Action Verbs – How to Describe Achievements in a CV

This guide will help you improve the Summary section of your CV using strong action verbs and compelling phrases. You’ll learn how to make your text stand out to recruiters, clearly describe your achievements, and highlight the most important aspects of your experience.

Your CV is the first thing a recruiter sees — so it’s crucial to make it clear, convincing, and visually appealing. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to use action verbs, structure your experience using the CAR formula, and craft a memorable Summary section. These tips will help highlight your achievements and draw attention to your strengths.

✅ General CV Writing Rules

Highlight your job title. Use formatting or color to make your position stand out.
Avoid writing in the third person. Use the past or present tense instead.
Remove unnecessary details. No need for your full mailing address, photo, or other extras.
Use bullet points to improve readability and structure.
Start each point with an action verb. Avoid overusing “I”-statements like “I am a responsible individual.”
Include numbers and data to clearly show your impact (e.g., “Increased sales by 20% in one year”).
Apply the CAR formula:
- Challenge – What was the goal or problem?
- Action – What did you do?
- Result – What was the outcome?