Posted by When you have limited timeframe to impress the recruiter, every word and point in your resume matters. It is important to carefully pick which terms are deemed suitable on your resume and which are better to be left behind. Here is a list of phrases that you should remove from your resume to make your profile concise to the format.
1. Successful / Accomplished
Avoid using adjectives to try and improve your status, instead display your success through the context stated on your resume.
2.Guru/ Coding Ninja/ Superhero
Refrain from using non-formal and non-relevant job titles for keyword purposes.
3.Results-driven/ Results-oriented
These terms do not specify anything and instead implies that the reader should take the claim at face-value. Provide specific outcomes for each job position, instead of using a vague statement. For example, describe how you achieved them so that readers can understand the scale and impact of the outcomes.
4. Goal-oriented
Provide in-depth examples using figures to indicate that you have accomplished your goal, instead of justifying it with a simple term.
5. Significantly
Include numbers to indicate the extent of your improvement instead of stating “significantly” to describe the extent of your contribution.
Related: 6 Tips To Make Your Resume Stand Out In 2019
6. The go-to person
Clearly describe your role and responsibility instead of vaguely brushing yourself as the key person in your previous employment.
7. Responsible for/ Duties include
Utilise actionable verbs to describe your responsibilities. For example analytical, communication, creativity, flexibility, initiative and more. Summarise the results of your responsibilities and the outcomes it had from your work.
8. Team-Player
Skip the cliche term, instead provide examples of you have established a strong and motivated team towards achieving greater results.
9. Hard-Working
You can choose to expand your hard work by describing your work experience, skills and results. Alternatively, remove the word and prove yourself if you get the job.
10. An objective
Instead of adding an objective, it would be more useful to include a brief summary, especially you are planning to work in a different industry. Running with an elevator pitch on your resume can be used to summarise your career goals and qualifications for the reader.
Related: 5 Tips To Customise Your Resume For Any Specific Job Position
11. Unrelated work experience
Only list them if there are additional skills that can potentially translate to the position you are applying for. If you have limited work experience, you can include them as long as you are able to demonstrate how your previous job prepares you in the new field.
12. Using the word “I” or “me”
A resume is not a personality profile and it would look unprofessional to use the word “I” or “me.” Only use these terms on your cover letter to introduce yourself and your abilities in a conversational tone.
13. Perfectionist
Not a good word to apply on a professional document if you want to land a job. The subtext could even be implied as taking too long to do a job because you want everything to be in your own terms.
14. List of references
It won’t be necessary to include any contact information from your former supervisors on your resume. The only exception is when the hiring managers request it from you or it is related to the industry.
15. Experienced, Seasoned, Qualified, Well-versed, Skilled
Adding the term “experienced” in your job title doesn’t say much about the quality of your experience in your field. A better way to share your experience is to list the type of reports you create and how often you make them.
Related: These Action Verbs Will Enhance Your Resume into Professional
16. Dependable
Come up with a better explanation of how you are a reliable and consistent performer. Pick up moments in your previous work where you had to take the extra mile.
17. Flexible
Unless you have worked as a freelancer before, employers are expecting that you are capable of adjusting your schedule with the applied position. Only emphasise the term “flexibility” if you have experience in managing more than a single project without losing track.
Enjoy reading our article? Share your thoughts and leave a comment down below. Follow us for more daily career insights and new hirings to land your dream job. Head over to Jobstore.com and unveil your next job opportunity.
You Jing is a content writer who writes career and lifestyle contents to inspire job seekers and employers alike on their journey to work-life balance, empowerment and transformation in their career path.
Reach me at youjing@jobstore.com