13 Must-Have Words to Include In Your Resume

13 Must-Have Words to Include In Your Resume13 Must-Have Words to Include In Your Resume Steer clear of overused clichs . Misspelleuchtdiode words are immediate grounds for denial. Words like rockstar and synergy are so 2015.Weve all read about what notlage to include in a resume. After all, one of Glassdoors fruchtwein popular articles, 21 Words to Never Include In Your Resume, is bookmarked even by our staffers who want to gut-check before making resume faux pas. However, its time to talk about what works should be included in your resume.Diction or word choice is important when it comes to drafting your resume, not just to ensure that your resume is reviewed positively by software , but also because you want to wow recruiters with your skills, competencies and relevant credentials. The words used show what level the candidates is at in their career, says Susan Joyce, owner and operator of Job-Hunt.org , the guide for a smarter, safer job search. If I picked u p a resume for a C-suite candidate who chose vague descriptives, they would immediately be discredited. Some might think a candidates experience outweighs the actual text of a resume, but this is often not the case. If a hiring manager doesnt see key indicators a candidate is qualified by appropriate word choice or diction at first glance, chances are, the resume will be eliminated before they are even considered.To help land your resume at the top of the pile, we tapped an expert panel of career coaches, resume writers and experts to ask, What are the words you like to see on resumes? Heres what they had to say. Bookmark this article ASAP If you want to show that youre results-oriented and hard-working, share the numbers. As they say, the proof is in the pudding, says job coach Angela Copeland . For example, rather than stating that youre an excellent digital marketer, prove it. Say something that reflects your actual results, such as, Grew erreichbar sales and revenue by 200% in one year. Now, thats impressiveFor life & career coach Jenn DeWall , action verbs are a must on any resume. But not just any action verbs. She advises clients to include verbs that show leadership and transformation. Redesign d emonstrates problem-solving skills as well as the ability to think big picture and reduce process inefficiencies.If clichs are a no-no, simple yet powerful words are your go-tos, according to Glassdoor columnist Anish Majumdar . Simple, practical words that denote responsibility have the mostimpact. Launched, solved, transformed and optimized are all examples of actionverbs that make you look good without resorting to cliches.According to master resume writer Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter , this word, along with conceived and metamorphosed are like a switch, powering up the candidates story, showing how theyve improved, envisioned and transformed their work environments, and therefore, gained revenue, customer growth, reputation, traction,etc. for their comp any. They empower and advance the candidates story These words show that the candidate is thinking about their own activities in terms of how theyll improve the business, says expert and author of Fearless Salary Negotiation Josh Doody . Terms likehard-working dont do this because working hard doesnt necessarily produce better results. But focusing on being productive, adding value and making progress showthat the person is tuned in to improving the company, which almost always resonates with hiring managers.Anyone can say they led a team. Instead, use verbs that really explain what happened in that specific task, insists Joyce. Consider the verb orchestrated and how it shows, versus just telling, the hiring manager what was accomplished. Orchestrated, by definition, means to arrange and direct. The key is to make a resume better than any great piece of fiction by embracing the storytelling aspect and showing readers your true qualifications.Rather thanlooking for the latest b uzzword, Joyce says job seekers are better off being specific in their resume. It is really more about choosing words that accurately describe actions or goals that were met. In lieu of hard-working, consider saying what hard work was done, e.g. did a candidate work tirelessly to reach an impossible deadline? It is important to use verbs that really pinpoint what was accomplished, i.e. influenced, improved, achieved, etc. This way, there is no miscommunication about a candidates qualifications .I like to look for candidates who have had a role in shaping something from idea all the way through execution, says executive coach Kate OSullivan . One of the main qualities I look for is someone who can take a vague idea or strategic goal and see it through to completion, rather than someone who executes on a plan thats already been decided. Using these keywords will definitely signal that youve had a role in this higher level thinking, and will grab the attention of most hiring manag ers.In general, its very hard to convince a resume reader that you possess various soft skills, e.g. team player, just by listing these on your resume, says OSullivan. If you put yourself in their shoes for a minute you will understand why. Most job seekers want to be desirable and so they list these in-demand skills. But just listing the skill doesnt do anything to platzdeckchen you apart from the crowd. The most powerful thing you can do is give examples . If you want to show that you are a team player, you can talk about things like working on cross-functional teams, onboarding new hires or developing a cross-training program. By listing concrete accomplishments and projects, you are demonstrating you have these skills in a credible and believable way that will help set you apart.Doody insists that a resume should be impactful while still skimmable, or able to easily be skimmed by recruiters and hiring managers. I coach my clients to assume the hiring manager wont even look at t heir resume until theyre already in the process of interviewing them , says Doody candidly. Hiring managers dont sit down the day before an interview, pour a glass of wine and meticulously read through each resume theyre considering. Instead, they scramble to make it to the interview on time, open up the resume as the interview is starting and skim it to find things to talk about.According to Copeland, a resume - and the job search in general - is not the time to be shy. Use strong words that emphasize your level of involvement. This isnt the time to minimize yourself or your contributions. If you were instrumental in a project, replace the word helped with the word spearheaded. Spearheaded, created and initiated all show that you took the lead and were not merely a participant in a project.Show that youre dedicated to your work, start to finish. This word, says DeWall, does just that. If you disregard diction and word choice and think that they dont carry any weight youre wron g. Managers can gauge aptitude, readiness and even your leadership skills from paper, she adds.Reading and re-reading your resume is just the beginning of the editing process . Dont believe us? Each of our experts weighed in on the importance of editing a resume. Here are a few of their insightsWord choice is incredibly important. You only have a limited amount of real estate on your resume, so every single word counts, says OSullivan. Focus on achievements, quantify where possible and make an effort to tailor your experiences to your target job. Its more effective to talk about fewer projects and responsibilities more in-depth than to list every single thing youve ever done. Along these lines, concentrate on your most recent experience. Edit with the mindset of Does this piece of information directly help sell my experience for this role? If not, take it off. The easiest way to improve your choice of words is to read your resume out loud to yourself, advises Copeland. This can c atch many of the potential issues before anyone else sees it. Then, ask a friend or family member who works in another industry to read it. If they find your resume to be confusing, consider updating the wording so that its more clear.Its not just about using the right words, it is equally about teasing out the nuances of your stories and then combining them in a way that is attractive to your target reader recruiter, hiring manager, etc., says Barrett-Poindexter. You can use all the right nouns and verbs that make a resume sing (on the surface), but without the right, focused stories, your resume will fall flat to the intended readers eyes and ears. In addition to diction and word choice its important to be strategic and concise. No one has time or energy to invest in a multi-page resume, insists DeWall. Make sure that youre highlighting the most relevant and topical experience necessary for the position.