Resume Action Words to Avoid

Digging through more resume writing advice, facts, and myths, we find out that while the use of fancy action words is typically encouraged by most career advisers, too much of a good thing can be counter-productive. This article from TechRepublic.com reveals that hiring managers prefer applicants use action words that effectively describe their experiences rather than fancy words that simply make you sound good. While this article was directed to those seeking jobs in Information Technology, it provides that sort of candid, insider advice that's really applicable to anyone and can give you an edge as a college student or college grad applying for internships or entry-level positions. You can read their article for the full list but, here are a few of the examples they pointed out...

Assist, assisted

• Reasons to avoid: Hiring managers want to know what you did, not how you helped. If you're familiar enough with a task to put it on your resume, you can choose a better word than assist.
• Example: Assisted marketing director by researching PDAs.
• Possible rephrasing: Researched PDAs for marketing department.

Cutting-edge, detail-oriented; coordinate, facilitate, transform; proven ability, synergy, and liaison

• Reasons to avoid: Hiring managers say such words take up space without communicating much. They've seen them so often that the words have lost their original energy.
• Example: Detail-oriented manager with proven ability to oversee day-to-day network operations and to implement major technology initiatives.
• Possible rephrasing: Supervised an eight-member IS staff; completed two full-scale platform migrations; consolidated equipment and resources following facilities move.

- Source: "Nineteen words that don't belong in your resume", TechRepublic.com

The Objective-less Resume??

I read an article the other day that really took me by surprise. It turns out that employers aren't so keen on objective statements. The author advises against beginning your resume with an objective as do 90% of the resumes I've ever seen (including my own). According to him, the traditional, cheesy objective is better replaced with a "profile" containing some things that relate to the job you're applying for but more so expressing your passions and what you can offer the company.

I over-analyze everything so I took this idea up with a corporate recruiter where I work and career advice authors Lindsey Pollak and Alexandra Levit. The unanimous consensus was that we should indeed "ditch" the old-fashioned objective statement in favor of a "profile" to headline your resume highlighting what you can bring to the company and giving your resume the personality it needs to stand out.

Heres an example:

Less of this:
"Seeking to develop skills while learning, gaining experience, and contributing to the increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness of manufacturing operations."

More of this:
"I have a passion for problem solving and I love a challenge. I'm interested in applying my passion to find ways to increase efficiency and cut costs in manufacturing operations."