Phrases & Words to Eliminate from your Resume

To showcase a compelling value proposition for its readers & audience, your resume should have credible content & perfect language. Using generic phrases or leadership quotes does not create a distinctive value. You should use specific, focussed & aligned words to create interest of the audience.

You should avoid the following phrases/words:

1)  Responsible for

Everyone has set a deliverable for which he/she is responsible. Including this phrase in your resume neither differentiates you from competitors, nor creates a compelling value. No prospective employer is keen to read a standard list/phrases in your resume. Instead, you should include actions you took & results derived out of your actions  such as led a team of 10 area managers to increase sales by 18%. Showcase impactful statements or demonstrate ROI which employers can derive by hiring you.

2) Excellent communicator/negotiator/relationship management

Although these phrases are important, any one can claim as a great communicator or a having excellent relationship management skills. You should support with facts/figures to showcase your true value of negotiating or leadership skills. For instance, you may write as build & nurtured relationships with vendors & negotiated with them to generally annual savings of $ 2 mn.

3) Reference available on request

      This is one of the old fashioned phrases & should be done away with. Rather include some value enhancing/credible content which supports your candidature.

4) Result oriented professional

  This is a very generalized phrase. Although, you may have generated handsome results for your organisation, the same need to be supported by some facts/figures/claims. Enable the audience to evaluate your claim by replacing such vague claim with value creating  statements such as developed an alternative growth model for financial services business to increase revenues by CAGR of 8% for the period FY 15 to FY 18.

5) Objective

   This is a very old fashioned introduction to your resume. Instead start your resume with catching/result oriented headline. Prospective employers are more keen to understand how you can help them/ solve their pain points.

In case, you need a completely customized resume crafted for your job search, pls. feel free to get in touch.