An individual résumé/CV is examined by recruiters for an average of 6.2 seconds, according to a recent study, says Naira Metrics.
With such a short attention span and a constrained amount of space, résumé writers must maximize every word.
In light of this, it might be time to examine your résumé critically and remove any language that isn’t helping you; this goes to your LinkedIn profile as well.
And you can start with these 10 ambiguous, overused, unsuitable, or utterly meaningless terms.
Use of “I”
Your résumé is an opportunity to demonstrate how your abilities, expertise, and experience have benefited past companies in concrete ways.
Instead of overusing “I,” concentrate on what you can contribute to the organization and the position you are interested in. Keep in mind that it’s more about them than it is about you.
A résumé that is overburdened with “I” and “my” statements suggests that your emphasis is off, and your focus is in the wrong direction.
Use of “Love”
‘Love’ is a term that stands out as the most used in any type of business communication, such as “Accounting is my first love” or “I’d love to work for your organization.”
Let’s save this really potent description for our loved ones, our pets, friends, and our smartphones.
“Microsoft Office”
According to Amber Carucci of PR Daily, the majority of companies assume that applicants possess fundamental computer skills, thus candidates shouldn’t waste space on their résumés by emphasizing this fact.
Instead, concentrate on specialized fields of knowledge like HTML development, JavaScript, SEO/SEM, or project management software.
“Impactful”
Impactful is a term, to be sure, but it’s not always a good one.
It is awkward and clumsy, and it poses the question: Was the impact positive or negative? Open a thesaurus and choose a more appropriate adjective.
“Experienced”
‘Experienced’ has become almost useless due to its ambiguity and overuse. Therefore, omit it and be more explicit.
What have you done? What initiatives have you led? What outcomes have you achieved? Don’t bore them with generalizations; dazzle them with facts.
“Utilize” and Other “izes”
Utilize, maximize, and optimize don’t just fall flat with potential employers; they also take away from the clarity and flow of your résumé.
Avoid using formal language and always communicate in a straightforward, quantified manner.
“Driven” or “Passionate”
Because employers fetishize passion so much, jobseekers feel forced to overuse this ludicrous description on their résumés.
Instead of describing your motivation with words like “passionate” or “driven,” show it through your academic success, your specific career accomplishments, your licences, and your participation in professional associations.
“Results-Oriented”
Results-oriented and the three phrases that come after it are all overused phrases. They have lost any actual meaning that they may have once offered to employers due to their ubiquity and vagueness.
It just poses to be replaced with quantitative examples of the outcomes you’ve generated, the targets you’ve regularly attained, the transactions you’ve closed, and the new partnership you’ve formed.
“Team-Player”
Hiring experts could have retired decades earlier if they received a penny every time they see this phrase.
Avoid clichés and demonstrate your recent success working with your previous teams.
Better yet, give examples of how you’ve led, managed, and inspired your teams to achieve tangible results.
“Hard-Working”
A well-written résumé’s content should speak for you in this regard. Relax and let your accomplishments, abilities, and results do the talking.
Remember, there is a formula for success, even though it frequently appears that getting the perfect individual to notice your résumé requires a combination of luck and black magic.
Clear, jargon-free, flawlessly written, and rigorously edited résumés consistently win jobs.
Get recognized by avoiding the use of flowery language and substituting specific, concrete accomplishments for generalizations. You and your recruiter are much too busy.