“Resume buzzwords are commonly used words or phrases that hiring managers tend to see too much of,” said Linda Shaffer, chief people and operations officer at background screening company Checkr. In her six years at Checkr, Shaffer has conducted between 600 and 700 interviews and reviewed countless resumes. In her experience, resume buzzwords are words that seem overused, vague, and lack originality. “The main buzzwords I’d rather not see on resumes are ‘hard worker,’ ‘team player,’ and ‘results-oriented,’” Shaffer said. According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, two of five hiring managers reported spending less than a minute reviewing a resume. You don’t have much time to impress the hiring manager.
Hard Worker
Shaffer dislikes the term “hard worker” because all employers want hard-working employees—it’s a necessary quality for every position. “Most often than not, experience and accomplishments would speak for themselves,” she said. “Saying that you’re hardworking feels like overselling yourself.” Instead of calling yourself a “hard worker,” provide more concrete details about your work history and accomplishments. This gives the hiring manager a better sense of you as a job candidate.
Team Player
Since you’re applying to work at a company with other people, being a team player is an important quality for any job candidate to possess. But just calling yourself a “team player” doesn’t tell a hiring manager anything about what it’s like to work with you. Shaffer encourages job candidates to include specific examples of being a team player, such as the types of teams you’ve worked on and how you’ve contributed. For example, set yourself apart from the competition by sharing examples of your involvement in a remote or hybrid team environment.
Results-Oriented
According to Shaffer, job candidates should avoid referring to themselves as results-oriented because in many ways, it’s a given. “Of course, you want to achieve results in your career,” she said. “Highlighting your successes and showing what you’ve accomplished is a much better way to demonstrate this quality than simply saying that you’re results-oriented,” she said. But be careful not to exaggerate your previous experience. Overusing buzzwords can look like you’re trying to overstate your abilities.
7 More Resume Buzzwords To Avoid
Jobs website Careerbuilder surveyed hiring managers and found that these were the seven least-liked terms to spot on resumes:
Best of breedGo-getterThink outside the boxSynergyGo-to personThought leadershipValue add
