Never Use These 3 Words On Your Resume

Resumes can be a pain. People stress about writing them. Hiring managers are always trying to decipher them to figure out if the candidate has what they need. I say that most people seem to think that there is a secret formula to writing resumes that nobody will tell them about.

My simple answer is that you need to think about who is reading the resume and then write like your audience. It’s really that simple. Resumes are just the information the hiring manager (or someone else referring you to the hiring manager) might need to have in order to take the chance to bring you in and talk with you more about the position without wasting everyone’s time.

In order to do that, you have to give a clear picture (in words) of what you actually did. This might seem simple but so many people miss this. I read hundreds of resumes a month and I’ve found three words that are endemic on resumes that don’t do anything to bring that clarity. I cross them off almost every time I see them (granted, there are always exceptions).

Here they are.

• Assisted: This can mean anything from “I got coffee” to “I did my boss’ job and didn’t get credit for it”. When I see it, I assume coffee, not executive. If I read this, I’m making up stories in my head about what you actually did. They may not be what you wanted me to think.
• Helped: See above.
• Worked: Were you in the fields or the mines? This brings visions of either someone under a vicious task master or someone just hanging out waiting for something to happen. Either scenario doesn’t encourage me to think of you as a self-starter.

So, what can you say instead? Well, what did you actually do? If I were watching you while you were there, what would I see? Researched 25 new clients and wrote a summary for your boss? Reorganized the inventory system? Produced and assembled 100 press kits? Tell me that!

Using vague words like helped, assisted, and worked will put more questions into the reader’s mind than will do you good. Be clear and detail what you have done to your best story telling ability. If you can’t be clear on your resume, do I think you will speak clearly to me and my customers?

So what type of words to use?  Simple, past-tense verbs that are visual.  Some examples are: wrote, reorganized, developed, presented, etc.  There are probably specific words that you would use in your particular field that would be more appropriate, but I want to be able to visualize what it is that you did.  If I have to guess, there’s a good chance I’ll think of something that you didn’t intend.

A Parthian Shot: A resume is only one part of your whole job search plan.  You wouldn’t market something just using bulk mail. While it’s an important part of your entire job search, don’t try to make the resume do more than it should!

Originally published at Resonare Consulting.