Moving Beyond Generic Resume Terms: Powerful Action Verbs for a Standout Resume

When writing your resume it’s easy to get stuck in the rut of using the same verbs over and over or even using vague, generic phrases applicable to every candidate in the job market. I advise my clients to avoid generic and overused phrases like: responsible for, duties included, expertise in, skilled at — and find some creative alternatives for some overused action verbs such as managed, created, and developed. Instead, be more specific about your contributions and successes. You can use terms like launched, pioneered, or accelerated. When it comes to action verbs, as long as you’re being specific and not general, you will do great.

Remove Vague Terms
On a similar note, there are two phrases that I highly recommend job seekers remove from their resumes: success/successful and results/results-driven. These terms are very broad and are hard for an employer to quantify. What you consider a success and what the employer considers a success may be two very different things. It’s much better to state what the success was or what result you achieved as opposed to just saying you were successful or delivered results. Be specific about what you’ve accomplished in your resume so that the employer has a clear picture of the value you would bring to their organization.