Top CV tips
- Use action words when describing what you have done.
- For maximum impact positive words should be used selectively. Here are 101 positive words which you could use when writing a CV:
| Accelerated | Empowered | Persuaded | Streamlined |
| Accomplished | Established | Planned | Stressed |
| Achieved | Ended | Pioneered | Strengthened |
| Activated | Ensured | Presented | Stretched |
| Approved | Exceeded | Processed | Succeeded |
| Attained | Extended | Programmed | Summarised |
| Budgeted | Finalised | Positive | Superseded |
| Built | Forecast | Profit | Supervised |
| Calculated | Foresaw | Promoted | Terminated |
| Conceived | Generated | Questioned | Trained |
| Conducted | Headed | Rectified | Traded |
| Completed | Increased | Recognised | Transformed |
| Consolidated | Implemented | Reduced | Translated |
| Contribution | Improved | Reorganised | Tripled |
| Controlled | Introduced | Rescued | Trimmed |
| Core | Invented | Researched | Turned |
| Created | Launched | Revised | Uncovered |
| Delegated | Led | Revived | Unified |
| Delivered | Maintained | Saved | Utilised |
| Demonstrated | Motivated | Scheduled | Verified |
| Designed | Negotiated | Set Up | Waged |
| Diagnosed | Ordered | Sold | Won |
| Directed | Operated | Solved | Worked |
| Doubled | Perceived | Sorted | Wrote |
| Eliminated | Performed | Started |
- Other useful words and phrases include:- New, Key, Since adopted by, Well accepted.
- But be careful of vague words like:- Co-ordinated, Liaised, Administered, Helped,
and phrases like:- Involved in, Assisted with, Knowledge of, Exposed to, Participated in - Also minimise use of unnecessary adjectives use with care! Eg Dynamic, hard-working, passionate, committed, enthusiastic, results driven/focused, people centred. These add little to your difference for the reader.
- Do not say “References available on request” or “Have a car licence”
We’d love to help you ensure that you have the best chance of success so send us a copy of your CV for feedback when you have drafted it. Download our recommended CV template and gain some more tips for CV writing.
When you’ve updated your CV make sure that you update your LinkedIn profile too.