Weak Phrases to Avoid on Your Resume

When writing our resumes, sometimes we don't realize that the words we're accustomed to using actually make us look weak to those reading them. Luckily, there are ways to sidestep looking weak on your resume without having to acquire guidance from a person offering resume help certified. To get you on the right track, let's look at some words and phrases you might want to avoid the next time you revamp your resume.

Don't Tell What Your "Responsibilities Include"

A standard resume phrase has always been "responsibilities include." However, this is actually a very passive phrase that sends one of two messages to employers. One, an employer could think that you were not ambitious enough to initiate projects and only complete whatever responsibilities were handed to you. And two, employers could think that you are simply cutting and pasting what another resume said.

Honestly, you don't want employers thinking either one about you. So instead of using this phrase anywhere in your resume, sit down and really think about what you "organized," "initiated," "managed," etc. to show how you were able to take charge in all of your previous positions.

Avoid Being "Familiar With" Something

Think about it; if you were a hiring manager, would you prefer a candidate who was "familiar with" a certain application or one who was "proficient" in it? There's no doubt that a high level of proficiency is preferred when considering applicants. So to avoid looking weak on your resume, it's a good idea to avoid using phrases like "familiar with" or any others that suggest you only know a little bit about something.

Be Careful with Your "CPAs" and "CFAs"

So as an elite member of your industry, it is your job to know all of the acronyms out there. You say them everyday along with everyone else you work with. But when you apply for your next job, it's a good idea to be careful with your use of acronyms.

While the final person who reads your resume may know what they mean, it's possible that a random person in human resources will be the first to see it. To avoid any confusion, you could use the acronyms in parentheses after writing out the words. This way, no one will think you're just throwing out words and phrases to look impressive.

It may have become second nature to use certain phrases on your resume. That's why it's good to take a look at what words you've been using to ensure that everything you write down makes your resume look stronger, not weaker.