Boost Your Resume: Words and Phrases To Remove Immediately
When updating your resume, it’s important to remove words and phrases that are either overused, vague, or do not add significant value to your presentation as a candidate.
Here are some types of words and specific examples that you should consider removing from your resume:
1. Clichés and Overused Buzzwords
- Hardworking: This is expected and doesn’t differentiate you.
- Go-getter: It’s better to show this through specific accomplishments.
- Think outside the box: Overused and vague.
- Synergy: Often considered buzzword-heavy and empty.
- Detail-oriented: Overused; instead, provide examples that demonstrate this quality.
Avoid clichés that don’t add specific value to your description, such as “team player” or “self-starter.” Instead, demonstrate these qualities through concrete examples.
2. Subjective Terms
Successful: Success is subjective; quantify your results instead.
Strategic: Without specific examples, it’s just a buzzword.
Creative: Show your creativity through your achievements and the methodologies you implemented.
Innovative: Like creative, it’s more effective to demonstrate with examples of innovations you introduced.
3. General Fillers and Vague Terms
Duties included: This phrase can be replaced by active verbs that showcase what you achieved.
Responsible for: Similar to above, this is passive; use action verbs to describe your role.
Experience working in: It’s better to start with how you improved or contributed to the area you worked in.
4. Redundant Phrases
Added bonus: A bonus is inherently an addition.
End result: The result is typically at the end; just say “result.”
Absolutely essential: Essential already conveys the necessity; absolutely is redundant.
5. Jargon and Complicated Language
Specific industry jargon that might not be understood by resume screeners or HR personnel who first review your resume.
Overly complex language that could be simplified to be clearer and more concise.
6. Non-Measurable Terms: Phrases like “responsible for” or “duties included” are passive and don’t show the impact of your actions. Use action verbs and quantify your accomplishments, e.g., “increased sales by 20%.”
7. Repeated Words: Using the same verbs or descriptions can make your resume seem monotonous. Use a variety of action verbs like “achieved,” “designed,” “initiated,” and “developed.”
8. High School Achievements: If you are well into your professional career, high school achievements generally aren’t necessary unless they are highly relevant to the job.
9. Personal Pronouns
I, Me, My: Resumes should be written in implied first person, meaning these pronouns are unnecessary and can be removed.
10. Obsolete Skills
Mention of outdated technologies or methodologies that are no longer relevant or in demand in your industry.
Skills that do not apply to the position you are applying for.
11. Generic Action Verbs
Helped, Used, Worked: These verbs are too general and do not specify how you contributed. Choose more dynamic and specific verbs like developed, designed, implemented, etc.
12. Implicit Information
References available upon request: This is assumed and takes up valuable space.
13. Negative or Passive Language: Avoid phrases that reflect negatively on you or are passive in nature, such as “attempted,” “tried,” or “had to.”
By removing these types of words and replacing them with specific, quantifiable examples of your accomplishments and skills, you can create a stronger and more compelling resume that stands out to employers.
Removing unnecessary words from a resume is crucial for several reasons:
Clarity and Readability:
Conciseness: Employers often spend only a few seconds scanning each resume. A concise resume makes it easier for them to quickly understand your qualifications.
Focus: Clear and concise language ensures that the most important information stands out, making it easier for employers to identify your key skills and achievements.
Professionalism:
Effective Communication: A resume that is free of unnecessary words demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively and efficiently, a valuable skill in any professional setting.
Attention to Detail: A well-edited resume shows that you pay attention to detail, which is an important quality for many jobs.
Relevance:
Targeted Content: Removing extraneous words allows you to tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for, highlighting only the most relevant experience and skills.
Avoiding Redundancy: Eliminating unnecessary words prevents redundancy and ensures that each piece of information adds value to your resume.
Positive Impression:
First Impressions: A clear, concise resume creates a positive first impression and can set you apart from other candidates.
Professional Tone: Brevity helps maintain a professional tone, avoiding the pitfalls of overly verbose language that can come across as unprofessional or unfocused.
ATS Optimization:
Keyword Optimization: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for keywords relevant to the job description. Removing unnecessary words ensures that the important keywords are prominent and not buried in verbose descriptions.
Simplified Parsing: A concise resume is easier for ATS to parse, reducing the risk of important information being overlooked or misinterpreted by the software.
In summary, removing unnecessary words from a resume enhances its clarity, professionalism, relevance, and overall effectiveness, increasing your chances of making a strong impression on potential employers.
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