Phrases & Words Not to Use in a Resume

Request a Consultation from an Award-Winning Recruiter and Resume Writer

(Board, C-Level, VP, Director & Mid-Career Professionals)

Phrases Not to Use in a Resume

You might not be aware of it, but by using weak words and phrases in your resume, you are sabotaging your own chances of landing a great job. These employment-speak clichés can make even the most qualified candidate come across as incompetent, dull, and lacking both initiative and confidence to succeed in the workplace. Our professional resume services recommend you remove these phrases from your resume!

Take a minute to go through your resume line by line and see if any of these seven phrases are the reason why you haven’t received as many interviews as you’d hoped for.

    1.  Responsible for / In charge of

Saying that you were “responsible for” or “in charge of” something does not mean you did it well. In fact, these statements create the impression that you might be hiding some major mishaps or know next to nothing about the subject in question. So spell out what your responsibilities entailed using active verbs. For example, instead of saying “Responsible for opening and closing the store”, write “Opened and closed the store independently every day” and add any other relevant details. A small tweak like that instantly makes your profile much more attractive.

    2.  Duties included

Again, by using this phrase you’re essentially saying what you were supposed to do instead of what you’ve actually achieved. Your best bet here would be to shift focus from your duties to your accomplishments.

   3.  Selected as

This phrase makes you sound passive and unenthusiastic. To avoid that, emphasize your work in the role you were selected to perform. For instance, even if you were appointed head of some task force or committee, you’d be better off saying you’ve supervised a certain number of people or led a project to completion.

   4.  Helped with

This statement is just too vague. Take the time to list exactly HOW you have helped. If there’s nothing worth mentioning than your “helped with”, it shouldn’t have been on your resume in the first place.

   5.  Attempted

A potential employer is interested in what you can do for their business. So while attempting something new might have been a valuable learning experience for you, keep it off the resume. That’ll free up space for you to elaborate on the outcomes of the tasks you’ve actually completed.

   6.  Familiar with

Technically, I can say I’m familiar with karate after watching a documentary about it. On the other hand, a black belt champion can safely make the same claim. As you see, being “familiar with” something says absolutely nothing about your level of expertise on the subject. So please be more precise about your knowledge of procedures, legislature, software or anything else that applies.

   7.  Approximately

You don’t want to come across as uncertain and incompetent, do you? But that’s exactly what you’ll accomplish by using “approximately” in your resume. Numbers and figures make the HR’s eyes light up. So if you want to say that you have been instrumental in increasing your employer’s revenue, take the time to calculate or find out the exact percentage. Otherwise, don’t bother.

One final piece of advice: don’t be afraid to play around with words as you tweak your resume. Getting it right isn’t easy, but if you use active, positive verbs, and take care not to blow things out of proportion (lying on employment documents is never okay), you should do just fine! For examples of some of our award-winning professional resumes please check out our samples.

If you need assistance with your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile development, contact Arno Markus for a free consultation.

Let us help you land your next position by crafting the best ATS optimized resume or by managing your entire job search. Here’s more information about our Resume Writing Services and Reverse Recruitment Service. Book a call today to speak directly with our CEO and Founder, Arno Markus!

About iCareerSolutions

iCareerSolutions, America’s #1 Executive and Professional Resume Writing Services, Reverse Recruitment, and LinkedIn Profile Development Company. 28X award-winning resume writers deliver professional resumes that get interviews. We have successfully landed our executive clients senior-level leadership positions at companies like Apple, Amazon, EA, Oracle, GM, Google, Facebook, DoJ, Gap, and 2U just to name a few. iCareerSolutions has 200+ 5-star reviews and offers a 60-day interview guarantee. Every resume template created is Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) compatible and highly customized to meet your unique needs.

Active Members of The National Resume Writers’ Association (NRWA) │ The Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARW&CC) │ Career Directors International (CDI) │ Career Professionals (CPC) │ Forbes Coaches Council

One of the Top Multi-Award-Winning Resume Writing Services in the country.

Book a complimentary consultation for your Professionally Managed Job Search now!

Forbes Coaches Council
60 Day Interview Guarantee

Here are some of our Top Resume Testimonials

Regina Wong
I met Arno through my husband when I was trying to update my resume. He was extremely helpful and gave a real insight in today’s industry standards. He was direct and to the point and guided me in what needs to happen and what I need to do. I am pleased with my interaction with him.
Regina WongQuality Control Officer
quentin
“Arno is a master of creating an achievement based resume that sets the candidate apart. He showcases one’s accomplishments in a professional, aesthetically pleasing presentation. His methodology for working with clients is logical and makes it easy for the client to focus on identifying their achievements. Arno is pleasure to work with in the process. I recommend him for any C-suite executive ne…
Quentin Smith, CPAChief Financial Officer (CFO)
Rod Moshtagi
I worked with Arno over the past month to develop my LinkedIn and resumé profile. Throughout the process, he maintained a high level of integrity and professionalism, he was thorough in understanding my background, and worked with me to craft a profile that most effectively communicated my accomplishments and experiences. In this process, I also learned a great deal about how the recruiting proce…
Rod MoshtagiManagement Consultant
blank profile picture
Arno’s resume writing services have exceeded my expectations. With regards to my resume, Markus performed a fantastic job. My specialty of engineering is typically difficult to explain, yet he did a creative resume. I’m at a loss for words to express my gratitude to Arnos after he helped me stand out from among hundreds of applicants with my Resume. I encourage everyone having trouble landing a ne…
Ashraf ElnasharSoftware Engineer
Avery Weisfeld
Arno was a great asset to me and helped guide me in understanding how to achieve specific opportunities that were available to me. He coached me on the proper ways to set up a resume and what really stands out in industry. With the help from Arno and perseverance, I was able to land a job in no time and it was fascinating to learn how to get ahead with his techniques. Arno was an invaluable resour…
Avery WeisfeldSenior Solution Engineer
Nicola Smith Kea
Arno is extremely skilled at what he does. From the very moment I met him, the level of professionalism he brought to the experience spoke volumes. It was easy to work with Arno, and he was responsive to my suggestions and concerns. It is very clear he has a passion for what he does, and that passion strongly supports his art. If you are looking for a professional resume and cover letter, and exce…
Nicola "Dr. Nikki" Smith-KeaExecutive in Residence
image
“Hi Arno, My sincere thanks to you as I start my new job at Anthem. The resume that iCareerSolutions redid for me landed me this job with 25% increase in base pay. It really helped get my resume to the top of the stack of 200 applicants, out of which 40 video interviews were picked, and 5 were picked for second interviews. I just got the offer and I start July 6th. Thank you for your intervie…
Libby MathaiPrincipal Data Consultant
Kindra Shankling
I am so excited to write this recommendation for Arno. When I first started writing my resume, I did not know where to start. I wanted something different and unique that would stand out to potential employers so I hired Arno. Arno did such an amazing job that he didnt just stop with writing my resume. Arno also helped re brand my image and my LinkedIn profile. Arno did such a good job that my vie…
Kindra ShanklingHuman Resources Director
Matthew Getz
I have worked with Arno on two separate occasions. The first time was to create my resume and cover letter. He writes beautifully and taught me the importance of focusing on, not only what I want to be, but the best way to present it. His advice was invaluable and I landed a job quickly as a result. The second time was the creation of my LinkedIn profile, which I am delighted with. His input guide…
Matthew GetzVice President
Daniel D Escobar
I’ve had the pleasure to work with Arno and his team. His process is organized, professional, and reliable. Highly recommend his professional services. Thank you very much!
Daniel D. EscobarDirector of Engineering Services

Top Resume Writing Awards

Employers who have Onboarded Our Clients

Scroll to Top
Scroll to Top