12 Words That Ruin Resumes

Project management employment opportunities are highly competitive. Jobseekers cannot afford to make poor word choices on their resume. Unfortunately, no matter how qualified you are, there’s always the risk of misrepresenting yourself. Just one word choice can colour a company’s perception of you. This blog post will go over the traps you can fall into, and how to avoid them with the right words.

Buzzwords

Recruiters and potential employers make decisions based on substantial evidence. Buzzwords are a thorn in their side because they’re overused and lacking in real meaning. Think of how many applications use the same buzzwords. A lot of them don’t even make much sense taken out of a business context. Think about it, would you use any of these words outside of a situation where you have to prove how smart you are?

1. Synergy
2. Innovation
3. Cutting Edge

These words, at first glance, sound impressive. However, employers won’t want to hire someone who thinks they can bluff their way into a job by saying the ‘right words.’ Successful projects require clear communication, and using convoluted terms does not signify good communication skills.

Words that don’t make you stand out

So many professionals make this mistake without realising. It’s taking something that’s a core requirement for a good employee, and touting it like it’s a distinguishing characteristic. Many jobseekers are guilty of overselling these basic requirements:

4. Punctual
5. Honest
6. Motivated

Realistically, none of them differentiate you from other candidates. Take ‘punctual’ for example. If you think that you’ll be hired based on the fact you’ll turn up on time every day, then you mustn’t think the bar is set very high. Instead, talk about how you exceed core expectations. Are you proactive? Do you regularly suggest improvements? Do you contribute to the business’s long-term strategy?

Words that require a follow-up

As previously stated, when assessing a potential new hire, employers want evidence. Anyone can claim to be a top project manager, but not everyone can prove it. This is how the wheat get separated from the chaff. Take a look at the following words:

7. High achiever
8. Results driven
9. Accomplished

They all mea