Someone recently asked me to provide three words that best describe my work style. After a little thought, I responded with, “energetic, resourceful and humorous.” Naturally, I was quite relieved when a recent list of the most overused resume buzzwords appeared and none of mine were on it.
Words that did appear were creative (first place winner), organizational (#2), innovative (#7), communication (#9) and dynamic (#10).
The reason employers frown upon these resume buzzwords, according to the Vault.com article, “Creative: The Most Overused LinkedIn Buzzword of 2011,” is they care more about what you can do than empty words. This is especially true since people can choose from a wide array of flattering terms to describe themselves. It has to do with that old saying about a picture painting a thousand words. That means job seekers need to show employers what they can do rather than just using descriptive words.
Next time you update your resume and prepare for a job interview, eliminate overused buzzwords and create original stories to land a job.
Choose Resume Words Carefully
There are three important steps that you should take as you define your skill sets on your resume or discuss those skills in an interview.
First, review the job posting for the best descriptive words. Specifically, you should review postings to determine which traits and skill sets are sought.
Next, select the skills mentioned the job posting that best exemplify your own qualities and brainstorm to determine all the instances when you completed a task that serves to illustrate these traits.
Finally, translate this information into demonstrable, vivid sentences that communicate your past contributions and how they align with these attributes. For instance, if an employer requires someone who can work independently, you might note that you frequently work alone because your boss travels three out of four weeks per month.
Paint the Right Picture During the Job Interview
While writing illustrative sentences in a resume can help you get your foot in the door, spinning a yarn is equally important during a job interview if you want to create a positive image in the employer’s mind.
In a recent article at CBS MoneyWatch, “The tyranny of the anecdote,” writer Laura Vanderkam explains the benefit of anecdotal storytelling. “There is no particular validity to an anecdote as evidence. And yet we use them all the time and give incredible weight to them.”
The explanation for this action, according to Vanderkam, is that our brains like to tie information up into neat little narratives. These narratives then become true “by virtue of their coherence.” The benefit to job seekers is that narratives are a great way to convey information and leave a positive image in the employer’s mind during a job interview.
“Anecdotes make ideas vivid. They put a picture of someone in our heads -- and humans like other humans -- and they give us a story. And since we like stories, we're inclined to believe them.”
Ultimately, by choosing the right words to describe your background, experience and skills, you can make a lasting impression in your resume and on those you meet.
Nowhere is this more important than in the job interview and resume submission process.
Deborah S. Hildebrand - Deborah S. Hildebrand is a freelance writer & HR consultant with 20+ years in human resources & a Bachelor's degree in Business.
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