Does your resume have clichés? You know, boring little chestnuts such
as ‘innovative’ or ‘motivated’ that could be replaced with something
better? You may have been taught to use these in high school, but if
you’re a graduate entering the job market, it’s time to step it up and
stand out.
In today’s competitive job market,
using dull terms on your resume sends the wrong message to potential
employers. You want your resume to fascinate the reader and make them
reach for the phone – it’s your calling card to an interview.
So what are the clichés you should
avoid to make sure you get noticed? Here are the top 10 overused words
on US LinkedIn profiles in 2012:
- Creative
- Organisational
- Effective
- Motivated
- Extensive experience
- Track record
- Innovative
- Responsible
- Analytical
- Problem solving
What do you notice about all of
these words? That’s right – they’re all general terms. Some of them may
truly describe you, but since they are also being used to describe
everyone else, they've lost their impact.
Your resume should provide details
and examples of your achievements so that the employer can see what you
could potentially bring to their role. If you are innovative, don't say
it - prove it. Describe the processes you have modified or ideas you
have developed.
Recruiters and human resource teams
in big firms receive thousands of applications a year. Many of those
applications will include the words mentioned above. Recruiters will
skip over those words searching for examples of what you have actually
achieved in your career to date. If you don’t include specifics, they
will skip over your application altogether.
Remember – the easier you make it for a recruiter to recommend you for a role, the more likely you will be hired!
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