Resume buzzwords to avoid like the plague -- Career Center Blog

February 7, 2013

Resume buzzwords to avoid like the plague

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By Karen Burns
NWjobs

"Goal-oriented." "Innovative." "Self-starter." "Dynamic."

Are your eyes glazing over? Of course they are. Resume buzzwords are a turn-off for you as well as for potential employers.

Buzzwords make your resume blend in rather than stand out. They are tired and overused and make potential employers cringe. Worst of all, they don't say anything.

Every resume buzzword is not only a cliche, it's a lost opportunity. Why? They take up valuable space. Employers are not looking for vague terms like "go-to person" or "results-oriented professional" or "accustomed to fast-paced environments." No, they want descriptions of specific skills, experience, qualifications, duties and certifications.

Sounds reasonable because it is reasonable.

So instead of saying you have a "proven track record," why not list your successes? Instead of "strong work ethic," you could point out, for example, that you never missed a deadline. Instead of "proven track record of success," mention your awards and promotions. Instead of saying "extensive experience," give the number of years you've done something. You get the picture. Wherever you can, give concrete, specific examples of your unique accomplishments and experiences.

Here are some more examples of resume buzzwords to avoid like the plague:

Team player
Detail-oriented
Experienced
Excellent communication skills
Leadership skills
Organizational skills
Bottom-line oriented
Works well with customers
Strong negotiation skills
People person
Entrepreneurial
Proven ability
Top-flight
Skilled problem solver
Cutting edge
Road warrior
Works well with all levels of staff
Exceeded expectations
Savvy business professional
Strong presentation skills
Looking for a challenging opportunity
Cutting-edge
Multitasker
Proactive
Seasoned professional
Perfectionist
Highly skilled
Creative
Effective
Motivated
Best-in-class
Strategic thinker
Trustworthy
Flexible
Works well under pressure

Are you still reading? Here's another phrase to delete from your resume: "References furnished upon request." Nowadays, it goes without saying!

Karen Burns is the author of The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use. Email her at kburns@nwjobs.com.

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Pierre | February 10, 2013 1:52 PM | Reply

Wow, another expert on what NOT to do, simplistic at best. Maybe the writer would have served the reader best by posting an example of their own resume without the use of the latest 'tired' words to be avoided. Resume rewrites are driven by the professionals; writers, coaches, et al who are dependent on it for a continuing living, not having mastered any other skills. Although I totally agree that the vast majority of resume's come across as reading the same, just look at your LinkedIn connections and tell me they're not mostly interchangeable as capable resources - really. The truth is we, in any given profession, all do the same thing!

Greg | February 11, 2013 11:14 AM | Reply

So in other words, avoid the words you see in almost every single job posting ever published for skills required... Hypocrytical, yes; also probably true.

Julie | February 13, 2013 12:12 PM | Reply

I guess I'm curious as to the qualifications of the author. When I read that this individual has held 59 jobs over 40 years, my first thought...."job hopper". That is the last thing I would brag about....

Jeff | February 18, 2013 1:04 PM | Reply

I read tons of resumes every day, and I don't really have a problem with people using some of these words. I can skim over them quickly, and I realize that not everybody is an expert resume writer. The "words to use" or "words to avoid" change based upon what seems to get over-used. I am sure the author was being hyperbolic in urging that these words and phrases were on par with a deadly epidemic. I think people are bombarded with do's and dont's, and there's so much contradictory and conflicting information out there. You know that saying "opinions are like ******* and everybody's got one." The best thing you can do is to make sure your resume is clear, concise, and all the words are spelled correctly. Talk about what you did personally, what you achieved, and what your contribution was.