The Simple Language Trick That Makes Your CV More Powerful

Are you looking to create a CV that doesn't just list your experience but truly sells your capabilities? The secret lies in how you phrase your accomplishments. It's a subtle yet powerful distinction that can make all the difference in catching a recruiter's eye. Let's talk about action words and why they are crucial for a high-impact CV.

Active Voice vs. Passive Voice: What's the Difference?

When we talk about action words, what we're really getting into is the use of 'active voice'. This is a more technical term for a very simple concept. Most of your CV should be written in an active voice, which directly attributes your achievements to you.

Let's break it down with an example. Say in your last role, you managed a team of ten people.

You could write:

• "Management of a team of 10."

This is what we call passive voice. It feels like something that just happened; it doesn't directly connect to an action you took.

Now, let's rephrase that using active voice:

• "Managed a team of 10."

See the difference? "Managed" is an action word. It’s dynamic and clearly states what you did. This active way of writing resonates much more effectively with your audience, making it clear that you were the one driving the results. If it’s your current role, you’d use the present tense: "Manage a team of 10."

Harnessing High-Impact Action Words

Action words are your power players. They typically end in "ed" for past roles and make your CV sound more impactful. Think along the lines of:

• Managed

• Developed

• Accelerated

• Spearheaded

• Delivered

A word of caution: you don't want to overdo it. The goal is to make your CV sound powerful, not repetitive. Sprinkling these words throughout your work experience section will elevate your achievements from simple statements to compelling evidence of your skills.

The One Exception: The Key Skills Section

There is one section of your CV where the rules change: the key skills section. This section, which typically sits between your profile and your work experience, is a list of keywords. Its purpose is twofold:

1. To give the recruiter a quick snapshot of your core competencies, cross-referenced with the job description.

2. To make your CV keyword-rich, so it performs better with recruitment software that scans for matches.

Here, you should switch to passive voice.

Think about it from the recruiter's perspective. If they are searching for a candidate with project management skills, their search term won't be "managing projects"; it will be "project management." Similarly, they would search for "budget management," not "managing budgets."

This is the convention for searching for skills. Even on platforms like LinkedIn, when you add skills to your profile, the options are typically in the passive voice. Therefore, to ensure your CV gets picked up by these searches, your key skills section needs to reflect this.

In summary, for the bulk of your CV, use a dynamic, active voice led by powerful action words. But for that crucial key skills section, switch to the passive voice to align with how recruiters and software are searching for candidates like you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are action words on a CV?

Action words are verbs used to describe your professional accomplishments in an active voice. Words like "managed," "developed," "accelerated," and "delivered" make your contributions sound more impactful and directly link your achievements to your actions.

Should I use active or passive voice on my CV?

Your CV should predominantly be written in active voice, especially in the work experience section. This means using phrases like "Managed a team of 10" rather than the passive "Management of a team of 10."

Is there any part of the CV where I should use passive voice?

Yes, the key skills section is the one exception. Here, you should use passive voice (e.g., "Project Management," "Budget Management"). This is because recruiters and recruitment software typically search for skills using these passive phrases.

Why is it important to use action words?

Action words make your CV more dynamic and compelling. They help your achievements resonate more strongly with the reader, clearly demonstrating what you did and the impact you had, rather than just listing responsibilities.

What's the difference in wording for a current role versus a past role?

For a past role, you would use the past tense for your action words (e.g., "Managed," "Developed"). For your current role, you should use the present tense (e.g., "Manage," "Develop").