<![CDATA[resume - Gordon Law Group, LLP]]> https://www.gordonllp.com/blog/tags/resume/ Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:53:31 GMT en-us <![CDATA[The Best and Worst Resume Phrases to Use]]> https://www.gordonllp.com/blog/best-and-worst-phrases-for-a-resume/ https://www.gordonllp.com/blog/best-and-worst-phrases-for-a-resume/ Fri, 14 Mar 2014 00:46:42 GMT A new CareerBuilder survey asked 2,201 hiring managers and HR professionals to identify the best and worst resume terms.  Here’s what they found: The Worst The following terms were selected as uninviting resume terms: The Best However, employers also identified several key terms and strong verbs that hiring managers look for in resumes: The survey…

]]> A new CareerBuilder survey asked 2,201 hiring managers and HR professionals to identify the best and worst resume terms.  Here’s what they found:

The Worst

The following terms were selected as uninviting resume terms:

  1. Best of breed: 38 percent
  2. Go-getter: 27 percent
  3. Think outside of the box: 26 percent
  4. Synergy: 22 percent
  5. Go-to person: 22 percent
  6. Thought leadership: 16 percent
  7. Value add: 16 percent
  8. Results-driven: 16 percent
  9. Team player: 15 percent
  10. Bottom-line: 14 percent
  11. Hard worker: 13 percent
  12. Strategic thinker: 12 percent
  13. Dynamic: 12 percent
  14. Self-motivated: 12 percent
  15. Detail-oriented: 11 percent
  16. 16. Proactively: 11 percent
  17. 17. Track record: 10 percent

The Best

However, employers also identified several key terms and strong verbs that hiring managers look for in resumes:

  1. Achieved: 52 percent
  2. Improved: 48 percent
  3. Trained/Mentored: 47 percent
  4. Managed: 44 percent
  5. Created: 43 percent
  6. Resolved: 40 percent
  7. Volunteered: 35 percent
  8. Influenced: 29 percent
  9. Increased/Decreased: 28 percent
  10. Ideas: 27 percent
  11. Negotiated: 25 percent
  12. Launched: 24 percent
  13. Revenue/Profits: 23 percent
  14. Under budget: 16 percent
  15. Won: 13 percent

The survey also noted that because hiring managers spend a minuscule amount of time looking at a resume, these key terms, for better or worse, will shape their all-important first impression of the candidate.

So, if you’re searching for a new job, take these tips in mind when building your resume.

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