Many of us can summon over-used resume buzzwords in our sleep.
In truth, a hiring supervisor might need nightmares about drowning in an ocean of “experience,” “strategy,” and “fluency.” While not all buzzwords are created equal, there are some which might be, fairly frankly, overused.
When you solely have a brief quantity of time to seize a recruiter’s consideration, why waste it utilizing phrases, phrases, and verbs which might be so overused they’ve misplaced their that means at this level?
When the competitors is fierce, having a concise, well-worded resume is required to seize the recruiter’s consideration—and land an interview.
Rule #1 of Resume Writing: Don’t Be Too Wordy
Don’t be afraid to make use of your individual voice.
This means swapping out sentences like “results-driven team player who managed the onboarding process” with one thing extra particular, like, “I developed an onboarding process that reduced the number of employees involved by 20%, which allowed our team to focus on more important hiring priorities.”
Strong Resume Power Words to Use
Most resume bullet factors begin with language that’s repetitive and boring. When a recruiter is skimming the web page, it’s simple for them to glaze over your accomplishments.
That’s the place energy phrases are available. Power phrases assist punch up any resume bullet level. They allow you to stand out, they assist relate your expertise to the particular job higher and sooner, and they might help inform your story in a extra concise approach.
Most firms will use an ATS to gather on-line functions. Next, the ATS will learn/scan your resume to see if it’s a match for the job.
How to Actually Use Power Words
Don’t: Don’t cease by simply together with the key phrase with little or no context.
So you may say: “Cultivated 35+ client relationships and organized the sales process from lead to signed contract each quarter.”
Resume Action Verbs
They are used so as to add influence to a sentence with a purpose to present related and essential info, so they’re key to a formidable resume.
Some examples embrace:
- Accelerated: Accelerated improvement of the corporate’s inaugural internship program.
- Collaborated: Collaborated with a crew of eight folks to lift $1.5 million for charity.
- Supervised: Supervised a cross-departmental initiative that resulted in a ten% improve in income.
- Implemented: Implemented framework and greatest practices for buyer success.
- Designed: Designed a wireframe for the corporate’s first-ever cellular utility.
- Enhanced: Enhanced buyer expertise with a brand new platform.
Power Adjectives
If that is starting to appear like a grammar refresh lesson, it’s!
Another sort of energy phrase is an influence adjective. An influence adjective is a phrase that describes the noun or pronoun. For instance, within the phrase “hot day,” the phrase “hot” is the adjective that’s describing the day.
They are used to explain the standard, amount, or state of a noun. These are particularly essential in a resume as a result of recruiters like to see quantitative particulars included—like “I increased revenue by 10%.” vs. “I increased revenue.”
Some examples embrace:
- Focused
- Diligent
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Proactive
- Detailed
- Prompt
- Extensive
- Numerous
- Smooth
- Comprehensive
- Agile
- Cohesive
The purpose with including energy adjectives is to boost what you’re describing—to not make it wordy.
Include an adjective with an accomplishment or instance.
How to Transform Your Sentences with Power Adjectives
Before: Launched a brand new undertaking administration software.
After: Launched seamless integration of a undertaking administration software that elevated crew productiveness by 15%.
Before: In cost of cross-communication throughout many departments.
After: Created templates to make sure clean and correct communication with clients throughout 5 departments.
Before: Responsible for responding to buyer emails every day.
After: Filtered 100+ high-priority buyer emails every day with a purpose to lower month-to-month churn charges.
Before: Oversee donor relations program.
After: Secured $30 million of devoted funding from donors, households, and campus outreach organizations.
3 Tricks to Help Avoid Using “Bad” Power Words
We’ve coated loads of the the explanation why you need to embrace energy phrases in your resume and earlier than we offer you much more examples of energy phrases, let’s talk about some that it is best to keep away from.
You’ll need to keep away from these resume energy phrases as a result of they’re overused, don’t showcase your accomplishments in addition to different phrases, and lack the flexibility to face out in a sea of resumes.
Know the Difference Between Self-Promotion vs. Self-Initiation
You may be tempted to make use of phrases to brag about your self resembling go-getter and point-person, however it could be extra spectacular for those who focus in your expertise to take initiative and get stuff executed.
Avoid the Overly-Obvious
Don’t waste valuable resume actual property stating issues which might be apparent and don’t assist differentiate you in any respect. These consists of phrases like “team player,” “people person,” “hard worker,” and many others.
Please Avoid Business Jargon (for Jargon’s Sake)
We talked about this already, however let’s get extra particular.
The Top Ten Most Overused Resume Buzzwords + Helpful Alternatives
- Specialize
- Experienced
- Skilled
- Leadership
- Passionate
- Expert
- Motivated
- Creative
- Strategic
- Focused
Chances are, for those who scour your individual LinkedIn profile or resume proper now, you’ll come throughout some of these guys—possibly even all of them.
Is that unhealthy? Not essentially. It’s a very good apply to remember of the extra commonly-used buzzwords so to dare to be completely different (similar to that motivational poster says!).
Feel that ~*synergy*~? Let’s dive in.
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Specialize”
It’s nice to focus on one thing—particularly if it’s a tough ability or a sure piece of software program, however yikes, this phrase is overused. Here are just a few alternate options.
- Practiced*
- Well-versed
- Concentrated experience
- Rehearsed
- Trained
- Honed*
- Exercised
- Disciplined
- Seasoned*
- Studied
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Experienced”
As we undergo this listing, it’s essential to acknowledge that these resume buzzwords usually are not all unhealthy.
If you need to say skilled, say skilled! However, if you wish to zhuzh it up or say that you’re skilled in a mess of issues, use just a few variations.
- Accomplished*
- Capable
- Competent
- Mature
- Qualified
- Old hand
- Skillful
- Sophisticated*
- Superlative
- Cultivated*
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Skilled”
Showcase your spectacular expertise utilizing some of these various phrases.
- Adept*
- Adroit
- Quick
- Clever*
- Proficient
- Savvy
- Dexterous*
- Primed
- Veteran
- Tuned In
- Prepared
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Leadership”
Here’s an enormous one. Let’s use another phrases to explain your actual management talents.
- Access
- Actualize*
- Authority
- Command
- Direction
- Effect
- Enact*
- Guidance*
- Impact
- Imprint
- Influence
- Initiative
- Prerogative*
- Reputation
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Passionate”
Passion within the office may be very enticing to a hiring supervisor.
- Ambitious
- Ardent*
- Eager*
- Earnest
- Fervent
- Hungry*
- Impassioned
- Keen
- Stimulated
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Expert”
Who doesn’t need an professional on their crew? Here are some synonyms to professional—in addition to just a few phrases to additional illustrate your explicit experience.
Pro Tip: Proceed with warning with just a few of these. While you need to exhibit your experience, you don’t need to come off too robust.
- Ace
- Buff
- Graduate
- Guru
- Inimitable
- Master
- Old Pro*
- Pro
- Savant
- Virtuoso
- Whiz*
- Whole
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Motivated” or “Motivator”
- Driven
- Galvanize*
- Incline
- Inspire
- Inspirit
- Productive
- Propel*
- Provoke
- Ready
- Spark
- Spur
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Creative”
Creative staff are arguably one of the best staff.
- Apply
- Bright
- Clever
- Crafty*
- Cutting-Edge
- Eloquent
- Expressive
- Innovative*
- Inventive
- Original
- Resourceful
- Shrewd
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Strategic”
Strategy is big within the office. Whether you are working in a fast-paced startup or a corporation with stone-age period practices, methods at all times have to be improved, examined, and confirmed.
But “strategy” or “strategic” are the buzziest of buzzwords on the market, so listed below are just a few alternate options.
- Analytical
- Blueprint
- Considerate
- Contemplative
- Deliberate*
- Methodical*
- Logical
- Ordered
- Scrupulous
- Structure
- Weighed*
Resume Power Verbs to Replace “Focused”
- Absolute
- Comprehensive*
- Concentrate
- Consummate
- Faultless
- Impeccable*
- Overall
- Perfected
- Practiced
- Ruminate
- Sweeping*
- Telescopic*
- Undivided
How to Find Power Words in a Job Posting
If the corporate describes its tradition as “multi-passionate creators” embrace that phrase in your resume or cowl letter with an instance of the way you match that description.
You can use these actual key phrases and phrases in your resume and edit your bullet factors so your expertise seems to be and seems like an ideal match for the job. For instance, if the job is searching for somebody who can “analyze data using Excel” then you’ll want to embrace your expertise “analyzing data” and/or “using Excel.”
Another place to search out these key phrases and phrases is on the corporate’s profession web page or About Us web page.
One Final Pro Tip: Print out the job description for the job at hand.
Next, go discover three or 4 different job postings for comparable jobs at comparable firms. Print these out as nicely.
Once you’ve gotten all of them in entrance of you, spotlight the abilities, experiences, and phrases which might be used amongst all of them. That gives you a very good basis for figuring out the key phrases and phrases for these varieties of jobs.
