The Most Overused Resume Phrases

Answer 1

Thousands of potential employers see millions of resumes from potential employees each year. Due to the sheer volume of resumes each company receives from individuals, there are plenty of overused descriptions and phrases that cause resume reviewers to sigh. Such resumes are typically looked at only briefly and then tossed aside for a resume that is more interesting.

Typically, there are thousands of generic resumes and only a handful of great ones. If a potential employer sees phrases like hard worker, very organized, or strong customer service skills, then resumes with those kinds of words are likely to be cast aside. Anything generic on a resume turns it into a red flag for a poor resume and it will probably be tossed in the trash. A resume needs to be interesting and anything generic must always be replaced with something exciting and worth of an employer’s attention.

Simple descriptive words, such as trustworthy, flexible, or works well under pressure are weak and hurt a person’s resume. Potential employers see such phrases every day and each time they see it makes them cringe a little bit. Basic descriptive words should be changed to full descriptions of what an individual has actually done or been assigned to do throughout their work history. Employers take joy in reading the resumes of individuals who explain what specific things they have done on the job and what they are known for through the eyes of their coworkers.

When creating a resume, a potential employee needs to avoid generic phrases and descriptions because potential employers will throw their resumes in the garbage without hesitating. The most overused phrases and words in resumes are always the generic ones. A person who is a team player is nothing compared to a person that worked with multiple teams and individuals to produce a product for their company. Avoiding overused resume phrases is easy: Don’t use generic descriptive phrases. A potential employee needs to make their resume have character and explain enough to prove to the potential employer that they can do the job.