CAREER SEARCH / 18 JULY 2023

Stand Out in the Job Market: Ditch These 20 Resume Buzzwords and Elevate Your Brand Visibility

To really stand out from a crowd, you need to make sure that you don’t fall into the trap of using the resume buzzwords that everyone else in the world is using. They can come across as fluffy and lack real substance.

Notice that these words are mostly adjectives rather than verbs. Learn to catch yourself when tempted to lean on some of these comforting, familiar works, it will give you great practice for when you need to start conveying these in conversations during interviews.

Don’t fall into the trap of the CV Cliché’s

To craft a winning CV or Resume that lands you on the shortlist of interviewees, it’s crucial to present concrete evidence of your accomplishments and steer clear of the following overused CV clichés at all costs.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of the top 20 most commonly used phrases.

Take note and use this as an opportunity to do a resume overhaul. Look at more creative, dynamic ways of showcasing your experience. Take your potential employer on a journey that represents your unique identity and start getting noticed.

The Top 20 Buzzwords that Everyone Else Uses in Their Resume

1. TEAM PLAYER

What are you trying to tell people with this? Try some easy swaps for active verbs that feel more engaging instead such as “collaborate”, “mentor”

2. RESULTS DRIVEN

What results are you driven by? Why not take advantage of the achievements section to highlight what results you have made an impact?

3. SELF MOTIVATED

What are you motivated by? This is a great opportunity to highlight any projects that you may have put your hand up for outside of the scope of your role

4. HARDWORKING

Anyone can say they are a hard worker. Reflect on some good examples or achievements that can demonstrate a time you went above and beyond what was expected of you

5. RESULTS DRIVEN

What results are you driven by? Why not take advantage of the achievements section to highlight what results you have made an impact?

6. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

What are you trying to tell the employer with this statement? Is it creative or strategic? Look at how you can demonstrate this instead.

7. DETAIL ORIENTED

If your resume is considered, well presented, and free from spelling mistakes then the reader will automatically know you are immaculate with great attention to detail. Your profile will demonstrate this on its own – remove it ASAP!

8. GO GETTER

If you can write a persuasive cover letter and attention-grabbing pitch email this quality will speak for itself. Stay humble on this one, show rather than say

9. RESPONSIBLE FOR ‘________’

Does being responsible for something mean you are any good at it? Consider substituting this passive description, for more meaningful verbs such as develop, launch, secure, transform, or capitalise.

10. INNOVATIVE

What is it that you have been innovating? Look at how you can demonstrate with concrete examples

11. PROVEN TRACK RECORD OR PROVEN ABILITY

Very unnecessary to include this word in your resume and a waste of perfectly good space to showcase your unique skillset

12. PEOPLE PERSON

What are you trying to prove with this statement? Is it your glowing reputation? Or that people like to work with you? Or that you like to work with people? Get specific and show it through some concrete examples

13. WORKS WELL UNDER PRESSURE

Everyone claims that they can do this. Use this as an opportunity to show an example where you were able to deliver a great outcome under a tight deadline. If it’s too wordy, save it for the interview

14. GOAL ORIENTED

Interesting this one, aren’t we all working towards goals in our jobs? Better to highlight what goals you actually achieved with results

15. RELIABLE

Again, just because you write the word reliable in your application, doesn’t necessarily mean you are. If this is an important value for you then you can use examples to demonstrate how you consistently supported your team to deliver a project or achieve a KPI

16. WORKS WELL INDEPENDENTLY

What are you trying to say with this statement? And how does it set you apart from everyone else? Is it important for the job? Or does it say more about the way you might like to work?

17. HARD WORKER

Does working harder or longer mean better performance? It will be more meaningful for the employer if you can demonstrate ways that you are able to deliver high-quality work in an effective and productive manner

18. GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS

What are you trying to convey with this statement? Are you great at giving presentations? Are you excellent at negotiating deals with potential suppliers? Do you write persuasive content that connects with your customers? Let your experiences shine through here

19. PASSIONATE

What are you passionate about? It will be more meaningful to show your passions through examples of projects or volunteer work.

20. PERFECTIONIST

Perfect does not always deliver results. (We have another article dedicated to this – “Confessions of a Recovering Perfectionist”)

Key Takeaways

Ensure your CV stands out from the crowd and captures the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. Avoid using clichéd language that could turn them off.

Instead, seize the opportunity to showcase your skills with compelling real-life examples. By infusing your CV with genuine achievements, you’ll create a lasting impression and significantly enhance your chances of progressing to the interview round. Don’t miss out on this chance to make a winning impression.

Need more support in your career search? Our personalised 1:1 coaching is designed to guide you every step of the way, helping you navigate the journey with confidence and success. Take advantage of this opportunity to elevate your career prospects and achieve your goals. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to take your career to new heights.

Get in touch with us today and let us empower you on your journey to success.