The highly competitive job market nowadays demands for a flawless and captivating resume. Every word counts in proving to prospective employers that you’re the right one for the job.
Thus, in the same view that you must use relevant power words in your resume to stand out, you must also be aware of the weak words to leave off.
Here are the words that initially seem fine to incorporate, but actually produce more harm than good to your job application.
“Assist”
Imagine encountering this particular word all throughout a resume. Aside from sounding very much like a perennial ‘assistant,’ you also don’t give any specific mental picture of yourself. Yes, you helped, you ‘assisted,’ but you don’t actually elaborate in what way. It’s too indistinct a word to describe you and your accomplishments. In a resume, you must make it easy for the employers to vividly see your competency. This means letting them know the specific part you played in an important project and how you positively influenced the result.
“Contribute” and “Support”
These words are in the same league as “assist.” They are too vague. You unfavorably keep your employers hanging as to the exact means of your contribution and support for a certain person or project. Moreover, these words merely relegate you into a minor role that may not have been all that critical and essential.
“Work”
This word is another weak and passive verb to avoid in your resume. How can you stand out from the competition when you timidly use the most common and broad sketch of your job? Erase this from your resume vocabulary. Everyone ‘works’ on something, the employers absorb that already. What you need to do is dictate the level of ‘work’ you undertook, such as if you ‘spearheaded’ a project, ‘managed’ a team of 20 individuals, or ‘launched’ a new campaign. These latter words sound more definitive and proactive than the measly action word that is ‘work.’
“Effectively” or “Successfully”
It’s so easy to drop the statement of being effective or successful on a certain task or responsibility. But when you simply stop there and leave out the details of your success and effectiveness, you missed out on truly winning over your readers. Dole out specific and tangible details to back up your claim of being competent. Declare your achievements openly and accurately, and then supplement that with details of how the project has flourished under your management.
“Duties included” and “Responsible for”
These can be considered as weak words when you fail to follow them up with accomplishments relative to said duties. Standing alone, “duties included” or “responsible for” sound like a mechanical listing of your current or previous job. And while employers are interested to know all that, they are more intrigued as to how exactly you performed in those responsibilities. So, make an impact by stressing on your achievements. Using details and figures are great ways to showcase how you prospered in the job.
Adhere to these wording guidelines and observe how your resume will take on a fresh and more competitive approach.
About the Author:
I’m Rio Totar, 28 years old and residing in the outskirts of Baltimore. My main career goal is to aid young minds in finding their own career goals. Thus, together with my fellow counselors and professional resume writers, our team tours the country to provide career talks and mentorships to students.