Resume Tips - Words that make a resume ineffective

As important as your accomplishments are and make your resume stand out; how you present
them and communicate them is in no way to be ignored.
An effective resume gives potential employers a clear picture of your skills and experience as
concisely as possible. A resume is the crucial first step in securing an interview and hopefully a job
offer.
For maximum impact, keep your resume as concise and precise. You need to include all your
achievements in only one or two pages so don't waste space on meaningless words. An employer
doesn't want to waste his time trying to understand vague phrases or decipher confusing jargon.

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'Assist,' 'Contribute' and 'Support'

An employer won't know what you did if the wording on your resume is too vague. Whenever you
use words like "assist," "contribute" and "support" make sure you mention how exactly did you
assist, contribute or support a person or project?
Use these words sparingly and always follow them with a description of your role and
responsibilities. Let an employer know the part you played and how you affected the outcome.

'Successfully'

You obviously want to show your accomplishments and achievements on your resume Instead of
using these words (successfully, accomplished etc.) as such it would be more effective and more
impressive if you give concrete examples of what you've done and how you have been successful.
You don't need to use words like "successfully" or effectively" to show an employer that you're a
good worker; Let your experience speak for itself.
Instead of explicitly saying that a project was successful, state your achievements clearly and
factually. Then give examples of how or why the project was a success.

'Responsible For'

The phrase "responsible for" can make your resume look very trite. Instead of just listing your
responsibilities, try to stress your accomplishments.
Your resume will have more impact if you quantify your accomplishments. Use figures to show how
you affected growth, reduced costs or streamlined a process. Provide the number of people you
managed, the amount of the budget you oversaw or the revenue you saved the company.

'Interface' and Other Buzzwords

State your qualifications and experience in simple language. Don't use flowery language or fancy
words in your resume.
By trying to sound intelligent or qualified, you may end up annoying or confusing your reader. You
don't want an employer to need a dictionary to discover what you really did at your last job.
Avoid buzzwords that have become clichés and words that are unnecessarily sophisticated.
"Synergy" and "liaise" are examples of buzzwords that have been overused and abused.
Say what you mean plainly and simply. For example, instead of "interface," say "work." Instead of
"impact," say, "affect." Instead of "utilize," say "use."

Here's what you always SHOULD include in your resume: Keywords. Recruiters use keywords to
search for resumes. So choose some of the basic, important keywords in your field and pepper them
throughout your resume.

Words That Make A Resume Ineffective