Words to Avoid on Your Résumé

When applying for an open position, your résumé is one of the first things hiring managers look at during the hiring process. However, you do not have long to make a lasting first impression. Almost 24% of hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds looking at a résumé, meaning you need to be mindful and purposeful in the content you choose to include.  

While there are several tips and tricks as to what you should include in your résumé, we have outlined some words to avoid on your résumé below. 

Words and Phrases to Avoid on Your Résumé

1) Overused descriptors

Hiring managers are constantly looking at résumés, and as a result, they often see the same words over and over again. You want to stand out, so do not use the same cliché descriptors that others may include in their résumé. For example, avoid using words like “hard-working,” “detail-oriented,” and “problem-solver.” Instead, one may say, “led a complex SAP implementation that included over a dozen workstreams.” Try to provide examples of how you contributed to a project or initiative that will showcase those attributes in action. 

2) Vague titles

You never want to be vague on your résumé. While you do have limited space, you still must be detailed. Non-descriptive titles like “Manager” or “Director” do not provide much insight into the role or responsibility. Try to be more specific, like “Director of a Sales Engineering Team” or “Manager of a Quality Assurance (QA) Team.”  

3) General claims

Similar to overused descriptors like hard-working and detail-oriented, candidates tend to include non-specific claims on their résumé. Using phrases like “Helped lead the team,” “Responsible for sales,” or “Experience in consulting,” are often too general. One tip to avoid making such claims is by using quantifiable data. Rather than saying, “Experience in consulting,” try saying something like, “consulted for five projects across three different companies in the quality and compliance sector.” 

4) Self-assessed qualities

When describing yourself, it is best to avoid any self-assessments. Using words like “expert” and “leader” may seem over-zealous, even if true. Err on the side of modesty, and let your skills, experiences, and references speak for themselves. Once again, provide examples that highlight how you contributed to a project or initiative rather than simply stating unbacked qualities. 

5) Company-specific terminology

It is not uncommon nowadays for companies to create their own jargon. As such, avoid including any company-specific terminology in your résumé as hiring managers may not understand. An example of this is if you worked for Meta, you likely referred to yourself as a “Metamate.” Most hiring managers will not understand the terminology right away, so keep it simple. 

6) “References available upon request”

It can be extremely easy to unintentionally add fluff to your résumé. Including “references available upon request” is usually obvious, and therefore, a waste of space. Instead, provide the hiring manager with a separate list of individuals who have agreed to give a reference once and if requested. 

Be Intentional with Your Word Choice

When it comes to résumés, not only do you have limited time to make a good impression, but you have limited space, too. Most résumés should only be one page, so be intentional and specific with your word choice. Avoiding non-descriptive words, vague titles, and generalized statements will help set you apart from other candidates. For any questions about résumé writing, contact our team of Staffing and Recruiting Experts at BCTG.