Ditch The Cliched Words: Write A Resume That Will Impress

Cartoon of a man looking sad, holding a piece of paper, and sitting at a desk.

For some reason, many job seekers get adjective happy when writing a resume.

I have seen three or four adjectives strung together to describe who you are as an employee.

Here is an example: Highly motivated (adj.) and results-oriented (adj.) self-starter (adj.) with a proven (adj.) track record of exceeding expectations in a fast-paced (adv. acting as an adj.), dynamic (adv. acting as an adj.) environment.

You might think this sentence is compelling and makes you stand out as a candidate.

But it does not.

Let's talk about why and what to do instead.

Overused Words

Ask a recruiter, and they will tell you several words on a resume are now so cliched that they don't mean anything to them.

Here is a list of overused words.

Creative 

Detail-oriented 

Dynamic

Efficient

Experienced

Flexible

Goal-oriented

Hardworking

Highly qualified 

Innovative

Motivated 

Outside of the box

Passionate

Proactive

Problem solver

Reliable

Results-driven

Seasoned

Self-starter

Team player

Let's discuss the problem with them. 

What Recruiters Perceive From These Words

Let's take the following for words.

Hardworking 

Motivated 

Proactive

Self-Starter 

Job seekers use these words to describe their work ethic and initiative. But let's think more about this. Isn't having a good work ethic and some initiative a baseline requirement for most jobs? It is expected, right? So, how does this make you stand out from the other candidates? It doesn't.

Plus, these words are vague. What does hardworking even mean? Some people achieve exceptional results through hard work, or they can work hard and not have anything to show for it. 

What you think it means and what others think could be two separate things.

Now, let's take these words.

Creative

Detail-oriented

Efficient

Innovative

Problem solver

I am sure you have used them on a resume. They are used to convey skills that the job seeker thinks the recruitment team will be interested in.

But here is the problem. Guess the percentage of job seekers who are detail-oriented or problem solvers. I can tell you it is a lot. So, how are you standing out from the crowd?

Plus, these words are subjective. You are saying them about yourself. But where is the proof? When you look back at the teams you were on, some people really were great problem solvers, some were okay problem solvers, and some struggled. However, when you look at the percentage of job seekers with this on their resumes, most people are great problem solvers. Hiring teams know this is not the case. Saying it is so does not make it so.

And lastly, let's mention these words.

Experienced

Highly-Qualified

Reliable

Seasoned (don't get me started on this one. You are not a food dish).

These words are again vague. What are the criteria for being experienced? You say you are "experienced" or "highly qualified," but isn't the most crucial group to determine if that is true the hiring team? What you think is "highly qualified" and what they do could be two separate things.

Plus, using words like "reliable" implies that you only meet the role's baseline expectations. This is not a standout quality.

Drawing of man with headset smiling while holding a piece of paper.

Show Don't Tell

When writing a resume, it is better to show what you can do than tell what you can do. Let me explain.

Telling: Using a generic statement to showcase the type of person you are.

Example: Highly motivated and results-oriented professional with extensive experience in accounting.

Showing: Demonstrating your skills with concrete examples.

Example: Increased sales by 15% by developing and implementing a new marketing campaign that targeted TikTok users between ages 13 and 16, a new buying segment.

Here are a few more examples of going from telling to showing.

Telling: Readily adapts to changing priorities and deadlines.

Showing: Successfully managed multiple projects with shifting deadlines, prioritized tasks, and effectively communicated adjustments to stakeholders.

Telling: Leverages creativity to develop and implement solutions.

Showing: Achieved a 10% reduction in production time by

identifying alternative materials and processes, mitigating supply chain disruptions.

Telling: Driven by a passion for customer service

Showing: Consistently exceeded customer satisfaction targets of 24-hour follow-up guidelines, resulting in a 25% increase in customer retention.

Telling: A team player who thrives in collaborative environments

Showing: Promoted a positive and collaborative work environment by actively listening to colleagues, offering constructive feedback, and readily supporting team initiatives.

Elements of Showing

To make your resume more powerful and set you apart from your competition, you should always think of the following as you write.

Focus on Achievements: Instead of calling yourself "flexible," quantify your adaptability with a specific example: "Increased efficiency 10% by changing out three in-house manufactured parts with three outsourced parts.

Use Action Verbs: Replace generic terms like "creative" with strong action verbs that showcase your skills: "Developed a social media campaign that increased brand engagement by 30%."

Quantify Your Impact: Don't just say "innovative," back it up with numbers: "Streamlined operations by 15% through an industry-new clear coating process."

Highlight Specific Skills: Replace "team player" with specific skills used for collaboration: "Supported reduced development time by 20% through championing open communication. Facilitated weekly team meetings to brainstorm ideas, address concerns, and ensure everyone was aligned on project goals."

Tailor to the Job: Instead of "experienced," showcase skills relevant to the specific position: Earned a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management and is SHRM-CP certified.

Cartoon of a man putting paper into a recycling bin.

Now Ditch Those Overused Words

For most job seekers, your resume is your first impression with an employer. Make it a positive one. Ditch the cliche words that make your resume boring. Instead, use the tips here to make it stand out from the crowd.

By focusing on achievements, using strong action verbs, quantifying your impact, and highlighting specific skills tailored to the job, you can create a compelling document that will excite the recruiter to reach out to you and learn more.

So instead of telling, start showing.

Want to learn more about resumes? Read my three-part series.

Secrets Of A Great Resume Part 1: Audience Value

Secrets Of A Resume Part 2: Writing About Your Value

Secrets of a Great Resume Part 3: Formatting

Shelley Piedmont is a Career Coach who focuses on understanding your unique skills, interests, and aspirations and provides personalized coaching to guide you toward roles where you can truly thrive. Whether you are stuck as to what your next career move should be or need help with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, or interview preparation, Shelley is here to help you. Please set up an exploratory call to find out how she can help you reach your career goals.