Useful words and phrases for applications
It’s easy to repeat words and phrases when writing about your skills and experience, so here are some suggestions to help you avoid repetition and add a sense of action and positivity to your application.
As well as effective words to help describe yourself, below are lists of active words grouped together under their basic meaning:
Describing your personality
- Adaptable
- Capable
- Competent
- Consistent
- Customer-focused
- Dedicated
- Determined
- Diligent
- Effective
- Efficient
- Experienced
- Expertise
- Flexible
- Focused
- Goal-oriented
- Hard-working
- Helpful
- Honest
- Keen
- Proactive
- Productive
- Proficient
- Profitable
- Qualified
- Resourceful
- Successful
- Thorough
- Trustworthy
- Valued
- Versatile
- Willing
What you did
- Achieved
- Administered
- Collated
- Communicated
- Completed
- Co-ordinated
- Demonstrated
- Distributed
- Ensured
- Expanded
- Facilitated
- Interacted
- Liaised
- Maintained
- Networked
- Operated
- Participated
- Performed
- Planned
- Presented
- Processed
- Programmed
- Promoted
- Provided
- Reacted
- Represented
- Responded
- Specialised
- Undertook
- Unsupervised
- Volunteered
Active words
Made/Built
- Assembled
- Completed
- Composed
- Constructed
- Created
- Designed
- Devised
- Engineered
- Fashioned
- Fabricated
- Generated
- Originated
- Produced
Started
- Began
- Commenced
- Devised
- Established
- Generated
- Implemented
- Initiated
- Introduced
- Launched
- Proposed
- Set up
Changed / Fixed
- Arranged
- Broadened
- Completed
- Controlled
- Determined (an issue)
- Eliminated
- Improved
- Minimised
- Modernised
- Organised
- Refined
- Repaired
- Resolved
- Restored
- Revamped
- Simplified
- Solved
- Streamlined
- Strengthened
- Transformed
Looked at
- Analysed
- Assessed
- Consulted
- Diagnosed
- Evaluated
- Identified
- Instigated
- Monitored
- Planned
- Quantified
- Recommended
- Researched
- Reviewed
Helped
- Advised
- Aided
- Assisted
- Enabled
- Encouraged
- Facilitated
- Motivated
- Supported
Useful phrases
- Demonstrated skills in...
- Proven track record in...
- Extensive academic / practical background in...
- Experienced in all facets / phases / aspects of...
- Accurately checked...
- Experience involved / included...
- Knowledge of... / experienced as...
- Successful in / at developing...
- Extensive training / involvement in...
- Reported to senior management when...
- Constant interaction with...
- Disseminated results of analysis...
- Provided technical assistance to...
- Professionally handled...
- Worked closely with...
- Familiar with...
- Efficiently organised...
- Supported customers and colleagues with...
- Planned and managed...
- Researching, assessing and synthesising...
- Initiated financial savings by...
- Promoted to…
More resources
- You can find even more effective words on Build My Career's Power Verbs Generator:
- Advice and examples from jobs.ac.uk
- Reed.co.uk - What words should I use on my CV?
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