10 Words To Use On Your Resume (and 5 You Need to Delete)

Just yesterday, you were staring at your resume and thinking, “How do I make this sound better without going overboard?”.

I get it.

Writing your resume normally feels (choose one of the following)...

Overwhelming
Annoying
Boring
Bleh
Ugh

Here's how to sound impressive without adding words like “synergized.”

But Wait, Why Does This Even Matter?
Hiring managers spend 6-7 seconds (yep, SECONDS!) scanning your resume before deciding whether it’s worth actually reading.

Every word you include has to work hard.

If you’re thinking, “Does every single word really matter, Steph?” the answer is: absolutely.

Your resume isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s your first handshake with a potential employer. And no one likes a so-so handshake, right?

Here’s where most of us trip up:

• Falling back on clichés: Sure, you’re “hard-working” and a “team player,” but…who isn’t? These phrases don’t say anything new.
  
  
• Listing tasks instead of wins: Think about it—would you rather read “Responsible for managing projects” or “Spearheaded five projects, boosting on-time project completing by 95%”? (Yeah, me too.)
  
  
• Trying to sound fancy: Using big words like “facilitated impactful synergies” (what even is that?) sounds ridiculous. Don’t make the hiring manager work harder than they have to!

A Better Approach for You

Swap out boring or generic words for action-packed language that shows off your achievements.

Here are 10 Words to Add to Your Resume Today:

1. Spearheaded – This says “I took charge.”
2. Streamlined – Like saying, “I made it better, faster, and stronger.”
3. Implemented – Translation: “I got things done.”
4. Revamped – A professional way to say, “I gave this a glow-up.”
5. Boosted – Because numbers don’t lie, my friend.
6. Negotiated – For when you’re a behind-the-scenes dealmaker.
7. Achieved – Straight to the point. What did you crush?
8. Directed – Leader vibes. Yes please.
9. Improved – Because making things better is always impressive.
10. Collaborated – Teamwork sounds dull. Collaborated is action-packed.

Now, the not-so-fun part:

5 Words You Need to Ditch (like, yesterday):

1. Responsible for – Okay, but what did you actually do?
2. Detail-oriented – Show, don’t tell. Details should shine through naturally.
3. Hard-working – Instead, let your accomplishments scream, “I’m a superstar!”
4. Results-driven – Cool, but what were the results?
5. Team player – A little vague, don’t you think? Show collaboration instead!

Summary

• Swap boring phrases for powerful, action-oriented words.
• Focus on your results and impact, not just your job description.
• Get rid of tired clichés and say what you really mean.

Want to Dive Deeper?
Let’s go through the rest of your application materials and get rid of the stuff that's holding you back! My Elevated Careers Career Change Accelerator course gives you the tools to take your resume (and your confidence) to the next level.

Your Next Steps

1. Grab your resume and circle words to swap—yes, do this right now!
2. Add 3-5 power words from the list to showcase your achievements.
3. Check out the Career Change Accelerator when you’re ready to go all-in on making your resume a magnet for dream jobs.

Because guess what?

You’re one standout resume away from that YES.

That's it for this week.