Author: Victoria Krstev on behalf of Inflo HR Ltd.
Your resume is your first impression. Think of it as a longer elevator pitch but on paper! We’ve all read the do’s and don'ts of writing a resume, so I won’t go into too much detail there. But… have you ever thought about whether the descriptive words you are using are supporting you or actually hurting you? Resume.io conducted a survey where they spoke to 562 hiring managers to determine which words make them cringe.
The following words were voted the “Top 10 most hated resume buzzwords.”
Is anyone guilty of listing any of these words on their resume? Something these words all have in common is that they seem to be the cliche words that most people do include. These are so common because a lot of people are motivated and reliable. But so are the other hundreds or thousands of applicants for the same job!
It’s time to start brainstorming! Write down as many words that you can think of that define your skills, personality traits and both school and work achievements. Next ask yourself so what? Anyone can say they are motivated and a hard worker, even if that may not be the case. You’re going to need to prove that this is in fact true.
Let’s say one of the words you wrote down is that you are a leader. So what? Turn that into an explanation to actually prove it. Something like, “I led a team of 5 coworkers during our rebranding last year. We increased profits by 15% in the first month of the campaign.” That sounds a lot more impressive right? Now, not only did you show off your leadership skills, but you also proved that you can work effectively in a team environment and are able to achieve success for the company.
Try it out and let me know what you think in the comments below!
We’ve already got brainstorming out of the way. Now go back to that list and make sure that the words you have listed are not any of the ones in the “top 10 most hated resume buzzwords”. Make sure that these are actually relatable to yourself and your accomplishments. Can you ask yourself “so what” and be able to justify each of them? Remember, it’s easy to list all these great skills in writing, but in an interview, you are going to be challenged by being asked to present specific scenarios where you applied these skills.
We totally understand that the job market is extremely competitive, especially right now with so many people out of work due to the pandemic. However, you still need to be honest in what your skills are and not advertise that you are trained in a certain program or software when in fact you are not. If you end up getting a job where they require this knowledge, they will not be happy to find out that you exaggerated your skills or are completely untrained or unqualified. This will break the trust the employer has in you.
This goes along with the “so what?” you need to ask yourself. Use numbers and other quantifiable traits. Numbers jump out on your resume amidst a page of words.
If you are set on any of the words listed above, try to think of alternative words instead. The words you listed in the brainstorming process earlier, can you think of any alternatives for those as well?
Think about the position you are applying for. Is it a position where you need to be analytical and be trained in specific software? Or, is it more of a creative position where you need to show off your previous work. The job description will likely explain what they are looking for. Including links to certifications you have completed or to an online portfolio that showcases the website redesigns you have completed for your previous clients, may help you stand out from the other job applicants.
Speaking of job descriptions, yes, it is important to use some of the keywords they have used. But, do not simply list all of the keywords. This will automatically flag your resume, and without relating them to yourself, they mean nothing.
Next, a thesaurus will probably be your new best friend. Take the words such as “reliable” and plug them into a thesaurus to come up with different versions, but make sure they make sense before just switching every word. For example, words that come up include: “dependable” and “determined.” But so do words like “okay” and “sure.” It’s just a matter of picking through and logically thinking about what makes sense in your "so what?" statement.
Still stuck coming up with words that work for you? We’ve picked out a few online resources that include hundreds of words to help your resume stand out.
This one may be a bit obvious, but you need to double and triple check your resume. A resume with a ton of spelling and grammar errors may be the reason that you lose out on an interview. Ask a friend or family member to proofread your resume as well. A fresh pair of eyes will likely notice the small errors you are skipping over. As you’re writing your resume, highlight words or sentences that you think could be improved. Then ask whoever is editing your resume to look closer at what you have highlighted and think of replacement words to make your resume more attractive to potential employers.
In this crazy job market, it is important to do anything you can in order to stand out. You want to show off that you are unique and one of a kind, but be genuine while doing so. Just remember to ask yourself, so what? Your resume isn’t there to be a list of meaningless words; its job is to demonstrate your career accomplishments (and show any future employers why you would be the perfect fit!).
If you need any assistance in writing a resume or reviewing one that you currently have. Please contact us here, and we can set up an appointment to ensure that you are interview ready!
Alternatively, we offer the total Improved You Bundle, which templates for both resumes and cover letters, interview questions, online resources to enhance your skills and more.
