Avoid These 3 Overused Resume Phrases

When applying for  jobs, it's important to stand out as the best candidate for each position. It's difficult to do that, though, if your resume mimics the same word choices as everyone else. Here are three of the most overused resume words—and a few tips on what you can do instead to ensure your resume gets noticed by the right people.

Hard Worker: This and words like "dependable" and "motivated" are poor choices to use on resumes because they are traits that every employee should possess. As a member of any team, you're expected to be hard working, dependable, and motivated. Instead of using these words to describe your work ethic, give concrete examples. Talk about how you met difficult deadlines, consistently exceeded quotas, or took on extra responsibilities.

Problem Solver: Companies want people who can solve problems as opposed to those who create them. However, saying you're a problem solver on your resume tells potential employers absolutely nothing about your ability to deal with conflicts. To truly wow hiring managers and recruiters with your problem-solving prowess, provide an example of a challenging issue you resolved. For instance, mention that you reduced customer attrition by implementing a loyalty program.

People Person: In any profession, you're likely to interact with customers, vendors, and members of the management team. Simply listing that you're a people person gives the recruiter no information about how well you work with others. While most people will understand the descriptor to mean you are an outgoing person, it doesn't tell them if you are a great communicator, someone who can win over customers, or someone who helps build camaraderie among teammates. The best way to relay these qualities is to discuss when you had to put them to good use. Talk about the time you won over a difficult customer or helped colleagues recover from a setback.

When crafting your resume, it's best to follow the advice often given to fiction writers: show, don't tell. Hiring managers want to know how you will contribute to the company, and they can't get a sense of your skills and abilities if you use buzzwords and clichéd terms. The best way to demonstrate your character is to provide examples of how you put your abilities to good use. In other words, rather than telling potential employers your qualities, show them who you are by share specific actions and accomplishments. 

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