Words and Terms That Ruin Resumes
- By Jeff Marin
- Published 09/26/2011
Jeff Marin
I am a master’s level career counselor. I am internationally certified as a Career Management Practitioner (CMP) by the Institute for Career Certification International and have been recognized as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors.
In today's up and down economy, and with the jobs market feeling a bit strained, many people are seeking ways to differentiate themselves from the competition through their resume. In many cases, your resume is the only thing that a potential employer knows of you in the initial employment application process, so it pays to make sure it is the best it can be. However, many people do not realize that the language they use in their resume may actually be hurting their chances of getting a job, and these mistakes may be more common than you think.
First and foremost, do not omit essential information. Far too many people put things like "negotiable" when answering the question of desired salary. It is almost self explanatory that the salary an employer offers you is negotiable, as you are the one seeking employment, not them. As well, many people choose to put "references available upon request" in the references section of their resume. To do this is rather pointless, in that there was no reason to even have a section for references if you weren't going to list them. In fact, it would be better to not even include section
s for salary or references if you are not willing to list specific information.
And when answering questions about previous employment and experience, it is important to cast yourself into the role of a leader. Try to use words such as "led" or "managed" to show that you took charge of your previous position. You are wanting to convince a potential employer that you are the best candidate for the position and not just someone with experience. You want to present your skills as a leader within an organization, as employers are not wanting to babysit someone that simply has "experience."
Finally, avoid using words that are overly general. By describing yourself as having "people skills," or as someone that is a "hard worker," tells an employer that you don't actually possess these skills. Why? Because you are not proving it with examples. You are simply telling them what they want to hear, and that won't cut it. If you plan to show a potential employer that you work hard at everything you attempt, then it is better to prove this with examples from previous employment and life experiences. Remember, you will have plenty of time to impress a potential employer with your people skills when you get an interview; until then, concentrate on your resume. In order to find examples of resumes that work, you might want to search online for a sample resume site that can offer you examples of a sample resume that employers will be attracted to.
First and foremost, do not omit essential information. Far too many people put things like "negotiable" when answering the question of desired salary. It is almost self explanatory that the salary an employer offers you is negotiable, as you are the one seeking employment, not them. As well, many people choose to put "references available upon request" in the references section of their resume. To do this is rather pointless, in that there was no reason to even have a section for references if you weren't going to list them. In fact, it would be better to not even include section
And when answering questions about previous employment and experience, it is important to cast yourself into the role of a leader. Try to use words such as "led" or "managed" to show that you took charge of your previous position. You are wanting to convince a potential employer that you are the best candidate for the position and not just someone with experience. You want to present your skills as a leader within an organization, as employers are not wanting to babysit someone that simply has "experience."
Finally, avoid using words that are overly general. By describing yourself as having "people skills," or as someone that is a "hard worker," tells an employer that you don't actually possess these skills. Why? Because you are not proving it with examples. You are simply telling them what they want to hear, and that won't cut it. If you plan to show a potential employer that you work hard at everything you attempt, then it is better to prove this with examples from previous employment and life experiences. Remember, you will have plenty of time to impress a potential employer with your people skills when you get an interview; until then, concentrate on your resume. In order to find examples of resumes that work, you might want to search online for a sample resume site that can offer you examples of a sample resume that employers will be attracted to.