7 Common Resume Cliches To Avoid
July 5, 2008
Writing a rsum isnt easy. To your reader this one piece of paper is you, and he or she is going to give it about 20 seconds of attention (often less). Unfortunately, there are rsum traditions that seem to make sense but that ought to be questioned in todays tough job search world. One of those traditions is that certain words and phrases are considered basic necessities. They arent. There are many such clichs, but here is my list of 7 of the most common:
1. Responsible for Everyone is responsible for something on a job. And just because you are responsible for something doesnt mean that you are a responsible person. Simply erasing responsible for or responsibilities from your description usually strengthens it.
2. Assisted Descriptions starting with the word assisted are weak and non-specific. If all you do is render assistance, it places you in a lesser role. If you assisted the President of the company or the Manager of Marketing, what, specifically, did you actually do? What was your part of that job? Thats what to write.
3. Served as (or Acted as) This usually starts the description of a particular role or job function, such as Served as liaison to the Planning Committee. Eliminate served as and see how much stronger the writing is: Liaison to the Planning Committee.
4. Successfully It does NOT strengthen your description to say that you successfully accomplished something. Either you did it or you didnt do it. And if you were successful in one area, does it mean that you were unsuccessful in other areas you describe where you do not use that word?
5. Developed This word is non-specific and overused. What does developed really mean? Find a different word that is more specific to what you did.
6. Summary Every rsum IS a summary (Thats what the word means). If you have a summary section, then youve got a summary of a summary (which you probably also summarize in a cover letter). There are other options for this section (such as Objective, Strengths, Profile, or Skills).
7. Promoted Watch out for the word promoted. Often it is unclear what is meant without reading the context (which your reader does not have time for). Do you mean that you were promoted (or that you advanced) in your job title and responsibilities, or do you mean that you marketed and promoted the companys products? Find a different word. And in general, eliminate words that could have a double meaning.
Writing a rsum requires careful and precise thinking, writing, and editing. Every word counts. Do not take any word or phrase for granted.
Sander Marcus, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Professional Resume Writer in Chicago. He has over 3 decades of experience in providing career counseling, aptitude testing, job search coaching, and resume writing to tens of thousands of individuals. He is the co-author of 2 books on academic underachievement, various tests, and numerous articles. He can be contacted at marcus@iit.edu, 312-567-3358. http://www.center.iit.edu/careermotiv8.htm
How Do I Write a Resume Objective?
One of the most important parts of writing a resume is making the resume objective. The objective is usually immediately below the top section of a resume . Most often the resume objective contain a few sentences summarizing the position you are appl...
Resume Writing - Do Not Make These Mistakes When Listing References
Are you in the process of finding a new job or changing careers? If you are, you may also be in the process of creating a resume for yourself. Although resumes can be complicated and nerve-wracking to develop, they are usually a lot easier to write...
Five Resume Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these resume mistakes and move your resume to the top of the stack.Speaking in Code
Unless youre an IT professional, anyone should be able to understand your resume. For example, dont use the term CRM (Customer Relationship Management) unless...
Would You Spend $5,000 for a Resume and Head Hunter Service?
Someone I know spent $5,000 for a resume and head hunter service. After getting the new resume and waiting for results, time had just slipped away. Months and months passed with no return on the investment. This person finally reviewed their resum...
The Four Rs of Resume Writing
If you want to get a prospective employers attention, you need to write a resume with the Four Rs of Resume Writing in mind. These tips will help you create a resume that conveys the appropriate information to an employer in a way that shows confide...
Why Would You Need A Catchy Resume
Its a common mistake to think of resumes as a chronicle of your past. Resumes are not just about capturing history; they must create historyin a way that differentiates yours from thousands of the rest. We all know that theres a fierce world outside,...
How To Write A Resume
Most people write their own resumes, others get professional help. However, it is easy to understand how to write a resume and successfully win a coveted position.When writing a resume, it should include (in this order):NameAddressPhone number (s)Em...
Writing A Great Resume-5 Tips You Need To Know!
Looking for a job in these times is very competitive and can often be an unforgiving affair. In this article we will show you some tips that will help you be more competitive and find the perfect job.The first thing you need to make sure you have is ...
Signs Your Resume Has Gone Bad
If youve ever been in the position to review resumes and cover letters, then you know there are some funky ones out there. But what really makes a resume a bad resume?It goes on and on and onResumes, as a rule, should not be longer than two pages. Ye...
Resume Tips for Human Resource Assistants - What You Need to Know
If you are wanting to break into the field of Human Resources, you will most likely have to start at an entry-level position and work your way up. A Human Resource Assistant is a position that does not require a great deal of experience. Since the ...