Employers and hiring managers are swamped with resumes, and when everyone is trying to put his best foot forward, the result is often resumes that use the same old phrases over and over. If you want your resume to sparkle, go over it with a fine-toothed comb and eliminate these overused buzz words:
Instead of Driven, Try…
Demonstrating just why you think of yourself as driven. Include information in your resume about goals you met or exceeded, ways you demonstrably improved services or functions, promotions you received, and privileges you were rewarded – instead of empty descriptors.
Instead of Creative, Try…
Proving your creativity by giving examples of your unique abilities. Did you suggest a tweak for an employer’s website that resulted in more traffic? Create promotional or other documents for an employer? Do you volunteer in an unusual or inventive way in your community? Include these on your resume rather than resorting to an overused adjective.
Instead of Expert, Try…
Including information about what makes you an expert in your field or in a particular subject. List continuing education events you’ve gone to, awards you’ve received, professional organizations you belong to, and other educational and professional experiences that show just why you can claim to be an expert.
Instead of Responsible, Try…
Demonstrating your ability to be trusted with a potential employer’s clients and customers. Highlight the really juicy tasks and procedures entrusted to you in former jobs. Did you make the company’s nightly deposits? Manage a number of employees? Have the keys to the break room and the safe? Think of the important hats you wore, and line them all up — they prove you are responsible instead of paying lip service to the term.
Instead of Strategic, Try…
Anything but strategic! The word “strategic” may look impressive on paper, but what does it really mean when you say you “played a strategic role” in a program or were a “strategic member” of a team? Tell what you did that made you strategic, whether it was taking minutes of the meetings and distributing them or making the final decision on suggestions made by the group.
Can’t figure out just how to demonstrate your strategic, creative responsibilities in former jobs to potential employers? Let Staffing Partners’ staffing professionals help you create a resume that will make employers take notice, then point you toward those employers. Call the expert Oregon recruiters at Staffing Partners today to see what temp- and temp-to-hire positions with great employers are waiting for someone with your expert abilities!
