10 Most Cliche Resume Phrases

Resume Mistakes

10 Most Cliche Resume PhrasesImitation may be the sincerest form of flattery but repetition can be downright torturous. Think about the person in your family, everyone’s got one, that tells you the same story over and over every time you see them. You probably endure it because you have to or because you care about the person, but that type of monotonous storytelling can be downright mind numbing.

Imagine that on a larger scale: hundreds of different people telling you the same story EVERY SINGLE DAY.

It would be extremely difficult to find meaning or excitement in anything they said. That’s what it’s often like for HR departments sifting through resumes. Now envision after hearing that same story on repeat, you encounter someone that has something new to say. It may be a bit of the same information but the way it’s put together is different than anything else you’ve been hearing. Your ears perk up, that person gets your full attention, and the cycle of the broken record ends. That is the person you want to keep talking to and get to know better. That’s the difference a great resume makes and why the words you use to talk about your work and your brand matter.

LinkedIn Buzzwords

Year after year LinkedIn comes up with a list of the top overused buzzwords they see from their membership. It is an attempt to clue people in on how redundant their career storytelling is and in essence help you move away from these typical clichés.

For those of you paying attention and wanting to have a resume that makes a standout impression, here is LinkedIn’s list. Many will be familiar; most should be removed from your career vocabulary:

  1. Specialized
  2. Leadership*
  3. Passionate*
  4. Strategic*
  5. Experienced
  6. Focused
  7. Expert
  8. Certified
  9. Creative*
  10. Excellent

(*) Included on last year’s list as well.

Ban these Words from Your Resume

We’d like to piggyback on LinkedIn’s efforts based on what we see on resumes day in and day out. Words matter and we don’t want you to waste space with yours.

These are the 10 words and phrases we’d love to never see on resumes again:

  1. Responsible for
  2. Dedicated
  3. Detail-oriented
  4. Organized
  5. Self-Starter
  6. Enthusiastic
  7. Dynamic
  8. Team Player
  9. Seasoned
  10. Hard worker

Need help creating a more professional resume? We’re here for you.