A guide written and published by Harvard University's career services department shed light on the power of language selection. Recruiters scan hundreds of resumes daily, and the language you use can significantly influence whether yours gets selected for an interview. As recruiters ourselves with an average of 15 years experience, this article explores common resume words that might be sabotaging your candidacy, along with powerful replacements that showcase your skills and achievements more effectively. By incorporating these suggestions, you can craft a resume that uses language to grab the reader's attention and land you that interview.
Words to ditch:
1. Generic verbs
Remove words like "responsible for" or "performed", they are vague and don't tell the reader much about your specific contributions.
Replace with: Strong action verbs that paint a picture of your accomplishments. Use verbs like "spearheaded," "implemented," "managed," or "quantified" to demonstrate initiative and impact.
See the full list of Harvard-recommended verbs below:
CommunicationAdvertised Addressed Arbitrated Authored Collaborated Composed Conferred Contacted Convinced Debated Discussed Edited Enlisted Expressed Furnished Informed Influenced Interpreted Interviewed Judged Listened Mediated Negotiated Outlined Persuaded Promoted Publicised Recruited Reinforced Resolved Solicited Summarised Translated | CreativeActed Adapted Combined Conceptualised Created Designed Developed Directed Drew Established Fashioned Founded Formulated Generated Illustrated Initiated Instituted Integrated Introduced Invented Modelled Originated Performed Photographed Planned Produced Revitalised Shaped | FinanceAdministered Adjusted Allocated Analysed Assessed Balanced Budgeted Calculated Conserved Determined Developed Estimated Managed Marketed Measured Netted Planned Projected Quantified Reconciled Reduced Retrieved | HelpingAdvocated Aided Answered Assessed Clarified Collaborated Counselled Cooperated Demonstrated Educated Ensured Expedited Facilitated Furthered Guided Helped Intervened Led Mentored Prevented Referred Rehabilitated Represented Simplified Supported | ManagementAchieved Administered Analysed Assigned Approved Attained Chaired Contracted Consolidated Controlled Coordinated Delegated Developed Drafted Directed Eliminated Evaluated Enhanced Executed Expanded Handled Hired Implemented Improved Increased Inspected Merged Navigated Organised Oversaw Presided Produced Reorganised Restored Scheduled Selected Strengthened Terminated |
AdministrativeApproved Arranged Coordinated Categorised Classified Collected Corrected Distributed Executed Generated Filed Implemented Incorporated Logged Monitored Operated Organised Processed Purchased Registered Responded Routed Screened Supplied Systematised Tabulated Validated | ResearchAnalysed Clarified Collected Compared Conducted Detected Determined Diagnosed Evaluated Examined Experimented Explored Identified Inspected Gathered Interviewed Investigated Measured Reported Researched Reviewed Searched Summarised Surveyed Systematised | TeachingAdvised Adapted Coached Enabled Encouraged Evaluated Explained Facilitated Guided Informed Instructed Persuaded Planned Stimulated Tested Transmitted | TechnicalApplied Assembled Built Calculated Coded Computed Constructed Converted Designed Debugged Determined Devised Engineered Fortified Maintained Overhauled Programmed Regulated Repaired Restored Solved Specialised Standardised | |
Source: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
2. Overused adjectives
Remove words like "excellent," "great," and "skilled" that lack substance.
Replace with: Quantifiable achievements or specific skills that backup your claims. Instead of saying "excellent communication skills," try "developed and delivered a training program that improved team communication by 20%."
3. Clichés
Remove phrases like "team player" or "think outside the box", they are overused and lack originality.
Replace with: Specific examples that demonstrate these qualities in action. For instance, "collaborated effectively with a cross-functional team to achieve project goals 15% ahead of schedule."
4. Jargon
Technical terms specific to your industry might not be understood by a general recruiter or people administrator.
Replace with: Clear and concise language that anyone can understand. If necessary, briefly explain any technical terms you do use.
Remember, your resume is a personal marketing tool. Use powerful, effective language that accurately highlights your skills and accomplishments.
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