Careers and Employability Service
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Action verbs

Scrabble pieces spelling out 'keyword'

How you use language is important. You can dramatically strengthen your statements by using simple language techniques effectively.
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Make verbs work for you when applying for jobs

  • Use active verbs rather than passive verbs. For example: I organised a programme of speakers, I motivated the team or I analysed research data
  • Combine action verbs to further emphasise your achievements. For example: I researched alternative options and negotiated a better deal, I managed the project and delegated responsibilities to team members or I designed and implemented a new system
  • Use the list of action verbs below to ensure that you demonstrate a range of experience and abilities.
  • Avoid weak verbs, for example: I tried to..,  I hoped to... or I attempted to...

 

A

  • Accelerated
  • Achieved
  • Administrated
  • Advised
  • Allocated
  • Analysed
  • Appraised
  • Arranged
  • Assessed
  • Assisted
  • Attained

B

  • Broadened
  • Budgeted 

C

  • Checked
  • Coached
  • Communicated
  • Competent
  • Completed
  • Comprehensive
  • Conducted
  • Considerable
  • Consistently
  • Consolidated
  • Controlled
  • Converted
  • Coordinated
  • Created

D

  • Delegated
  • Delivered
  • Demonstrated
  • Designed
  • Developed
  • Devised
  • Directed

E

  • Ensured
  • Established
  • Evaluated
  • Expanded

F

  • Facilitated

G

  • Generated

H

  • Helped

I

  • Identified
  • Implemented
  • Improved
  • Increased
  • Influenced
  • Initiated
  • Innovated
  • Instructed
  • Interviewed
  • Introduced
  • Investigated

L

  • Launched
  • Led
  • Liaised

M

  • Maintained
  • Managed
  • Marketed
  • Minimised
  • Motivated

N

  • Negotiated
  • Networked

O

  • Operated
  • Organised

P

  • Participated
  • Performed
  • Persuaded
  • Pertinent
  • Pinpointed
  • Planned
  • Prepared
  • Presented
  • Processed
  • Produced
  • Programmed
  • Promoted
  • Prompt
  • Proposed
  • Proved
  • Provided

 Q

  • Qualified

R

  • Recommended
  • Recruited
  • Reduced
  • Reorganised
  • Represented
  • Researched
  • Resolved
  • Resourceful
  • Responded
  • Responsible
  • Reviewed
  • Revised

S

  • Selected to
  • Simplified
  • Spearheaded
  • Strengthened
  • Supervised

T

  • Taught
  • Tested
  • Trained
  • Transformed
  • Translated

U

  • Undertook

V

  • Volunteered

W

  • Won
 

 

Careers and Employability Service

University of Nottingham
Portland Building, Level D
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 3680
fax: +44 (0) 115 951 3679
email: careers-team@nottingham.ac.uk