Robert Half International
Your resume is designed to communicate your accomplishments and distinguish you from other job seekers, but there are certain words and phrases that can actually disguise your qualifications. For example, if an applicant writes, "Assisted manager in optimizing marketing campaigns," it's difficult to determine exactly what the person did or how he or she did it.
Indeed, peppering your resume with vague terms can be a red flag to employers, who may feel as though you are trying to exaggerate your qualifications or hide knowledge gaps.
Here are some common buzzwords to avoid when writing your resume and advice for what you should say instead:
"Familiar with ..."
Using this or similar terms -- "knowledge of ..." and "experience with ..." are close cousins -- can send your resume to the bottom of a potential employer's pile of applications because your level of knowledge in a certain area can't be accurately determined using these phrases.
For instance, an administrative professional who says she is familiar with Microsoft Access may have used the program everyday ... or only twice in several years. Be as specific as possible when discussing the skills you possess. For example: "Executive assistant with thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including daily use of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Working toward Microsoft Office Specialist designation."
"Optimize," "leverage" and "utilize."
Many applicants insert business buzzwords into their resume in an attempt to sound more accomplished or sophisticated. But rather than making you sound "in the know," these types of words can make it seem as though you can't communicate in a straightforward manner.
Keep things simple: Instead of saying that you "utilized resources to improve company Web site," describe more specifically how you increased the number of visitors to the Web page. As much as possible, quantify your achievements to truly show the impact your actions had.
'Responsibilities include ...'
One of the biggest mistakes job applicants make is including a long, drawn out list of all of their duties in a previous position. Although it's OK to mention a few basic functions, hiring managers likely know the types of tasks you performed in a previous role and don't need a detailed breakdown. Instead, describe how you helped a previous employer save money or increase efficiencies, your advancement in a past role, or how you changed a job you held for the better.
'CFA,' 'MCTS,' or 'CPS.'
What do these letters stand for? They are all acronyms for common professional certifications (Certified Financial Analyst, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and Certified Professional Secretary, respectively). If you didn't know that, you can rest assured that many hiring managers won't either. This is especially true because the first person to see your resume is often a human resources professional or internal recruiter, not the person who directly supervises the open position. As a result, try to avoid industry jargon so anyone reading your resume can understand your unique selling points.
Although it's best to steer clear of buzzwords in your resume, you should use keywords to stand out from other applicants. Keywords are terms that appear in the job description. They describe duties, qualifications or certifications, for instance, and may be used by resume-scanning software to determine which applicants best meet the qualifications of the job. Including phrases from the job description is a good idea, but only if the terms accurately describe your background.
If you're wondering whether or not to use a word or phrase in your resume, ask yourself if it helps convey the value you can bring to a prospective employer. If a term is used to cover for a lack of experience or make it sound as though you're a sophisticated insider when you're not, leave it out.
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Oct 6th 2009 @ 10:59PM roy viera
Hey, I'm a teacher too...send me the info.
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Oct 6th 2009 @ 6:01PM JJ
I really wish that people would stop advertising when this should be about writing a good resume not your home business. STOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
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Oct 18th 2009 @ 5:23PM annie
JJ, thank you for your post. I hate the ads that are on the comments sections. i report every one of them, each time I see them. It only take a seconds to hit the "!" button. Maybe someday they will get the hint. OH WAIT, I think they do it bacause they cannot read.......the part about "keep your comments relevant to this blog entry.......
Oct 6th 2009 @ 3:08PM Jerry
These tips are so far off base. A good interviewer can get past all the buzzwords and hype. Some of the worst employees I have ever hired were the ones that had everything perfect in their resume. Two out of eve
ry three couldn't sell a glass of water.
Gut feeling plays just as big a part as a "proper" resume when hiring.
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Oct 6th 2009 @ 3:46PM Linda Rich
Jerry...I agree with you 100%. They can put anything on paper...and could not sell themselves out of a wet paper bag. So many individuals do not have a lick of common sense.
Oct 7th 2009 @ 9:46AM Rachel
Tru. But the problem is that most employers and hiring agencies have adopted this systemtic method of weeding - that in large IS ineffective but I guess it is cheaper than actually hiring the right person for the job. So without the right buzzworthy resume you will never meet a real person. So many jobs remain vacant because this system is so flawed and no one actually monitors for defects. I had one online application only give you two options for leaving a job - I was in the military and my enlistment ended - I had to choose either Quit or Fired - no other choice and neither of those is a good choice or accurate. What if the company closed or yur contract ended.
Oct 6th 2009 @ 9:26PM RubyJuly
I agree Jerry. As far as listing out your previous duties, that would seem to be the right thing to do so the interviewer can see just how many will fit with the job opening. One thing i have found, however, that a rambling list is not the way to go. Use bullet points or some other visually interesting way of breaking them out.
Oct 6th 2009 @ 4:55PM Dana
Thanks Jerry for your rational comments. When I first read those resume tips I thought, "my goodness what has this world come to". An employer that needs a reliable and hardworking employee shouldn't care if they use the word phase "My Responsibilities Include or My Job Duties Are" in their resume.
Oct 6th 2009 @ 6:21PM Angie Storck
I agree with you. I think these tips are so unrealistic. I have a great resume, and I have used some of those words and I have never been criticized or ever had much trouble getting a job. However, I have never been out of a job for too long, so maybe in today's market it would be a little different.
Oct 6th 2009 @ 7:52PM Terri
I also have to agree with Jerry; a resume is only a tool in which to build an interview. Details and levels of knowlege and acomplishments can and should be gleened from an interview.
Oct 6th 2009 @ 7:36PM Ed
I couldn't agree more.
your resume is nothing but a tool used to sell yourself anyway. everyone's real objective is to make themselves sound great, in an attempt to make the most money while doing the least amount of work, and your employer views you as an expense, who wants to squeeze as much work out of you as humanly possible while keeping their expenses to a minimum.
i dont' get hung up in "special wording" in a resume. you know if they're the right person.
then again, there is no such thing.
Oct 6th 2009 @ 8:58PM Melanie
Thank you! Anyone can pay a professional to construct an outstanding resume. Face to face is everything. What the applicant does and does not say speaks volumes. Body language, and non verbal cues say a lot. It is a shame many companies have gotten rid of common sense methods, opting for letting the right "buzzwords" tell them who is or is not the "right" candidate.
Oct 7th 2009 @ 10:55AM John
Employers today get so many resumes for every job they need a way to narrow down the ones they actually read. Otherwise they would spend all day reading resumes and they would never be able to do an effective search. A good friend of mine runs HR at a 500 Mill company and he told me he has his staff do keyword searches of the resumes they get. Fore example if you're in sales they will search for words like revenue, profit, etc. Project manager they use words like budget, project size things like that to determine the candidate actually performed the role. They the will read these resumes and see what they say before deciding who to contact. So there is importance in having the right "buzzwords" or "keywords". They get you through the first stage.
If it is possible to get someone's name, actually mailing a resume is a good idea. My friend told me he will look at a resume if it's addressed to him. His feeling is if the person took the time to get his name and mail something to him, the least he can do is look at the resume.
Oct 6th 2009 @ 3:20PM Keith
These Careerbuilder.com advice columns aren't worth the ones and zeros they are occupying in cyberspace. Just try using their own website for the 'hiring now' and soon-to-be in demand career categories that they often publish on AOL. Nada, zilch, nothing. Besides, if fifty or more people are applying for one single job posting, odds are you won't get the job nor have your resume noticed, no matter how perfect it is. In this market, employers can cherry pick the cream of the crop, so unless you occupy that top niche in terms of experience and qualifications, the odds are working against you. Employers that are hiring in this economy know exactly whom they're looking for, so following the generalized resume writing tips that Careerbuilder is pushing out really won't make much of a difference. And why is nearly every post on this message board 'make money from home' spam? Clearly these articles and message boards are complete crap....
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Oct 6th 2009 @ 4:26PM Linda
Keith...again you are right in you assumption on some things. But you have to keep trying, and the advice of some of things they tell you to do is on target.
In otherwords rely on yourself and dont give up (No matter what) you cant afford to. Keep going
Oct 6th 2009 @ 5:40PM Angie
Keith, you are so on the money. I have been spammed to death with such stupid,get no where job emails from Career Builder. I wished I had never put my info in their hands. I wished someone would/could shut them down. It is hard enough being out of work and broke without someone sending you jobs that give false hope. gr8bsn I love what you did with the company that wanted an essay. Good for you!
Oct 6th 2009 @ 3:20PM Myra
Thank you! For the information ...... And have a bless day.
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Oct 6th 2009 @ 3:39PM Dale Kalk
The people who give this advice are " IDIOTS" Human Resource people are as Dumbed down as all the rest of society!! These human resource people I encounter all the time are as STUPID as I have ever seen!! It is a shame that we have become this STUPID!! Especially the young people!! This is attributable to our educational system, which has gone to hell in a handbasket this last 20 or so yrs. They should NOT be placed in these positions of responsibility!! They are incompetent!! We desperately need to place older folks back into these positions!!
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Oct 6th 2009 @ 4:49PM Mike M
It's all about the money. Why hire, or retain, somebody with knowledge and experience when you you can hire somebody who's marginally competent at half the price. Corporate America is determined to turn this country into a third world country.
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