Action verbs for your English CV: the list that actually works

What action verbs are (and why they matter)

An action verb is a doing word you use to open every point in your experience: managed, led, designed, increased. It replaces the passive, weak phrasing that sinks badly translated CVs, starting with "responsible for."

The difference is stark. "Responsible for the sales team" describes a task. "Led a sales team of 8 and grew revenue by 22%" describes a result. The English-speaking recruiter is looking for the second version: they want to know what you did, not what you were assigned.

This principle is at the heart of a well-written English CV: you don't translate it, you rewrite it around action.

The formula: verb + activity + measurable result

Every bullet should follow this pattern:

1. Action verb in the past tense (for finished roles)
2. What you did in concrete terms
3. A result with a number: percentage, amount, time, volume

Ready-to-use examples:

• Reduced customer churn by 15% in one year by redesigning the onboarding flow.
• Managed a EUR 500K marketing budget across 4 channels.
• Launched a new product line that generated 1,200 sign-ups in 3 months.

The number doesn't have to be perfect: an honest estimate ("approximately 20%") beats a bullet with no data at all.

A list of action verbs by area

Leadership and management: led, managed, directed, coordinated, oversaw, supervised, mentored, delegated.

Results and growth: increased, grew, generated, boosted, accelerated, exceeded, maximized.

Efficiency and reduction: reduced, cut, streamlined, optimized, automated, simplified.

Building and launching: launched, built, developed, designed, established, founded, implemented.

Analysis and problem-solving: analyzed, evaluated, identified, resolved, diagnosed, forecasted.

Communication and relationships: negotiated, presented, persuaded, advised, collaborated, liaised.

Pick the most precise verb: oversaw is not the same as led, and streamlined says more than improved.

Weak verbs to cut

Some phrases drain the punch out of every sentence. Swap them out:

• Responsible for -> use a direct action verb (managed, handled, led)
• Helped with -> supported, contributed to, drove
• Worked on -> developed, delivered, executed
• Was involved in -> participated in, coordinated
• Duties included -> drop it entirely and open with the verb

Avoid repeating the same verb, too: three "managed"s in a row dull your profile. Vary them to show the breadth of your skills.

Tenses and common mistakes

Use the simple past for finished experiences (managed, designed) and the present only for your current role (manage, design). Don't mix them within the same entry.

Watch out for false friends when translating from Italian: attualmente is not "actually," eventuale is not "eventual," and to pretend means "to fake," not "to expect." The wrong verb makes a bullet confusing, or unintentionally funny.

Translate and adapt without botching the verbs

Choosing the right action verb takes an ear for professional English, not a dictionary. With EuroCV Pro your CV is translated and adapted into 7 languages: the right verbs, the correct structure for each country, and results that stand out, free from the false friends of machine translators. Ready in one click.