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It’s hard to believe that a few words could irritate someone enough to make them stop reading your resume, but it’s true. Some hiring managers and recruiters admit that they have their own mental lists of words that annoy them. Resume how-to books may recommend that you pack your resume full of as many verbs, adjectives and adverbs as you can. But if you aren’t careful, you could turn off more prospective employers than you entice. Effective word choice is what really appeals to hiring managers – not action verbs and glittery modifiers. Here is a rundown of some words that hiring managers say detract from the persuasiveness of resumes they see.
| TERM | REASON TO AVOID |
| Assist, Assisted | Hiring managers want to know what YOU DID, not how you helped. |
| Experiment | No one wants to hear about what you tried to do, only what you have accomplished |
| Skillfully, Effectively, Carefully, Quickly, Expert, Mastered | Hiring managers often object to words that describe how well you do a particular task. It can come across as boastful. “If you are not good at it, why are you putting it on your resume?” |
| Cutting-edge, Detail-oriented; Coordinate, Facilitate, Transform; Proven ability, Synergy, Liaison |
These words take up space without communicating much. They are used so much that they have lost their original energy. Provide details and substance, not tired business jargon. |
| Responsible for . . . | You are a lead or manager. Of course you are responsible for something. Specify exactly what your responsibilities are and work in a few numbers to convey the scope of what you do. |
** Referenced from www.techrepublic.com