The following list of action verbs can be used selectively for a variety of purposes. They can be used in CVs, applications, covering letters and at interviews. Present tense is fine when you are currently involved in an activity, otherwise use the past tense to convey a sense of achievement. They have been divided into categories, but of course they are not confined to these. Choose the verb most suited to what you wish to describe.
 

Advertising & Promotions

• accounted for
• accelerated
• accomplished
• anticipated
• convinced
• generated
• inspired
• influenced
• launched
• motivated
• persuaded
• planned
• predicted
• promoted
• prompted
• recommended

Communication

• addressed
• amplified
• conveyed
• corresponded
• demonstrated
• edited
• explained
• facilitated
• instructed
• interviewed
• lectured
• moderated
• participated
• presented
• represented
• secured
• set up
• sold
• succeeded
• surveyed
• transformed
• stimulated

Creativity

• arranged
• composed
• conceived
• conceptualised
• created
• designed
• developed
• devised
• displayed
• enabled
• enhanced
• formulated
• improved
• inspired
• invented
• packaged
• refined
• reshaped
• resolved
• solved
• structured

Management

• activated
• administered
• authorised
• commanded
• conducted
• contracted
• controlled
• co-ordinated
• delegated
• directed
• enacted
• established
• exceeded
• expanded
• headed
• implemented
• incorporated
• initiated
• instructed
• led
• maintained
• obtained
• organised
• performed
• produced
• reduced
• repositioned
• responsibility for
• retained
• revised
• revitalised
• strengthened
• supervised
• trimmed
• turned around
• undertook

Negotiations
 

• adjusted
• amended
• arbitrated
• assured
• closed
• defused
• determined
• evaluated
• investigated
• mediated
• negotiated
• observed
• prioritised
• proposed
• renegotiated
• sorted

Public Relations & Human Resources

• advised
• appraised
• arbitrated
• assisted
• averted
• balanced
• coached
• collaborated
• consulted
• counselled
• defused
• discussed
• employed
• encouraged
• facilitated
• grouped
• guided
• handled
• hired
• influenced
• inspired
• integrated
• interviewed
• involved
• monitored
• motivated
• networked
• postulated
• recruited
• sponsored
• staffed
• strengthened
• supported
• taught
• trained
• unified

Research & Analysis

• applied
• assessed
• automated
• calculated
• charted
• checked
• classified
• collated
• collected
• concluded
• correlated
• criticised
• deduced
• determined
• developed
• diagnosed
• differentiated
• discovered
• disproved
• documented
• equated
• experimental
• explored
• hypotheses
• identified
• investigated
• logged
• proved
• related
• researched
• searched
• solved
• sorted
• surveyed
• synthesised
• theorised

Resourcefulness

• achieved
• accomplished
• acquired
• adapted
• adopted
• adjusted
• appropriated
• avoided
• awarded
• anticipated
• cajoled
• consolidated
• co-opted
• corrected
• cultivated
• delivered
• detected
• diagnosed
• discovered
• diverted
• diversified
• doubled
• identified
• effected
• eliminated
• founded
• improved
• identified
• installed
• inaugurated
• instigated
• introduced
• lightened
• launched
• minimised
• net worked
• pioneered
• planned
• produced
• rectified
• revolutionised
• solved
• saved
• strengthened
• surpassed
• uncovered

Technique & Authority

• analyzed
• arranged
• augmented
• authorised
• activated
• assembled
• budgeted
• calculated
• catalogued
• centralised
• compared
• compiled
• completed
• computed
• decreased
• delegated
• enlarged
• examined
• expanded
• generated
• improvised
• indexed
• leveraged
• oversaw
• redesigned
• reorganised
• restructured
• reviewed
• revised
• scheduled
• single handedly
• synthesised
• systematised
• verified