Don't Use These 10 Terms In Your Resume Or Cover Letter (Employers are sick of them)

Business Insider ^ | 12/13/2011 | Aimee Groth

[SeekAndFind]

LinkedIn just released the most overused words in its 85 million user profiles. They are:

1. Extensive experience

2. Innovative

3. Motivated

4. Results-oriented

5. Dynamic

6. Proven track record

7. Team player

8. Fast-paced

9. Problem solver

10. Entrepreneurial

The company says to completely eliminate these in your resumes or cover letters, and instead replace them with specific examples of how you're a problem solver, etc.

[Jack Hydrazine]

11. Epic

[mnehring]

Tie for first- Blogger (or worse, a Blogger claiming to be a journalist or owning a ‘news’ site).

[goseminoles]

12. Occupy

[skeeter]

And whatever you do, in your cover letter don't write about wanting to 'reach out' to your prospective employer about the new opportunity.

The next time I hear that two word phrase I'm gonna punch its user in the throat.

[SueRae]

13. Hope 14. Change

[SueRae]

13. Hope 14. Change

[Joe 6-pack]

I’ve had pretty good luck just keeping things limited to, “clean and articulate.”

[Sacajaweau]

I solved 50% of all the world’s problems via daily telephone calls with my best friend. She solved the other 50%.

[Smokin' Joe]

I guess they are overused because perhaps not as many have done them as used the words.

If I wrote a resume giving examples, it would be a book.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

That’s good because I’m a real go-getter, who thinks outside the box and won’t take no for an answer.

[MNnice]

I always use Awesome.

[Psalm 144]

And especially for attorneys, paralegals and legal secretaries, always, always, ALWAYS include the ‘l’ in ‘public’. Always. Seriously. I have seen at least a half dozen resumes with that error.

Spell check can be your friend . . . or not.

[Vigilanteman]

If you are looking for a job in ObaMao's administration, the best 10 words are:

1. Shallow or no experience
   
2. Stick to what was tried in 1933-1941
   
3. Power driven
   
4. Feelings-oriented
   
5. Medieval
   
6. Proven record of failure
   
7. Socialist team player
   
8. Fast-paced in the wrong direction
   
9. Problem creator
   
10. Bureaucratic

[kevkrom]

I am pleased to say that I have never used any of these terms in a resume or cover letter. (And I’ve written a fair number of them over the years.)

[american_ranger]

I am blunt and to the point. How about this:
“I work hard, I show up every day, and I am honest.”

[murron]

Then what ae you supposed to put on your resume?

[Responsibility2nd]

13. Consultant

[nikos1121]

15. Sexy
16. Cool
17. Self-starter
18. Ambidextrous
19. Fertile

[Psalm 144]

“That’s good because I’m a real go-getter, who thinks outside the box and won’t take no for an answer.”

So you are excited by challenge then? I have to assume you love to ride horses too.