Resume Buzzwords: Do's and Don'ts 

Let's imagine that in life, everyone you talk to carries around a one-minute sand glass.  Every time that you want to talk to someone, they hold their hand up and flip the hourglass. You officially have one minute to intrigue them enough for them to decide whether or not they want to listen to you anymore.  

One minute? That's it?

You may have heard of the elevator pitch. Hypothetically (or not), you walk into an elevator with someone to discuss your idea, and you have until that elevator reaches their floor to make the pitch of your life.  

One minute. Maybe a little more.  

 The truth is that we do live our lives that way. We have to vie for attention because there are so many competing and compelling matters seeking the attention of others as well as our own. When it comes to your resume, you have to keep this in mind.

 One minute.  

 You are marketing yourself with little time and limited space. You have to make it count. Your resume isn't just a list of schools you went to or what jobs you've had. It's not a list of things that you are good at or skills that you have.  

It's your pitch. It's your one minute. Let's do it right!

One thing that will help you craft the perfect resume is to remember to trim the fat. While you don't have to fit your whole life story on a post-it note, you also don't have time to write your whole life story in several volumes. The best thing to do is write a resume that focuses on specific keywords that will compete.

Remember walking down the street when your eye catches that one person coming in your direction? Immediately, everything seems to go in slow motion. From the very first second you saw them, you thought “That is the most beautiful person I've ever seen in my life.” Your heart started to beat fast. Your jaw dropped. That is the way you want the person or people who are viewing your resume to act.  

Resume keywords or buzzwords are the words or phrases that immediately catch the attention of an employer or hiring manager. The truth is that the job that you are applying for is not a sure thing. As much as you and I want to believe in the phrase “Shoo-in”, there is no such thing in this life.

• Simplistic and concise -- You aren't going to impress anyone with fancy language. 

• Powerful and action-oriented -- Don't let the employer assume that you are just 'dynamic', show them.  

So, here we are. This is your elevator. This is your one-minute timer. What are you going to do with it? We aren't just talking about a conversation or random coffee shop meeting. Your resume is the key to you being hired for the job or finding the career that will help define your working life. You owe it to yourself to make it worth reading.

Why not make it jaw-dropping? The truth?

Most employers look at a resume for less than ten seconds. They listen to you speak for maybe a minute to a minute and a half before they've made up their mind about you.  

Time is ticking.  

So, use keywords that are eye-catching and make someone want to know more.  Make them curious about the person on paper so that they want to meet the person---in person!

One common misconception is that one resume fits all. I know that you may have worked hard on that piece of genuine gold, but you can't use the same resume for every job or every employee. Are you ready for a secret? Employers love it when you have... researched the job that you are applying for.

Even if the jobs are in the same field or same area, they aren't the same job, and your resume isn't being reviewed by the same employer. In researching more about the job and the company, you may come across job listing, job descriptions, or company websites that will provide you with great resume keywords. Put those in your resume and cover letter so it’s clear you match the things that they do.

Find out information from people who have worked for the company or who have experience as a customer of the company. They are going to give you information that you can’t find anywhere else because they know the ins and outs from a layman's perspective.  

You should stay away from trying to impress with your vocabulary. Don't use big words that people don't know or need a dictionary and thesaurus to understand. To be honest, the simpler and more direct the better. You want words that portray power and action and match the company's values.  

So, let's look at the typical resume phrases and words, and we'll examine some things to avoid and some things to adapt.  

“In my current job, I've led....”

Instead of 'led', 'organized', 'in charge of'

Use resume keywords 'chaired', 'coordinated', 'orchestrated', 'produced'.

“In my career, I have achieved...”

Instead of 'achieved', 'gained', 'received'

Use resume keywords 'succeeded', 'earned', 'attained', 'showcased', 'outperformed'

“I oversaw...”

Instead of 'oversaw', 'headed',  'in charge of'

Use resume keywords 'authorized', 'delegated' , 'monitored', 'managed', 'entrusted'

“I researched...”

Instead of 'researched', 'studied'

Use resume keywords 'Assessed' , 'Analyzed' , 'Examined', 'Identified', 'forecasted'

“I provided customer service...”

Instead of 'provided', 'assisted', 'helped'

Use resume keywords 'educated', 'resolved', 'informed', 'consulted'

“I started...”

Instead of 'started', 'developed'

Use resume keywords 'created' , 'improved', 'launched', 'negotiated'

“I'm a hard-worker....”

Instead of 'hard-worker', 'team players'

Use resume keywords 'specialized in....'  'collaborated with a team to....'

And there is so much more you can add. Again, you want to be...

• direct and specific - don't give us general stuff.

Does this all seem a little overwhelming? We know it can be difficult to point out your strengths and create a powerful resume that will grab the attention of that employer. Lucky for you, Naff Branding is here to help. I have years of branding and marketing experience. 

Contact me today and let’s get started on elevating your personal brand.