There comes a time in every job seeker’s life where their resume needs a little something extra. Just like writing papers in college, it can sometimes feel like the only option is to add filler. Maybe that means rephrasing something you’ve already said, maybe it means splitting one skill into three—or maybe it means adding buzzwords.
You know the kind. “Dynamic team player.” “Organized and detail-oriented.” “Motivated self-starter.” Buzzwords are common, fashionable, and roll right off the tongue, so they might feel like easy ways to make yourself look more impressive. But trust us—they don’t.
While any of the above things could very well be true of you, presenting them like that is more likely to get scorn than praise from a recruiter or HR rep. All of the above, though not technically nonsense, are clearly buzzwords—jobspeak that makes sense, but doesn’t really mean anything or communicate any skills. Wherever possible, avoid words that just spring to mind in favor of more thought-out explanations.
Be warned—that doesn’t mean you should use more words when fewer will do. When building a resume, concision is key. You want whoever’s reading it to know everything they need to know about you as fast as possible, so filling your CV with fluffy phrases like the ones above is guaranteed to slow the whole process down—and therefore lower your chances of getting a yes.
So how should you present yourself? As always, specificity is crucial. Always present your most desirable and relevant skills first—any training or professional experience related to the job you’re applying for should always be the first things in the “Skills” section of your resume.
If you still need more after you’ve gotten all the meaty stuff down, take a step back and think. Analyze yourself, the job you’re applying for, and your skillset. You might well be a dynamic team player or a motivated self-starter, but how would that benefit this company? Whatever you do, aim to show your future employer that you know what the job takes and have the necessary skills to do it.
In the end, the success or failure of your resume depends on only two things: whether or not you actually have the required skills, and whether or not you can present them properly. Communication is an essential skill in almost any field, so an applicant that presents themselves in generic, boilerplate language is probably a generic, boilerplate candidate.
So kill the buzzwords, and don’t let them kill your resume! Just give an honest, detailed picture of yourself, and your talents will shine through.