6 Words to Consider Removing From Your Resume

Your resume is arguably the most important element of your job application, so it's important to make sure it grabs the attention of hiring managers. The words you use matter, so avoid using outdated phrases, fluff and redundancies that can have your resume passed over. To increase your chances of getting a call, remove the following six terms.

1. Objective

The objective statement is considered outdated and redundant. After all, hiring managers already know what your objective is - to get a job. Replace the objective statement with a brief career summary, which provides a snapshot of your most important skills and accomplishments in relation to the specific job and company you're applying to. Doing this places the focus back where it should be, which is on what you can do for the company.

2. Utilized

Many job candidates make the mistake of trying to punch up their resume by using fancy versions of simple words and phrases. Don't make the common mistake of using "utilized" in place of "used" since this doesn't really add value to the information on your document. If you really want to make an impression, focus on including quantifiable accomplishments instead of simply listing basic responsibilities.

3. Assisted

The word "assisted" is not likely to impress the person reading your resume. It sounds like you are a background player, helping the real collaborators get things done. It's time to eliminate weak language and take credit for your own achievements. If your projects were team efforts, use stronger verbs like "contributed to" or "collaborated," to express your participation as a valued team member rather than an assistant.

4. Responsible For

Don't make the common mistake of simply listing your daily responsibilities within your resume. Focus on accomplishments over duties. For instance, stating you "grew company ABC's online following by over 1,000 people in three months" is much more impactful than "responsible for maintaining company ABC's social media profiles."

5. Worked

While "worked" is an active verb, there are stronger, more specific words that you can use within your resume, such as "launched," "improved" or "facilitated." These terms paint a more detailed picture of the kinds of contributions you made to previous employers.

6. Detail-Oriented

Listing generic positive attributes about yourself is cliché and ineffective. Employers expect their workers to be detail-oriented team players with excellent communication skills, so stating these types of things on your resume is overkill. Wherever possible, list your specific, quantifiable achievements: let the outcomes you produced do the bragging for you.

You only have a few seconds to grab a reader's attention, so make every word in your resume count. Eliminate the fluffy verbiage and replace it with strong, specific language that makes a strong impression.

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