ACTION WORDS

- communicating with impact

Introduction When applying for jobs often employers stipulate they want certain skills or experience, but making an impact when describing these skills can be difficult. The key to this is to be persuasive by using strong active vocabulary rather than being passive. Doing this gives the impression of achievement, ability and proactivity that you are someone who gets things done and makes things happen. So when describing your experience or skills, choose active verbs to describe what you do or did, and each time you do this give a specific example and a fact(s). Heres a short example for negotiation skills:
An action word A fact A specific example

I negotiated a special discount of 20% for bulk order of printed T-shirts and fliers is much better than I was responsible for making sure all marketing materials were ordered. Action Words The next section provides examples of some of the skills that employers are looking for, and the action words that might give your description an impact: Communication Addressed Corresponded Explained Persuaded Creativity Arranged Designed Enhanced Packaged structured

Advised Demonstrated Facilitated Presented

Counselled Disseminated Instructed Represented

Conveyed Edited Interviewed Recommended

Convinced Encouraged Liaised with Wrote

Composed Developed Improved Refined

Conceived Devised Initiative Reshaped

Conceptualised Displayed Inspired Resolved

Created Enabled Invented Solved

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 Decision making Analysed Considered Logically Researched Leadership Appointed Coordinated Initiated Planned Management Activated Contracted Enacted Implemented Maintained Reduced Revitalised undertook

Compared Weighed up

Contrasted

Decided

Assigned Decided Led Scheduled

Authorised Delegated Listened

Chaired Enforced Managed

Contracted Headed Motivated

Administrated Controlled Established Incorporated Obtained Repositioned Strengthened

Authorised Co-ordinated Exceeded Initiated Organised Responsible for Supervised

Commanded Delegated Expanded Instructed Performed retained Trimmed

Conducted Directed headed Led Produced revised Turned around

Organising and getting things done Arranged Budgeted Ensured Prepared Problem solving Analyze Apply Correct Create Diagnose Discover Problem solve Propose Search Study Research and analysis Analysed Assembled Collated Collected Determined Documented Gathered Generated Reported Researched Working with others (team work) Adapted Advised Discussed Facilitated Managed Monitored Supported Trained

Planned

Produced

Calculate Critique Dissect Research Track

Compile Design Examine Resolve Troubleshoot

Consult Develop Explore Revise Uncover

Assessed Compiled Established Identified Reviewed

Calculated Conducted Examined Investigated Surveyed

Checked Corrected Explored Monitored Verified

Collaborated Integrated Motivated

Consulted Interacted with Referred

Conducted Liaised with Responded to

Using the above action words will help your application to seem more active and dynamic, and it help it to stand out from the crowd. Other Hot Tips you may want to collect: STAR CVs
Last updated: Feb 2012