200+ Resume Buzzwords to spice up your resume

How can your resume stand out to recruiters with eye-catching buzzwords?

The truth is, hiring managers and recruiters have a stack of resumes on their desks waiting to be reviewed. They don’t have all day to go through all those resumes.

In fact, studies have shown that HR managers scan a resume for less than 10 seconds before deciding if the candidate is a good match. When you have so little time to make a lasting impression on a potential employer, every word counts.

This is why deciding which words to use on your resume can be tricky. Make sure to include the best buzzwords that will help you stand out from other candidates.

To get noticed by recruiters, use the right buzzwords in your resume and avoid words that will bore them and turn them off.

What Are Resume Buzzwords?

In resumes, buzzwords are words commonly used to catch the attention of employers and recruiters. The purpose of buzzwords is to make you pop out to hiring managers who have to comb through dozens of resumes. They aren’t specific for a given job function or industry. They can, instead, describe a variety of skills and accomplishments.

It is always best to choose buzzwords that are directly related to the job you’re applying for. This means you have to find the exact words from the job listing and use them to highlight your relevant skills in your resume. Include these buzzwords in your resume and cover letter to optimize your chances of getting noticed.

Make sure that your language matches the skills or other requirements of the employer, for maximum impact. By doing this, you can showcase what you can offer the employer at a glance, demonstrating your industry expertise in their own words.

The best keywords on your resume aren’t necessarily keywords related to skills and responsibilities, but the actions you’ve mastered during your previous positions. They are called action verbs.

Here are some of the best buzzwords and action verbs to include in your resume according to Forbes:

1. analyzed
2. quantified
3. planned
4. programmed
5. designed
6. Taught /trained/ mentored
7. facilitated
8. launched
9.  demonstrated
10. achieved
11. improved
12. managed
13. created
14. resolved
15. volunteered
16. influenced
17. increased/decreased
18. negotiated
19. won
20. ideas
21. revenue/profits
22. under budget

What Do You Accomplish By Adding Buzzwords To Your Resume?

Using buzzwords correctly can make a significant difference in your ability to get job interviews and, ultimately, land your dream job. The same is true when you overuse or misuse buzzwords, it can hamper your job search.

1. Helps you get past the ATS scan.

Buzzwords are so crucial in your resume – they help you get past the applicant tracking systems (ATS) that many companies use. More than 98 percent of Fortune 500 companies have adopted these systems. As part of the hiring process, ATS assists in analyzing resumes and other tasks.

ATS mine resume data to convert them into easily understandable information for hiring managers. A company can choose keywords, sort and rank job candidates using the ATS. When you use the right buzzwords in your ATS-friendly resume, you can beat the automated algorithms and move closer to the top rankings for resumes.

 

2. Helps your resume get noticed by hiring managers fast.

Buzzwords are still important to include in your application when applying to companies that do not use ATS systems. They help hiring managers spot the right candidate with the right buzzwords that exactly match the job’s skills and experience.

Relevant keywords, resume buzzwords, and action verbs are all incredibly useful to employers in seeing the value of your career experience. They only have a few minutes to spare so it’s crucial to find a resume and candidate that will stand out from the crowd.

 

How To Use Buzzwords On Your Resume

Buzzwords and action verbs are good ways of showcasing your skills and experience on a resume, whereas generic, boring descriptions can downplay your achievements.

1. When writing your resume, remember not to be modest because it’s a chance for you to show potential employers how valuable you are – and what you can do for them.
2. Use action verbs and resume buzzwords to breathe life and depth into your experiences, skills, and achievements. Additionally, they can be used to express your personality or work traits.
3. Choose action verbs that better reflect the work you did at your last job instead of weak, vague, or overused verbs.
4. Make your resume accomplishments quantifiable to help hiring managers clearly understand what you accomplished in your job role. You can do this by adding numbers whenever you have specific evidence to back up your claims.
5. Use strong action verbs for each job accomplishment you list (rather than the job task). You should list each job accomplishment with the following template:

“Action verb + Accomplishment + Details”

Example: 

“Boosted monthly revenue from $25k to $105k for a sustainable eCommerce brand through innovative email marketing campaigns.”

Communication Skills: List of Resume Action Verbs

Adding personality to the words you use can stir a hiring manager’s interest. In that case, you might have a better chance of getting the person to meet you for an interview.

For instance, it’s not enough to just say that you talked to other people to prove that you achieved your goals. A good action verb to use is “persuaded” since it describes your ability to influence.

You can also add a touch of formality to your actions by using more precise words. When used in place of “wrote” or “spoke,” words like “addressed” and “corresponded” are more powerful.

Examples:

Don’t Use:  talked, presented, organized

Use: addressed, corresponded, persuaded, publicized, reconciled

 

Try these in phrases:

X –“organized” an off-site meeting

✔ – “orchestrated” an off-site meeting

X – “leading” the meeting

✔ – “chaired” the meeting

Organizational Skills: List of Resume Action Verbs

Describe how you organized a project and completed it. As an example, “executed” means that you saw it through until the end.

Examples:

Don’t Use: organized, ordered, filed

Use: cataloged, executed, monitored, operated

Consider using something that more accurately describes your purpose:

X – “filed account paperwork”

✔ – “monitored client accounts”

Tip:

The value of your experience can be diminished if you focus on the task instead of the objective or significance of it to the organization.

Management / Leadership Skills: Resume Action Verbs

It is a plus if you have leadership experience on your resume. It’s much more powerful to say you “established” a team versus just saying you “led” a team. The former indicates you took the initiative to create something new.

Using the word “oversaw” implies that you’re doing high-level supervisory work, but not actively participating in a project.

Examples:

Don’t Use: led, handled, oversaw

Use: consolidated, appointed, delegated, established

“Established a 5-man productivity team and delegated operational tasks to two junior sales managers generating $73K Monthly Revenue.”

Tips:

• Choose words that accurately reflect your contribution.
• Avoid repeating action verbs, as this can reduce the word’s impact and make for a boring read for the hiring manager or recruiter.

 

200+ Resume Buzzwords

The following are some of the best buzzwords you can use to make your resume stand out. We’ve organized them into categories to make it easier for you to browse them.

 Replace ACHIEVED with:

1. Accelerated
2. Accomplished
3. Accumulated
4. Acquired
5. Advanced
6. Amplified
7. Assembled
8. Attained
9. Boosted
10. Completed
11. Created
12. Delivered
13. Demonstrated
14. Earned
15. Enacted
16. Enhanced
17. Expanded
18. Expedited
19. Generated
20. Improved
21. Lifted
22. Managed
23. Maximized
24. Outpaced
25. Produced
26. Pursued
27. Reached
28. Resolved
29. Secured
30. Solidified
31. Succeeded
32. Superseded
33. Surpassed
34. Stimulated
35. Won

 

Replace ASSISTED with:

1. Aided
2. Advanced
3. Accelerated
4. Boosted
5. Counseled
6. Coached
7. Cooperated
8. Collaborated
9. Expedited
10. Facilitated
11. Promoted
12. Reinforced
13. Supported

 

Replace COMMUNICATED with:

1. Advocated
2. Authored
3. Briefed
4. Channeled
5. Clarified
6. Conferred
7. Composed
8. Consulted
9. Conveyed
10. Contacted
11. Corresponded
12. Defined
13. Explained
14. Fielded
15. Interpreted
16. Interviewed
17. Illustrated
18. Informed
19. Interacted
20. Interpreted
21. Interviewed
22. Liaised
23. Mediated
24. Moderated
25. Negotiated
26. Networked
27. Promoted
28. Presented
29. Persuaded
30. Translated

Replace CREATED with:

1. Altered
2. Built
3. Crafted
4. Composed
5. Constructed
6. Conceptualized
7. Customized
8. Designed
9. Devised
10. Developed
11. Drafted
12. Envisioned
13. Established
14. Fashioned
15. Formulated
16. Initiated
17. Innovated
18. Instigated
19. Installed
20. Invented
21. Launched
22. Modified
23. Overhauled
24. Piloted
25. Pioneered
26. Produced
27. Rebuilt

 

Replace DECREASED with:

1. Condensed
2. Conserved
3. Consolidated
4. Deducted
5. Eased
6. Lessened
7. Lowered
8. Lightened
9. Reduced

 

Replace EXPERIENCED with:

1. Accomplished
2. Adept
3. Capable
4. Competent
5. Cultivated
6. Mature
7. Old hand
8. Qualified
9. Skillful
10. Sophisticated
11. Superlative
12. Well-Trained

 

Replace IMPROVED with:

1. Amended
2. Boosted
3. Converted
4. Corrected
5. Enhanced
6. Influenced
7. Integrated
8. Lifted
9. Merged
10. Modernized
11. Overhauled
12. Redesigned
13. Refined
14. Reformed
15. Remodeled
16. Reorganized
17. Restructured
18. Revamped
19. Revised
20. Revitalized
21. Saved
22. Streamlined
23. Strengthened
24. Transformed
25. Upgraded
26. Updated

Replace INCREASED with:

1. Advanced
2. Amplified
3. Boosted
4. Capitalized
5. Delivered
6. Doubled
7. Enhanced
8. Elevated
9. Expanded
10. Furthered
11. Generated
12. Gained
13. Lifted
14. Maximized
15. Multiplied
16. Outpaced
17. Optimized
18. Raised

Replace LED with:

1. Chaired
2. Commanded
3. Conducted
4. Directed
5. Enacted
6. Executed
7. Guided
8. Impacted
9. Influenced
10. Initialized
11. Orchestrated
12. Piloted
13. Spearheaded
14. Ushered

Replace MANAGED with:

1. Aligned
2. Coached
3. Coordinated
4. Counseled
5. Cultivated
6. Directed
7. Enabled
8. Facilitated
9. Fostered
10. Guided
11. Hired
12. Inspired
13. Instructed
14. Mentored
15. Mobilized
16. Motivated
17. Piloted
18. Recruited
19. Supervised

Replace RESEARCHED with:

1. Analyzed
2. Assessed
3. Audited
4. Calculated
5. Detected
6. Diagnosed
7. Discovered
8. Dissected
9. Examined
10. Explored
11. Identified
12. Inquired
13. Inspected
14. Investigated
15. Measured
16. Probed
17. Quantified
18. Studied
19. Surveyed
20. Tested
21. Tracked

Replace RESPONSIBLE FOR with:

1. Accomplished
2. Acquired
3. Collaborated
4. Completed
5. Created
6. Directed
7. Executed
8. Finished
9. Forged
10. Negotiated
11. Operated
12. Partnered
13. Performed
14. Prepared
15. Produced
16. Secured
17. Undertook

Replace SKILLED with:

1. Adept
2. Dextrous
3. Prepared
4. Primed
5. Proficient
6. Savvy
7. Highly or Well-trained
8. Veteran

Replace UTILIZED with:

1. Administered
2. Adopted
3. Applied
4. Assigned
5. Deployed
6. Employed
7. Executed
8. Fostered
9. Implemented
10. Mobilized
11. Operated
12. Promoted
13. Restored
14. Revived

Replace WORKED ON with:

1. Arranged
2. Activated
3. Altered
4. Compiled
5. Composed
6. Constructed
7. Converted
8. Crafted
9. Created
10. Cultivated
11. Developed
12. Devised
13. Fashioned
14. Forged
15. Formulated
16. Modeled
17. Modified
18. Operated
19. Organized
20. Perfected
21. Pioneered
22. Prepared
23. Polished
24. Reinforced
25. Set-Up
26. Tailored
27. Undertook
28. Upgraded

 

Buzzwords to Leave off your Resume

Adding buzzwords to your resume can be beneficial, but you should also omit several of them. Because of the limited space on your resume, you need to select your words carefully.

In the past few years, there have been some words that have become overused adjectives – and common phrases from the past have actually become liability words to use on your resume. These words need to be avoided at all costs if you want to appear relevant.

In order to have the best resume that is powerful, easy to follow, and relevant, it is important to know not only what to include, but also what to leave out.

If you want your resume to stand out and get noticed by hiring managers, avoid these worn-out or overused words and phrases that consistently top the “most annoying buzzwords list”.  You may want to avoid using these words in your resume if you want to avoid getting sucked in the resume black hole or ruining your chances of getting hired.

Getting rid of cliched, boring words and phrases shouldn’t be that difficult. They’ve been in use for so long that they’ve lost their meaning and they certainly don’t add much value to your resume. Those are just considered fluff that doesn’t convey the specifics and facts about your accomplishments and abilities.

Boring Words and phrases repel recruiters and hiring managers

It is a good idea to avoid these yawners on any resume, even an entry-level one. You can find literally hundreds of examples of powerful, descriptive action verbs on the internet, so your job description does not have to be boring or weak.

Before you start searching for resume buzzwords, be sure you pay attention to the content of your resume. Don’t use generic or ambiguous titles or descriptions. Listed below are a few words you shouldn’t use in your resume since they are overused and vague, and may do more harm than good:

1. Assisted with
2. Accomplished
3. Best of breed
4. Best in Class
5. Bottom-line oriented
6. Creative
7. Creative Thinker
8. Cutting edge
9. Detail-oriented
10. Deep dive
11. Disruptor
12. Driven Professional
13. Dynamic
14. Entrepreneurial
15. Excellent Communicator
16. Experience working in
17. Experienced
18. Expert
19. Extensive experience
20. Focused
21. Facilitate
22. Fast-paced
23. Great
24. Goal-Oriented
25. Go-getter
26. Go to person
27. Hard worker
28. Hard-working
29. Helped with
30. Highly Skilled
31. Ideate
32. Interfaced (when used as a verb)
33. Innovative
34. Led
35. Managed
36. Motivated
37. Multi-tasker
38. Outside the box
39. Out-of-the-Box
40. Passionate
41. Problem Solver
42. Proactive
43. Proactively
44. Proven Track record
45. Quality Driven
46. Quick Learner
47. Road Warrior
48. Responsible for
49. Responsible
50. Results-driven
51. Results-oriented
52. Rockstar/Ninja/Guru
53. Seasoned Professional
54. Self-motivated
55. Self-starter
56. Skillset
57. Specialized in
58. Strategic
59. Strategic Thinker
60. Strong Work Ethic
61. Super
62. Synergy
63. Track record
64. Team player
65. Trustworthy
66. Thought leadership
67. Utilized
68. Value-add
69. Wheelhouse
70. Worked on
71. Works Well With Others
72. Works Well Under Pressure

 

Bottom Line

When it comes to your resume, the words you choose can spell the difference between landing a job and being passed over. Using the right buzzwords can make your resume stand out to hiring managers who rarely have time to read through each resume carefully.

The best resume buzzwords can help you stand out from the crowd and move forward in the job search process ultimately land your dream job. You can choose from several resume writing services that can help you craft a more impressive resume.