10 Words Recruiters Hate Seeing on Your Resume (and 10 They Love)

2015-10-10T13:46:34-04:00

With so little space and so much awesome information about your career to share, it’s critical that you get picky with the words you use on your resume.

Unfortunately, when trying to make a resume that stands out, people often get a little too, shall we say, creative with their word choices, opting for corporate-sounding buzzwords that they think hiring managers want to hear, rather than simply describing their accomplishments.

Well, I've got news for you: It’s time to cut the jargon. In other words, "Get right to the Point."

The Worst Resume Terms to use:

Best of breed
Go-getter
Think outside of the box
Synergy
Go-to person
Results-driven
Team player
Hard worker
Strategic thinker
Detail-oriented

The Best Resume Terms:

Achieved
Improved
Trained/Mentored
Managed
Created
Influenced
Increased/Decreased
Negotiated
Launched
Under budget

When it comes to the words you choose on your resume, keep it simple. Clearly and accurately describe what you’ve done in the past, and it will become obvious to hiring managers why you’re the “best of breed.”

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Oct 10 at 2015 1:48 PM

2015-10-10T13:48:37-04:00

Sgt David G Duchesneau thanks for the information, I am redoing mines, and definitely could use the tips.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2015 2:47 PM

2015-10-10T14:47:05-04:00

Good insight, Sir. Thank you.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 10 at 2015 3:04 PM

2015-10-10T15:04:20-04:00

Thanks for sharing

Response by SPC Carl K. made Oct 10 at 2015 3:05 PM

2015-10-10T15:05:09-04:00

Excellent information. I try to avoid jargon out of habit, but I better re-check my resume, just to make sure.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Oct 10 at 2015 3:49 PM

2015-10-10T15:49:23-04:00

Great info Sgt David G Duchesneau, since I am preparing mine to send out shortly.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Oct 10 at 2015 6:24 PM

2015-10-10T18:24:43-04:00

Good thing I'm coming to the end. Don't have to worry about a resume to Retire.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2015 10:23 PM

2015-10-10T22:23:43-04:00

It's basically like an OPR they want to know the "so what." They want you to quantify what you have done or achieved. Simply stating you are awesome with nothing to back it up is meaningless.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Oct 11 at 2015 12:49 PM

2015-10-11T12:49:24-04:00

They probably like to see under budget the best since everything seems to revolve around the mighty dollar now. I know my DM loves the fact that I always manage to be under budget. The resources I save help him when he needs to focus dollars to problem areas elsewhere.

Response by SPC Luis Mendez made Oct 11 at 2015 10:05 PM

2015-10-11T22:05:19-04:00

In the good old days of the DRAFT none of that mattered. They only asked for any skills, training and education. Ironically it was the most and best Achieved and Educated Army of the 20th century (1964-75) with up to 79% with HS or Better. Such that OCS in Ft Benning was overflowing had no room left for more and OCS offers in BCT were all over the place left and right, back to front of the formations. I had 6 of 15 HS friends who were offered OCS. None accepted 'cause they had better things to look forward to after ETS.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Oct 13 at 2015 1:07 PM

2015-10-13T13:07:18-04:00

I will get right to the point, on resumes, less is normally better. Specific detail is always going to be better. I find many people trying to turn a resume into a C.V. and this can often be fatal. Show the hiring manager why you are the best one to be interviewed for the position in question...or at least how you qualify for the position in question. The resume does not get you hired. It gets you an interview.