Words To Avoid In a Resume Format

© P. Inglish 1995 - 2009

The wrong word choice can absolutely sabotage your resume. If you sound like everyone else, then the employer will discard your resume - You want to sound different and better than all the other job candidates.

Old, boring, hackneyed words and phrases make your resume as look as interesting as cheap wallpaper. In order to become more aware of current resume quality, go online and search for resume styles and examples every six months. Notice the words and phrases that sound freshest and strongest while transmitting the most correct impression to the reader.

• Strong work ethic - this may be the worst one, because it was taught in several work readiness classes around the country and mentioned in TV news much too often. In the 1990s you kept hearing news interview statements like, "That kid/man/woman/ has no work ethic; that's why he flunked out of school and got into trouble." The phrase "work ethic" became a buzzword, but in the 21^st century it has become nonsense syllables when use don a resume. Employers and HR Interviwers stipulate that you want to make money and want to work, so using "work ethic" on the resume is redundant.
• Proven track record - thsi one is getting old -- record of accomplishment or history of achievements is better. Then add specific hard numbers for accomplishments - Raised unit sales by $100,000 in the first month - use dollars and percentages.
• Assisted - BAD! - employers want a DOER, not a helper.
• Results-oriented, Results-driven
• Problem-solver, Proactive problem-solver
• Goal-oriented
• Solutions-oriented
• Demonstrated strengths or abilities
• Proven ability
• Multi-tasker - this has often come to mean that a person can do a lot of things at once, but most of them incorrectly. If you are able to, for example, oversee more than one building project as a project manager, mention the specific number and include hard figures to show cost savings and similar benefits.
• Successful experience - this is REALLY old and elementary.
• Broad-based experience - it could be broad-based and all bad.
• Seasoned professional - very old style wording. It may trigger a red flag that the job applicant is "too mature."
• Dynamic leader - dynamic means vigorous and purposeful or active and changing; make sure to say exactly what you mean.
• Dynamic professional
• Dedicated professional
• Accomplished professional
• Highly adept
• Highly skilled
• Team player - TRITE! This was also over done in work readiness programs and workplace employee reviews for at least 10 years. What does it really mean? Talk about how you contribute substantially to or lead a team.
• Innovative thinker - are the ideas any good?
• Technically savvy - be specific.
• Strong analytical skills - for what, how, when, where?
• Outstanding interpersonal skills
• Highly organized - speak about cost savings and streamlining production, saving time and money.
• Detail-oriented - obsessed with details and unable to see the big picture, or able to focus on details while using them to the best advantage for the company?
• Good communicator - what does this mean? Does it mean that you can talk a lot with a well modulated voice, or does it mean that people understand your words, take what you say to heart, back you up, and follow your instructions?

Bad, ineffective, just-loading-words-onto-the-page resume writing is pregnant with modifiers: adjectives and adverbs.

These modifiers may be piled together in a long line: Detail-focused, team-oriented, results-driven, highly motivated, no-nonsense manager. That manager wastes too much time writing adjectives.

In reviewing your resume, go through a hard copy and scratch out all of the adjective and adverb modifiers. Now, read it again and see if other, fresher words and phrases can placed that are more clear, accurate, and strong.

• young
• energetic
• youthful
• athletic
• fit
• healthy
• professional appearance
• mature

These words are all trite and many of them void EEO regulations if you bring them up. Once you bring up age, race, sex/gender, or anything else personal, you can be declined a position because of these characterstics without being told so, without any recourse. Job seekers as well as employers must preserve the standards and regulations of EEO.The sole exception of which I am aware is the CV for a University or College teaching position -- this often includes date of birth, marital status, and nationality (not used on resumes and job applications).

SKIP THE PASSIVE VOICE AS WELL

• responsible for - use "Directed" or "Managed" or other stronger words.
• duties included - Skip duties on a resume and go for accomplishments.
• "served as" - Change the phrase to use an appropriate active verb.