The job market is competitive right now. I’ve been applying to different places for several months and your resume can make a huge difference. It is important to know how the words you are using will impact how you are perceived by an employer. To make yourself more appealing, you should consider removing these 12 words from your resume.
1. “Hardworking”
As a trait, being hardworking is admirable and most candidates will claim to be a hard worker. Rather than including this in your resume, you should demonstrate it through your career accomplishments. Typically, employers want to see results. They don’t want to know about your personality traits. For example, “Increased social media sales by 30% through consistent advertising and viral posts” says more about your hard work than just using the word.
2. “Team Player”
Everyone wants to hire a team player. Over time, it has lost its meaning because it is frequently used on resumes and in interviews. Rather than describing yourself as a team player, show them how you collaborate with other people to reach goals. Strive to use phrases like “collaborated with teams to reach quarterly goals” that can provide a clear picture of what you accomplished. Words like “collaborated,” “partnered,” and “coordinated” all help show your willingness and ability to work with a team.
3. “Results-Oriented”
It’s fair to say that most professionals are results-oriented, but what do these words actually mean? Instead of using buzzwords like this, attempt to show off things you’ve actually achieved. Highlight how you’ve increased revenue, improved efficiency, or reduced costs. Be specific about what you did by using numbers like “reduced production costs by 20% over six months.” These details will speak louder than any word you could use on your resume.
4. “Go-Getter”
Being a “go-getter” seems like it would be a good thing, but the phrase has become overused. You should be able to demonstrate how you are proactive in the workplace instead of just telling the employer that you are. Take time to describe instances where you identified opportunities and took the lead on projects. For instance, you might include something like “spearheaded the transition to the new project management system, improving workflow by 20%.” You should use action words like “led” and “initiated” rather than descriptive words about yourself. Make it known that you can make things happen.
5. “Motivated”
Every employer is looking for someone who is motivated, but stating so on your resume doesn’t set you apart. Again, you want to speak to how your motivation has led to action and overall success. Focus on the things you’ve achieved that come from your drive to be successful. You might mention that you completed new training so that you could lead a high-profile project or that you adopted new software to streamline your own work processes. The key is to replace any vague claims about your personality with evidence from your career.
6. “Experienced”
Everyone has some experience, but that doesn’t communicate much about your specific skill set. You should discuss the projects you’ve handled. So, if you are an “experienced manager,” you would want to say something like “led a team of 10 to deliver projects in a timely manner, exceeding client expectations.” In the end, employers care about what you’ve done and not necessarily how long you’ve been doing the job.
7. “Synergize”
“Synergy” is a buzzword that doesn’t carry much weight. You should strive to explain what you accomplished with other people on your team. If you worked closely with another department to improve productivity, say that. Use actionable words like “collaborated” and “coordinated” rather than synergize. These words are more impactful than corporate jargon.
8. “Detail-Oriented”
Of course, being detail-oriented is a valuable trait, but this is another word that has become overused. It’s best to use examples from your career so far. Maybe you caught a mistake that saved the company serious money. Or maybe you created error-free reports for your clients. These details are more meaningful than just telling the employer that you are detail-oriented.
9. “Self-Starter”
Replace “self-starter” with examples of projects that you’ve launched or led independently. Your experience will speak for itself and you won’t have to mention that you’re a “self-starter.” Action words will serve you best here like “designed” or “created.” These will better reflect your proactive nature without relying on overused terms.
10. “Dynamic”
It’s all in the details! Telling someone you are “dynamic” doesn’t give them any idea about what you can actually do. Talk about how your attitude and energy have benefited previous employers and teams. Remove “dynamic” from your resume and describe how your actions improved outcomes for companies.
11. “Passionate”
Passion is important, but simply saying that you are passionate about your work doesn’t hold much weight. You need to display how your passion for the job drove success. Maybe your enthusiasm led to a major new project or you helped the company reach new heights. While employers like to hear that someone has a passion for what they do, they want to know how that will translate into real-life results.
12. “Responsible For”
Rather than using the phrase “responsible for,” you should choose more powerful words like “managed” or “spearheaded.” Being “responsible for” something makes you sound passive. So, instead of saying that you were “responsible for client communication,” replace it with something like “managed client relationships, achieving a 95% retention rate.” This makes it known that you didn’t just handle your responsibilities, you really thrived in the role.
Freshen Up Your Resume for Maximum Impact
Overall, active language is what will help you stand out in the current job market. As employers are faced with dozens of resumes every day, highlighting your skills and accomplishments is key. You want them to know what you’ve done and what you bring to the table in the new position you are seeking. By making these changes to your resume, you will stand out among the crowd.