Your Resume is Not a Bingo Card
Hiring managers read hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes. After a while, they all start to sound the same. Overused buzzwords and cliches are a major reason why. These phrases are often vague, meaningless, and fail to communicate your actual value. If a recruiter could play bingo with the phrases on your resume, it's time for a rewrite.
Why Buzzwords Fail
Buzzwords are lazy. They tell the recruiter what you think they want to hear, but they don't show them what you've actually done. The goal of a resume is to provide concrete evidence of your skills and accomplishments.
Instead of saying you are a "problem-solver," describe a problem you solved and the impact it had.
- Weak: "A proven problem-solver who thinks outside the box."
- Strong: "Reduced system downtime by 25% by identifying and resolving a critical memory leak in the primary application."
Common Culprits to Cut
Here is a partial list of phrases to remove from your resume immediately:
- Results-oriented
- Team player
- Hard worker
- Think outside the box
- Go-getter
- Self-starter
- Detail-oriented
- Dynamic
- Synergy
- Proactive
- Best in class
- Proven track record
What to Do Instead: Use Action Verbs and Quantify
The antidote to buzzwords is specificity. Start every bullet point with a strong action verb and, wherever possible, quantify your achievements with numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts.
- Instead of: "Responsible for managing the budget."
- Try: "Managed a $500,000 annual budget, reducing operational costs by 15% through strategic vendor negotiations."
By replacing vague cliches with concrete achievements, you'll create a resume that is more credible, more memorable, and far more likely to land you an interview.