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 3 of 3)

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kathaleen says: (4:57PM on Oct 13th 2011) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5

I have to agree with the comments from 2010, it think the blog is very misinformative... this is quite contrary to information regarding ATS-Applicant Tracking Systems. These are the database software all Recruiters/HR Managers using to sort and track the thousands of applications/resumes they receive for the job postings they manage. It's all the about keywords they choose when searching for candidates for positions they receive or for positions a company needs to fill. I just read somewhere else that each resume must be tailored to the job posted. Using keywords from the job description/desired qualities is the best way to decide what to use in the resume. So if the job description/desired qualities are Accounts Receivable, billing and self directed, problem solving - use them. I do see the value of writing in the Achievement form rather than the Doer form; although for myself it makes me uncomfortable because it sounds self possessed and egotistical. I'm a firm believer that it takes a being a Doer to become an Achiever.

The most unfortunate thing of all is the fact that because of volume, Recruiters and HR Managers are having to resort to the impersonal internet and software programs to find the minimum applicants to even warrant a phone interview, let alone a personal old fashion face to face interview! Those days are are gone forever.

And let's just be brutally honest here... There are millions of people out of work. Many are having to change careers in hopes of finding work. There are new scams popping up on the internet everyday. All these job board sites that promise to get you a job if you become a member their service for $$ and if that doesn't work sigh up to go to our internet school so you can find a new, better job; leave it to us to find a way to come up on others misfortune. Pathetic but nevertheless the good ol' American way... It's definately harder to get a job now days than to work a job however, the best advice is - Don't give up and don't give in.

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