10 words not to use in a resume
Resumes are tricky things. The difference between getting an interview and getting a thanks-but-no-thanks email or no acknowledgement at all could come down to the words or phrases you used in your resume. Here are twenty-six of them to eradicate. Here are a few offenders to watch for. Otherwise, thirty-eight percent of employers who responded to a CareerBuilder survey think you should slash it from your resume immediately.
Top 15 Words to Include (and Avoid) in Your Resume
Sign up now! Let me tell you something: YOU are an exceptional individual. There is no one else on this planet just like you. Think about it from a fairly simple standpoint—does anyone else possess the exact work history and work experience as you? The exact skill set? The same list of achievements? Never mind things like your personality and goals that set you apart. You deserve a professional resume that proclaims your incomparable talents, achievements, and expertise.
Your resume is the chief evangelist of your career and best instrument for securing employment. Writing a resume is an exercise in persuasive writing. Take the time to do it right. Applying for jobs can be time-consuming and tedious, but when you do it right the extra work to do so will be worth it when you land that interview or get the call from a recruiter.
This is pretty broad for a tip, so in this article I want to focus on one aspect of choosing your words carefully: avoiding words that are overused. I encourage you to review your resume especially the career summary statement—where these phrases so often appear , and eliminate any instances of these worn-out phrases that dull the shine of your individuality:.
OK, that was more than 10, but once I got started I got a little carried away. The point is, most of these are such blanket statements they fail to substantiate your value to potential employers. Here are some examples:. The more specific you are, the better idea a hiring manager will have about your experience and how it might include transferable skills that would benefit you in a new position. Using specific titles will also help if a potential employer is looking for keywords in a resume or cover letter.
Be specific about your accomplishments. A good resume always has numbers in it. See how specific that information is to you, and how it speaks to your success? But it tells me in a very specific way, without making a vague statement such as: drives strong and sustainable financial gains.
These are soft skills that most every job requires you have to some degree in order to be successful. A potential employer will interview you and determine your communication skills at that time. They can also glean something about your level of writing skills from your cover letter and resume. Use examples, facts, and figures to be more specific and set yourself apart.
Set yourself apart—talk accomplishments, and leave discussion of soft skills for the interview. Then write about what you delivered for the company or for clients instead of just the word. Vague descriptions add nothing to your resume. Instead, think in terms of outcomes; this will help you to write about facts and figures as opposed to generalities. No matter the field you are applying in, facts and figures are much more likely to help you catch the eye of recruiters and prospective employers.
No other candidate will have your exact, identical work experience. Use this to your advantage, and be exact; prove yourself with examples and metrics whenever possible. Use formatting to your advantage to do so—highlight special achievements using simple graphics or charts.
For many more resume tips, take some time to browse through the blog section of Great Resumes Fast. We have literally hundreds of articles on a large range of topics related to resume writing, cover letters, career advice, and interviews. You can also find executive resume samples on our website to help you get started or to polish up your old resume.
However, if resume writing is too time-consuming or simply not something you want to tackle as part of your job search, you might be considering using executive resume writing services. Great Resumes Fast can help you. Our executive resume writing service is made up of a team of certified professional resume writers who will get to know you, your work history, your accomplishments, your career goals—in other words, what makes you a unique applicant and will make you stand out to a recruiter or potential employer.
We write resumes to help you advance your career, and we know that the most effective way to write a resume is to make it unique to the applicant and to the position. Are you tired of your resume being rejected by applicant tracking systems? I know how frustrating it is to submit your resume and receive no response. I hate seeing qualified people never breakthrough the screening process. My desire—and the heart of Great Resumes Fast —is to use our expertise and experience within the HR world to help job seekers who do not have the time, experience, or expertise to create interview-worthy resumes.
Great piece Jessica. Also, I would request job seekers not to mention any irrelevant information or something you are not aware of on your resume, that can put you in trouble. Make your words work for you—and deliver the most bang for your buck. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Tags: bad resume phrases , bad resume terms , bad resume words , overused resume phrases , overused resume phrases , overused resume phrases , overused resume terms , overused resume words , overused resume words , overused resume words , phrases not to use on your resume , phrases to avoid on resume , terms not to use on your resume , terms to avoid on resume , words not to use on your resume , words to avoid on resume , wornout resume words.
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“References available by request” See the preceding comment about unnecessary terms. “Experience working in ______”.
The problem is language: Most resumes are a thicket of deadwood words and phrases—empty cliches, annoying jargon and recycled buzzwords. Recruiters, HR folks and hiring managers see these terms over and over again, and it makes them sad. Yes, they know. If your salary is not negotiable, that would be somewhat unusual.
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10 words and phrases you should never use on your resume
If your resume uses some power words and responds with:. It is not answering the question; rather it provides a subjective description of who you think you are. Recruiting and hiring managers have seen it all before. They go through hundreds of resumes every day. Every person who applies for a position in the company says he or she is responsible, capable and confident.
Words to Avoid and Include on a Resume
As a resume writer I know that writing a resume can be a daunting task. You want to make sure you present yourself in the best light possible. The words and phrases you select to describe yourself and your work are very important. Your resume needs to communicate the value you bring to the position while showing your unique expertise. I have seen thousands of resumes in my Resume Writing and Human Resources careers, and the ones with action words were always the ones that made an impression on me. Action words are a great way to show potential employers your value by highlighting your accomplishments. However, there are many action words that are so overused that they are becoming ineffective. Innovative — Many people use this word instead of giving specific examples of their accomplishments. Assisted — Instead of telling someone you assisted in something, state specifically what you did on the project.
Do you want to sharpen up the language on your resume so it leaves a lasting impression?
You only have a short time to make an impression with your resume. Instead, choose action-oriented phrases that show rather than tell why you should be considered. Choosing overused business jargon can weaken your resume.
400+ Resume Action Words (Plus 100 Power Verbs Recruiters Love to See)
If your resume is poorly written, all the great experience in the world won't save you. Keep in mind that effective communication is essential, no matter the industry. If your resume or cover letter is poorly written, it doesn't matter how many impressive internships your resume lists or how many glowing referrals you can tack on. You're already dead. Because employers today are deluged with resumes, yours needs to stand out — but not for the wrong reasons, like using any of the following 10 killer buzzwords and phrases. Nine out of 10 times you mean "figuratively" — that is, the opposite of "literally. Because you probably mean "compose. The whole comprises the parts. It might be that many colleges today are largely composed of professors who are members of a fan-club comprising lovers of the word "comprise," because employers see it a lot of it these days in resumes and cover letter. It seems that people think it's a more sophisticated way of saying, "compose. The quickest way to identify a lack of writing talent is seeing confusion about "it's" a contraction for "it is" and "its" the possessive of "it. So, you couldn't come up with a word to describe your feelings? If that's the case, it's likely there are several other important things you can't do — like think. Thanks to extreme overuse, this word means nothing — or everything. Either way, it communicates no information, other than the paucity of your vocabulary and, by extension, your lack of interest in original thinking.
Top 10 Words / Phrases to Avoid in Your Resume
Know which words to include in your resume, and which to avoid, to impress the hiring manager quickly. Achieved Include action verbs throughout your resume, particularly in the work experience section of your resume. Employers want to know what you can offer the company, and action verbs show exactly what you have accomplished at previous companies. This makes employers feel confident that you can achieve similar things at their companies. Improved Improved is another useful action verb to put in your resume. This word shows that you made some sort of positive difference at a previous company. If possible, explain how you made the improvement.
