned – Shows moving from one state or condition to another smoothly.
• Tailored – Indicates altering something to suit a particular need or situation.
• Acclimated – Demonstrates adapting or becoming accustomed to a new environment or situation.
• Balanced – Shows the ability to maintain stability or equilibrium in changing conditions.
• Reconfigured – Suggests changing the arrangement or setup of something.
• Accommodated – Indicates adjusting actions in response to others’ needs or preferences.

Initiative: Encouraging the use of these verbs can help you portray yourself as a proactive, leading figure who doesn’t just participate in your role but actively seeks to improve, innovate, and drive forward your organization. It is compelling for those seeking roles where self-starters are highly valued.

• Initiated – Directly conveys starting or introducing something new.
• Launched – Indicates starting something, typically a project or initiative.
• Pioneered – Shows the first to use or apply a new method or idea.
• Established – Suggests setting up or founding something, such as a program or system.
• Instituted – Indicates formally establishing or initiating a policy, system, or project.
• Originated – Demonstrates the creation of something original or innovative.
• Implemented – Shows putting a plan or decision into effect.
• Founded – Indicates starting an organization, group, or company.
• Championed – Suggests fervently supporting or advocating for a new idea or project.
• Proposed – Shows the presentation of an idea or plan for consideration or adoption.
• Instigated – Indicates initiating an action or event that typically leads to significant changes.
• Drove – Demonstrates leading or pushing forward an initiative or project.

Leadership: Using these verbs allows you to briefly showcase your leadership experiences and skills, which is crucial for those aiming for high-level positions or significantly impacting their careers. They convey a sense of responsibility, guidance, and the ability to inspire and lead others.

• Led – A straightforward yet powerful verb to indicate leadership.
• Directed – Shows guiding and managing a team or project.
• Managed – Indicates overseeing and being responsible for a team or project.
• Supervised – Suggests overseeing the work of others.
• Coordinated – Demonstrates organizing and harmonizing group efforts effectively.
• Mentored – Shows guidance and support provided to less experienced colleagues.
• Coached – Indicates providing instruction, training, or guidance.
• Facilitated – Demonstrates productively guiding a process or discussion.
• Headed – Suggests being in charge or leading a team or project.
• Chaired – Indicates leading a committee or meeting.
• Governed – Shows having authority or control over an organization or group.
• Motivated – Demonstrates the ability to inspire and encourage others.

Organization: These verbs are particularly useful for individuals to emphasize their ability to effectively manage tasks, people, and resources, which is valuable in any professional setting. They convey a sense of order, efficiency, and the ability to keep things running smoothly.

• Organized – A direct verb indicating the ability to arrange systematically.
• Coordinated – Demonstrates the management and harmonization of activities.
• Planned – Shows the ability to devise detailed strategies or methods.
• Arranged – Indicates systematic ordering or preparation.
• Scheduled – Implies setting up timetables or planning events in time.
• Systematized – Shows the creation or use of a systematic approach.
• Streamlined – Indicates making an organization or system more efficient and effective.
• Categorized – Demonstrates the ability to classify or sort items into distinct groups.
• Prioritized – Shows the ability to arrange things in order of importance.
• Structured – Indicates arranging according to a plan or system.
• Administered – Demonstrates managing or supervising the execution of organizational tasks.
• Delegated – A critical organisational skill is assigning tasks or authority to others.

Problem Solving: These verbs will help you effectively communicate your ability to identify, address, and resolve issues, a critical skill in your professional journey. This skill is especially relevant for those in roles where strategic thinking and the ability to handle complex situations are key.

• Resolved – Indicates finding a solution to a problem or dispute.
• Troubleshoot – Specifically used for identifying and solving technical or mechanical problems.
• Rectified – Suggests correcting something wrong.
• Overcame – Shows succeeding in dealing with a problem or difficulty.
• Navigated – Indicates finding a way through a complex situation or challenge.
• Devised – Demonstrates inventing through careful thought or planning.
• Reconciled – involves finding ways to make conflicting or opposing things compatible.
• Mitigated – Suggests making a problem less severe.
• Diagnosed – Used to identify the nature of problems, often in technical or medical contexts.
• Refined – Shows improving something by making small changes, often to solve or improve a problem.
• Innovated – Indicates introducing something new or different to solve a problem.
• Strategized – Demonstrates creating a strategy to overcome a challenge or problem.

Teamwork: These verbs will help you articulate your ability to engage with others, contribute to group efforts, and work effectively within a team, which are essential traits in today’s collaborative work environment.

• Collaborated – Indicates working jointly with others, often in an intellectual endeavour.
• Partnered – Suggests a cooperative relationship or association.
• Cooperated – Shows working together towards a common goal.
• Contributed – Demonstrates adding something to a common purpose or effort.
• Supported – Indicates providing assistance or backing to team members.
• United – Shows bringing people together for a common purpose.
• Joined – Suggests connecting with a group or team.
• Assisted – Indicates helping or lending aid, often in a team setting.
• Participated – Demonstrates taking part in a group or team effort.
• Engaged – Shows involvement in a group activity.
• Coordinated – Indicates organizing or harmonizing different parts of a project or team.
• Teamed – Used to indicate joining others to form a group or team.

Project Leadership: These verbs help portray you as an effective leader who can take charge of projects and ensure they are completed efficiently and successfully. It’s about communicating a sense of responsibility, strategic oversight, and the ability to lead teams and resources towards achieving project goals.

• Spearheaded – Indicates leading an initiative or project.
• Managed – Shows overseeing and organizing project activities and resources.
• Directed – Demonstrates guiding a project or task force towards a goal.
• Coordinated – Indicates organizing various aspects of a project for efficiency and effectiveness.
• Supervised – Shows overseeing the work and performance of others in a project.
• Led – A robust and precise verb to indicate leadership over a project.
• Orchestrated – Implies skillfully organizing and managing complex projects.
• Administered – Shows managing or supervising the execution or operation of a project.
• Overseen – Indicates having a supervisory role in a project.
• Executed – Demonstrates carrying out or performing a plan, order, or course of action in a project.
• Championed – Shows fervently supporting, promoting, or advocating for a project.
• Delegated – Indicates assigning tasks or responsibilities to others within a project.

Project Design and Implementation: These verbs effectively communicate your ability to conceive and plan projects and bring those plans to fruition, showcasing both your creative and practical skills. They are particularly valuable for individuals aiming to demonstrate their capacity for turning ideas into successful outcomes.

• Designed – Shows the ability to create and plan a project or system.
• Developed – Indicates evolving a project or concept from start to finish.
• Implemented – Demonstrates putting a plan or design into effect.
• Executed – Indicates carrying out a plan or project.
• Formulated – Suggests devising or creating a strategy or plan.
• Constructed – Shows building or assembling a project or structure.
• Engineered – Indicates skillfully arranging or designing for a particular purpose.
• Established – Demonstrates setting up or laying the foundation of a project.
• Initiated – Suggests beginning or starting a project or strategy.
• Planned – Indicates detailed preparation or arrangement of a project.
• Produced – Shows bringing a project or item into existence.
• Organized – Demonstrates arranging or coordinating various elements of a project.

Saving Money, Time, or Resources: These verbs will help you effectively convey your ability to contribute to your company’s efficiency and financial health, which is a highly valued skill across various industries and roles.

• Saved – Directly states the action of reducing costs or conserving resources.
• Reduced – Indicates decreasing resources or time spent.
• Conserved – Shows the action of using something sparingly or efficiently.
• Streamlined – Demonstrates making a process more efficient and effective.
• Optimized – Suggests making the best or most effective use of resources or situations.
• Cut – Indicates reducing expenses or resources.
• Eliminated – Shows removing unnecessary processes or costs.
• Minimized – Demonstrates reducing something to the smallest possible amount or degree.
• Enhanced – Indicates improving the quality, value, or extent of something, often leading to resource savings.
• Rationalized – Shows the action of making a process more logical and consistent, often leading to resource savings.
• Negotiated – Demonstrates discussing and reaching mutually beneficial agreements, often resulting in cost savings.
• Simplified – Indicates making a process or task more accessible and more efficient.

Increased Efficiency, Revenue, Satisfaction: These verbs effectively convey your capability to drive growth and improvement, showcasing you as an impactful contributor to their organizations. They’re especially powerful for professionals who have played a key role in driving sales, improving customer satisfaction, or enhancing operational efficiency.

• Increased – Directly indicates a rise in numbers or effectiveness.
• Boosted – Suggests giving something a push or lift, particularly in numbers or performance.
• Enhanced – Shows improving quality, value, or extent of something.
• Grew – Indicates development or increase in size, amount, or degree.
• Expanded – Demonstrates extending or broadening the scope of something.
• Elevated – Suggests raising to a more important or impressive level.
• Maximized – Indicates making as large or significant as possible.
• Improved – Shows making something better than it was.
• Amplified – Demonstrates increasing the volume or strength, metaphorically in terms of sales or efficiency.
• Escalated – Suggests increasing in intensity or magnitude.
• Upgraded – Shows raising something to a higher standard.
• Augmented – Indicates making something more outstanding by adding to it.

Changed or Improved Something: These verbs will help you effectively communicate your ability to identify areas for improvement and actively enact changes, demonstrating your proactive and impactful nature in your roles.

• Improved – Directly indicates enhancing or making something better.
• Transformed – Demonstrates a thorough or dramatic change in form, appearance, or character.
• Revamped – Shows reconstructing or making extensive improvements.
• Updated – Indicates bringing something more current or up-to-date.
• Revised – Demonstrates altering something already existing, usually for the better.
• Overhauled – Suggests making necessary repairs or improvements.
• Renovated – Shows renewing or restoring to a better state.
• Refined – Indicates improving something by making small changes.
• Restructured – Demonstrates reorganizing the setup or arrangement.
• Modernized – Shows making something more contemporary or up-to-date.
• Enhanced – Indicates increasing or further improving the quality, value, or extent of something.
• Reinvented – Demonstrates changing something so much that it appears entirely new.

Team Management: These verbs convey the ability to manage, guide, and enhance a team effectively, which is crucial for many leadership positions. They highlight organisational skills, motivation, and development, essential for fostering a productive and positive work environment.

• Led – Indicates guiding a team towards goals or objectives.
• Managed – Shows overseeing and being responsible for a team or project.
• Supervised – Demonstrates overseeing the work and performance of team members.
• Coordinated – Indicates organizing and harmonizing the efforts of a team.
• Directed – Shows guiding a team or project with authority.
• Mentored – Demonstrates guiding and advising less experienced colleagues.
• Motivated – Shows inspiring and encouraging team members.
• Delegated – Indicates assigning tasks or responsibilities to team members.
• Trained – Demonstrates instructing or educating team members.
• Empowered – Shows giving team members the authority or confidence to do something.
• Cultivated – Indicates fostering growth and development within a team.
• Facilitated – Demonstrates making processes more accessible or more manageable for the team.

Coaching: These verbs are particularly effective for individuals who are involved in roles where teaching, guiding, and encouraging others are key aspects of their job. They help paint a picture of a supportive, knowledgeable, and empowering professional.

• Coached – Directly conveys guiding or training others.
• Mentored – Shows providing advice and support to less experienced individuals.
• Guided – Indicates leading or advising someone in their personal or professional development.
• Advised – Demonstrates offering suggestions based on expertise.
• Developed – Shows aiding in the growth or formation of skills or knowledge.
• Supported – Indicates providing assistance or encouragement.
• Empowered – Demonstrates enabling others to grow and make independent decisions.
• Inspired – Shows motivating or encouraging individuals or teams.
• Cultivated – Indicates fostering growth and development in others.
• Facilitated – Demonstrates making a process or learning experience easier or more achievable.
• Nurtured – Shows help in growing or developing skills over time.
• Trained – Indicates instructing or teaching specific skills or knowledge.

Brought Funding, Donors, Resources: These verbs will help you communicate your ability to attract new resources and manage and grow relationships with existing stakeholders, showcasing them as valuable assets in roles requiring fundraising and partnership development.

• Secured – Indicates obtaining something, especially financial support, through effort.
• Acquired – Shows obtaining or gaining something valuable, like sponsors or partners.
• Attracted – Demonstrates drawing in or garnering interest from potential funders or partners.
• Garnered – Indicates gathering or collecting, often about support or resources.
• Expanded – Shows broadening or extending, helpful in describing an increase in donors or partners.
• Cultivated – Demonstrates developing a relationship with sponsors or donors over time.
• Solicited – Indicates asking for or trying to obtain something, like funding or support.
• Boosted – Shows helping to increase or improve, especially in fundraising.
• Enhanced – Indicates improving or adding value to relationships with donors or partners.
• Negotiated – Demonstrates discussing and reaching mutually beneficial agreements.
• Increased – Directly states a rise in numbers or amount, such as funding or supporters.
• Engaged – Shows involving or capturing the interest of potential funders or partners.

Supported Customer, Suppliers, and Stakeholders: These verbs effectively highlight an individual’s skills in customer service, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement, emphasizing their ability to interact positively and productively with others.

• Supported – Directly conveys providing assistance or backing.
• Assisted – Shows helping or lending aid, often in a customer service context.
• Served – Indicates providing services or assistance to customers or stakeholders.
• Facilitated – Demonstrates making a process or interaction easier for others.
• Coordinated – Shows organizing or harmonizing activities to support customers or suppliers.
• Liaised – Indicates acting as an intermediary, effectively communicating between parties.
• Responded – Demonstrates replying or reacting to customer or stakeholder needs.
• Resolved – Shows successfully addressing and rectifying issues or concerns.
• Managed – Indicates overseeing and handling interactions or relationships.
• Delivered – Suggests providing a service or meeting needs effectively.
• Maintained – Shows keeping something in a desired state, such as customer relationships.
• Engaged – Demonstrates interacting with and capturing the interest of stakeholders.

Researched, Reviewed, or Analyzed: These verbs can help you effectively convey your proficiency in handling complex information, providing thorough insights, and contributing to informed decision-making processes.

• Researched – Directly indicates conducting a detailed study or investigation into a subject.
• Analyzed – Shows examining something methodically and in detail.
• Investigated – Indicates carrying out a formal inquiry or systematic study.
• Reviewed – Demonstrates examining or assessing something with the possibility or intention of instituting change if necessary.
• Examined – Shows inspecting or scrutinizing in detail.
• Evaluated – Indicates judging or determining the significance, worth, or condition of something, often by careful appraisal and study.
• Assessed – Demonstrates estimating the nature, ability, or quality of something.
• Explored – Indicates investigating or discussing a subject in detail.
• Interpreted – Shows explaining the meaning or significance of data or findings.
• Synthesized – Demonstrates combining various elements into a coherent whole, particularly in the context of research or analysis.
• Compiled – Indicates putting together information from various sources in an orderly form.
• Critiqued – Shows detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory.

Wrote, Spoked, Lobbied, or Communicated: These verbs are excellent for highlighting your abilities in various forms of communication and are crucial for roles that involve writing, public speaking, advocacy, or any form of professional interaction.

• Wrote – Directly indicates the act of composing text.
• Authored – Shows writing and creating original content, like reports, articles, or books.
• Spoke – Indicates verbal communication, proper for presentations, speeches, or negotiations.
• Lobbied – Demonstrates advocating or seeking to influence the decision-making process in a political or business environment.
• Communicated – A broad term that covers all forms of conveying information.
• Articulated – Shows the ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.
• Presented – Indicates giving formal presentations or talks.
• Conveyed – Demonstrates transmitting or relaying information, ideas, or feelings.
• Advocated – Shows arguing for or supporting a cause or policy.
• Negotiated – Indicates discussing something formally to reach an agreement.
• Addressed – Demonstrates speaking to a group or directing attention to an issue.
• Corresponded – Indicates communicating in writing.

Oversaw, Supervised or Regulated: These verbs effectively convey the sense of responsibility, leadership, and organizational skills needed for supervisory and regulatory roles, which are vital in many professional scenarios.

• Oversaw – Indicates watching over and directing a process or activity.
• Supervised – Shows guiding and managing people or projects.
• Regulated – Demonstrates controlling or maintaining the rate or standard of a process or activity.
• Managed – Indicates having executive or administrative control over people, projects, or operations.
• Administered – Shows managing or supervising the execution or operation of an organization or plan.
• Monitored – Demonstrates closely watching a process, activity, or system.
• Coordinated – Indicates organizing different parts or activities to work together effectively.
• Controlled – Shows exercising authoritative or dominating influence over something or someone.
• Directed – Indicates guiding, leading, or managing people or projects.
• Governed – Demonstrates ruling over or managing an organization or people effectively.
• Commanded – Indicates having authority over a group or operation.
• Inspected – Shows examining something critically.

Achieved a Goal or an Award: These verbs help to powerfully present your successes and recognitions, showcasing your effectiveness and excellence in your roles.

• Achieved – Directly states reaching a desired objective or result.
• Attained – Indicates reaching or achieving something, primarily through effort.
• Earned – Shows gaining something deserved through effort or actions.
• Won – Indicates coming first in a competition or receiving an award.
• Accomplished – Demonstrates completing something successfully.
• Secured – Suggests obtaining or achieving something significant.
• Garnered – Indicates gathering or acquiring something, like accolades or achievements.
• Realized – Shows making something a reality or achieving a goal.
• Received – Indicates being given or awarded something.
• Completed – Demonstrates finishing a task or reaching an endpoint in a goal.
• Fulfilled – Indicates meeting a requirement or achieving a goal.
• Surpassed – Shows going beyond an achievement or expectation.