Six Resume Phrases That Every Hiring Manager Hates

Resume Help

by Barbara Safani on Feb 26th, 2010

resume Lately, I've been seeing so many hackneyed phrases on resumes at every professional level. Here are the top six phrases I see job seekers using to describe themselves over and over again that are sure to get your resume tossed in the no pile.

trustworthy
team player
flexible
good communicator
problem solver
works well under pressure

These examples of personal attributes rarely elevate the quality of a resume because they are boring, overused, and in some cases, just plain silly. A hiring authority expects you to have all of these traits and detailing them in the resume is redundant and a waste of valuable space on the resume. Do hiring authorities care about these traits and look for candidates that possess them? Absolutely. But listing these words on the resume doesn't make them true. A better strategy is to showcase a story of success that proves the degree to which you possess these traits. For example:

Instead of saying "trustworthy", say:

Selected by CEO to start up XYZ sportswear brand based on exceptional success managing ABC dress shirt line launch and ability to market product lines effectively across several retail verticals.

Instead of saying "strong problem solving skills", say:

Improved quality control measures for jewelry production as much as 60% by developing company's first formalized manufacturing guidelines for factory partners.

Instead of saying "works well under pressure", say:

Under aggressive 3-week time frame, staffed 100 people for six retail stores across the U.S.

Instead of saying "good communicator", say:

Instrumental in reducing the number of unsold current accounts from 15% to 4% within one year by discovering and working to address individual client needs.

Take a look at your resume. Are you using some of these words or other overused phrases such as dedicated, loyal, or quick learner? Lose the fluff and replace it with tangible proof of success to wow hiring managers rather than bore them to tears.

Barbara Safani is the owner of Career Solvers, www.careersolvers.com, and author of Happy About My Resume: 50 Tips For Building a Better Document to Secure a Brighter Future and #JOBSEARCHtweet.

46 Comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

sam huston says: (8:49AM on Mar 1st 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport1/3

HOW ABOUT VERY POSITIVE STATEMENTS.

1. Eric Holder is my personal friend.
2. ACORN called you to set up my interview
3. I embrace diversity everyday and you should too.
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5. I want to do good.

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kimbe99606 says: (9:06AM on Mar 6th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport3/3

So now my resume is 4 pages long? It seems to me that if an HR manager is plowing through more resumes than ever, then they won't be impressed by long winded-ness either.

GEO says: (12:00PM on Mar 6th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport3/3

Your Resume' advice and guidance is so lame, and you are not alone. You are just one in a scam category that is just preying on people.

Tim says: (1:38PM on Mar 6th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport3/3

I am an HR Manager, and would never throw out a resume just for putting one of these words on it. You look at a resume as a whole. Any experienced screener should be able to read a resume, see through catch word and phrases, and determine who is qualified and not qualified. Simply tossing resumes for one word would be opening the company up for lawsuits, especially if you are a government contractor. Try explaining to the OFCCP or the EEOC that I did not hire this person because they were a "teamplayer." Either of these government agencies would likely assume you had some alterior motive, especially if the candidate you tossed was a member of a protected class.

Some of this advice is okay. It is always better to backup words with substance; however, a resume should be a brief snapshot of your experience, not a novel. I would prefer a succinct resume of one to two pages over a resume that is three or more pages. If it's longer than two pages, the words on the pages must be highly relevant to the job. Of course, that is just my preference (and a lot of other hiring managers I have talked to) which is why this article is lame. Each hiring manager has their own preferences, and you will not know what they are when you apply. The best advice is to cater the contents of your resume to be relevant to the job you are applying for.

MLQ says: (10:37PM on Apr 27th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

I am trying to assist my daughter in creating a resume. I have done the same thing for 22 years so I never use an objective in a resume because I have always done the same type of work -- legal assistant. But, my daughter has had jobs in different areas, i.e., manager of a pizza place, sales associate for large cell phone company and she has also ran cocktails. She really wants a "career." None of the above are careers. She wants a "real" job so how do you, or do you even recommend that she would need to use an objective on her resume. If yes, would you (not literally), as a HR manager, even consider someone for an administrative job, entry level of course, with her work experience. Fortunately in today's technological times she is computer saavy, can answer multi-line telephones, is great with people, but she has no office experience. Any advice or "key words" she should use?

pcat says: (3:58PM on Nov 2nd 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport1/3

I wonder if you meant ulterior motive, or maybe there are alterior motives and that's why I'm not getting hired. HR is tossing my resume because they've got some alterior reason for hating me. :)

gwb5 says: (2:16PM on Mar 6th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

Replacing sensible words with overly-inflated, grammatically incorrect, corporate double-speak? I don't think so...

Mary says: (4:31PM on Mar 9th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

I agree with Tim, those words are important! If you are wondering if they are true or not, then interview them, or do you hire the ones who don't have any of those traits? It is very confusing out there, all HR Managers have their own opinion. Everytime I turn around someone is changing the way a resume should look or read. I give up trying to make you all happy. When it comes to someone working for you, it is their personality not yours and you judging and throwing away a resume just because it states they are "trustworthy" or a "team player" is just plain silly and unprofessional. I actually got an interview and a job because of the words "team player".

Steve Freeman says: (8:08AM on Mar 27th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

As a recruiter for the past 5 years and in the top 10% world wide for the largest recruiting company in the world. What Barb is saying is solid, however when using the catch words they need to be back up with examples of how these words mean something. You must be able to put value to them with weighted results. Percent increase, dollars or time saved on project or bonus and employee wards. In other word, what was the out come by being a team player, trustworthy. She did this by showing it in a phrase in the out come.

Jean says: (2:43PM on Mar 28th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

These comments and articles I have read tonight are the best job hunting articles I have ever seen online, anywhere. I do want to call attention to the advice in this particular article. You see those "over used" words on everyone's resume' because every article we read online tells us to use keywords that employers are searching for, and unfortunately, those are keywords they search for. They may be over used, you may be tired of them, but they are skills and personality traits that are in demand and may I add, they are very much needed on the job, and not everyone has those skills, even though they should.

Ana Mac says: (6:16PM on Apr 17th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

I agree with Mary you are re inventing the resume stuff , I am older, in the past it was an application and an interview used , now all this jumping through hoops and the quality of employee and companies are worse

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Refurbished Computers says: (12:59PM on Sep 6th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

Your resume is your means to sell yourself to an employer. It must be enticing enough for the hiring manager to want to take the time to interview you. Avoiding overused and cliche phrases will not only make your resume stand out but it will show that you put extra effort into showing the employer what your demonstrated skills are.......
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Ashley White says: (11:37PM on Oct 25th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

Thanks for your great article barbara. I agree with all your words. Many
free sample resumes can also give better ideas and tips about on how to make professional resume.

LetsDoIT says: (5:28AM on Jan 17th 2011) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

i would say google is the best friend..!! :)
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Ashley White says: (11:37PM on Oct 25th 2010) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

Thanks for your great article barbara. I agree with all your words. Many free sample resumes can also give better ideas and tips about on how to make professional resume.
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