79 Resume Buzzwords You Should Avoid At All Costs in 2025

What Are Resume Buzzwords?

Resume buzzwords are vague terms and phrases that job seekers include on their resumes to describe their skills, experiences, or personality traits. Buzzwords are so overused that they've lost their impact and meaning, which basically makes them pointless.

Terms like "team player," "detail-oriented," or "results-driven" are great examples of buzzwords. While these might be important qualities for the job you’re after, listing them on your resume without backing them up with specific examples doesn't tell employers anything meaningful about you as a candidate.

Buzzwords typically fall into four categories:

1. Empty descriptions that claim certain characteristics or personality traits.
2. Vague action verbs that don't specify what you actually did.
3. Outdated phrases that make your resume seem out of touch.
4. Corporate jargon that veers into gobbledygook.

The problem with these buzzwords is that they don't actually set you apart from other candidates, which is 

what your resume is supposed to do. When everyone claims to be "hardworking" and "passionate," it all becomes background noise to hiring managers.

Should You Avoid Buzzwords on Your Resume?

Yes, you should generally avoid using buzzwords on your resume, but this doesn’t mean that all popular terms or phrases will harm your chances of landing the job.

The main difference is whether you can provide specific examples and back up your claims. Buzzwords are just fluff – they make broad claims without giving the hiring manager any proof. A strong resume provides concrete examples of your most impressive achievements and skills and uses powerful language to describe them.

For example, instead of just saying you're "detail-oriented," you should mention a specific instance or professional achievement that proves it. Maybe you identified and corrected reporting errors that saved your previous employer a large sum in potential compliance penalties. Just take the extra step and provide the hiring manager with an example to boost your credibility.

Whatever the quality or achievement you want to highlight, make sure you describe it thoroughly to create a more compelling picture of what you bring to the table.

79 Resume Buzzwords to Avoid

Now let's look at the specific buzzwords you should eliminate from your resume. Review your resume and watch out for these pesky red flags that could hurt your chances.

To make them easier to identify and replace, we've organized them into four categories:

30 Overused Personality Traits

Personality traits are some of the most common buzzwords that make it onto resumes.

These words are usually vague descriptions that promise the hiring manager some kind of super-candidate but don’t prove your interpersonal skills or achievements. Anyone can claim to be "detail-oriented" or a "team player," but without specific examples, these terms can’t add any value to your resume.

Hiring managers come across hundreds of candidates who use these buzzwords, which means they’ll think you’re generic. Here’s an example of how some of these terms might appear in a resume summary:

See the difference? The first summary says almost nothing about the candidate's actual qualifications or what makes them unique. The second one focuses on specific accomplishments that can demonstrate those qualities in action.

With that in mind, here are some buzzwords that describe personality traits to avoid unless you can back them up:

Keep in mind that while different industries may value certain traits – for instance, creative fields might emphasize "innovative thinking," while the financial sector might prefer "attention to detail” – just claiming to have them won't set you apart.

21 Weak Action Verbs

Another common type of resume buzzword you should avoid is weak action verbs.

Some candidates think that using generic phrases like "was responsible for" or "helped with" is enough, but these words simply can’t get the point across about your skills and they could undermine your job application.

These words tend to be overused in the work experience section. Since this is the heart of your resume, it’s where hiring managers expect to see your professional accomplishments, so you need this section to shine. Weak action verbs can significantly diminish their impact since they just can’t demonstrate what you contributed to your previous employers.

Let’s look at how this might appear on your resume:

The first example uses weak verbs that fail to show what the candidate actually accomplished. The second uses powerful action verbs and power words that can clearly demonstrate your responsibilities and measurable achievements.

Here are some weak action verbs to avoid in your resume:

When describing your work experience, be specific about your actions and their results. Different roles and experiences require different strengths - technical achievements might benefit from verbs like "programmed" or "configured" to showcase your computer skills, while accomplishments related to leadership might use "directed" or "spearheaded."

13 Outdated Terms

Some phrases on your resume might have been impressive a decade ago, but now, they’ll come across as redundant. Using outdated terminology tells hiring managers you haven't been keeping up with current industry standards.

But hiring managers aren’t the only thing you need to worry about. Some outdated terminology might not even make it past the applicant tracking system. Your resume should include up-to-date information, whether that’s tools, technologies, or industry techniques.

The skills section is the most common place candidates use outdated terminology. Describing yourself can be difficult, and that goes for your skills, too. It’s easy to fall into the trap of repeating terminology you’ve heard somewhere before, but it’s likely to just be a waste of space.

Your skills should be listed with laser precision to match exactly what the job and industry are looking for.

Let’s look at an example:

The first example is too vague and uses outdated phrases that don't tell employers anything specific about your skills. The second example features relevant, measurable skills that can be easily verified during a job interview.

But outdated terms and phrases aren’t exclusive to skills. On the contrary, job seekers tend to over-rely on them, so they end up in resume objectives and work experience sections just as frequently.

Here are some outdated terms you should avoid on your resume:

In addition to making your resume look outdated, these phrases also make it unnecessarily long. Most hiring managers prefer neat, one- to one-and-a-half-page resumes that get straight to the point.

15 Unnecessarily Complex Words

Some candidates think that using complicated language makes them sound more intelligent or qualified. This is especially true for recent graduates who try to compensate for their lack of work experience with unnecessarily complex terminology.

The truth is that simple, clear language is always more effective. Hiring managers don't want to decipher what you're trying to say – they want to quickly understand your qualifications. Even for extracurricular activities, there's no need to dress up your involvement with fancy words. Just describe what you did and what you learned.

Let's look at how complex jargon might appear in an extracurricular activities section:

The first example tries to sound impressive but ends up being vague and incredibly confusing. The second example communicates what you did and the results you achieved clearly – providing more than enough information to impress a hiring manager.

Now, let’s look at some common jargon you should avoid in most cases:

Again, using clear, straightforward language does not make you seem less qualified – it actually demonstrates your ability to communicate, which is an incredibly valuable soft skill. Besides, overloading everything with complex jargon can make even a one-page resume feel like a chore to read.

Your goal is to communicate your value clearly to the hiring manager, not to try and impress them with your vocabulary.

Resume Keywords vs Resume Buzzwords

To create an effective resume, it’s important to understand the difference between resume keywords and buzzwords.

Keywords are specific terms related to the skills, qualifications, and experiences required for a particular job. They're often directly mentioned in the job description and applicant tracking systems (ATS) actively scan for them when they filter resumes.

Unlike buzzwords, resume keywords aren’t vague and they show that you’ve tailored your resume to the job. Ultimately, keywords can also help you land a job interview.

Here's a breakdown of the two, side by side:

As you can see, keywords are very specific, and they show hiring managers that you have the exact qualifications they're looking for, while buzzwords just take up valuable space.

To identify the right keywords for your resume, carefully read the job description and highlight any specific skills, tools, and qualifications it mentions. Then, naturally weave these terms into your resume.

That said, avoid keyword stuffing – shoving random keywords in your resume just for the sake of appearing like a more relevant candidate. This might help you pass the ATS screening phase but once an actual hiring manager sees the poor content of your resume, they’re not going to give you an interview.

8 Powerful Alternatives to Resume Buzzwords

Now that you know which buzzwords to avoid, let's focus on how you can replace them. Strong, case-specific language will make your resume stand out and clearly communicate your value to potential employers.

So, here are some tried-and-tested alternatives to common resume buzzwords:

1. Metrics. Numbers instantly transform vague claims into concrete achievements. Even approximate figures give hiring managers something they can grasp, whether it's revenue generated, time saved, or customers served.
2. Achievements instead of responsibilities. Instead of listing what you were responsible for, emphasize what you actually accomplished. Hiring managers care more about results than day-to-day tasks.
3. Powerful action verbs. Strong verbs like "launched," "transformed," or "pioneered" create immediate impact. They convey energy and initiative in ways that weak verbs like "helped" or "worked on" simply don’t.
4. Specific skills. Rather than broad claims about being "experienced," or “proficient in” something, list your actual technical abilities and proficiency levels. This clarity helps hiring managers immediately understand what you bring to the table.
5. Problem-solving examples. Every workplace has challenges - explaining how you addressed them shows critical thinking in action. Include the situation, your approach, and the positive outcome that resulted.
6. Industry-relevant terminology. Familiar terms show that you understand the field. Just be sure to use these naturally and only when they genuinely apply to you.
7. Proof of teamwork. Instead of just claiming to be a "team player," describe specific cross-functional projects or how you supported coworkers to achieve shared goals.
8. Resume tailoring. In addition to including relevant keywords, try to match the tone and goals of the job posting you’re applying to. Reflecting the company’s mission and culture shows an eye for detail and the hiring manager is more likely to see you as a perfect fit for the job, not as someone who’s applying for just any job out there. 

7 Steps to Review Your Resume for Buzzwords

Even if you know what resume buzzwords are and why you’re better off avoiding them altogether, you could slip up. After all, these are very popular terms, and you wouldn’t be the first job seeker to think that describing yourself as a “go-getter” says enough about your leadership skills.

Fortunately, identifying and removing buzzwords from your resume doesn't have to be difficult. We’ve outlined these simple steps for you to follow:

1. Take a break before reviewing. If you just finished writing your resume, you might be a little burnt out. Step away from it for at least a day, then come back with fresh eyes to spot any overused phrases more easily.
2. Read your resume out loud. If something sounds like a cliché or feels vague when you say it out loud, then it probably is. Mark any phrases you’re not sure about after you hear them and revise your resume.
3. Use the CTRL+F function. If you have a lot of text or you think you might have used a buzzword more than once, just use the search function. You can quickly find all the places you describe yourself as being "responsible for" something and swap them with more appropriate action verbs.
4. Try to prove everything. For every line on your resume, think about whether there’s any proof to back up what you’re saying. If you can’t reasonably prove it, either add specific examples or rephrase the sentence.
5. Get a second opinion. Ask a trusted friend or coworker to highlight phrases that seem generic or meaningless.
6. Reference the job description. Make sure that you're using industry-specific keywords from the job posting instead of generic buzzwords.
7. Use an AI tool. You can use AI to review your resume and save yourself a bit of time. Just upload your resume and ask the chatbot to flag any vague terms or common buzzwords, and suggest alternatives.

This doesn’t mean you should make your resume more impersonal, though. You just need to make sure it’s clear and to the point, with meaningful content that showcases your specific achievements and skills.

FAQs on Resume Buzzwords to Avoid

Are you still wondering something about resume buzzwords you should avoid? Just check out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below:

Key Takeaways

And that’s all there is to know about the resume buzzwords you need to avoid!

By now, you should be ready to create a standout resume. But before you go, let’s do a quick recap of the most important takeaways:

• Don’t over-rely on personality traits and vague claims. Hiring managers don't want to hear that you're a "go-getter" - they want to see concrete proof of your achievements and skills.
• Understand the difference between keywords and buzzwords. Keywords are specific, job-relevant terms that can help you pass ATS screening, but buzzwords are just meaningless filler.
• Use clear, powerful language that demonstrates your actual value. Replace weak action verbs and corporate jargon with specific, impactful descriptions of your professional accomplishments.
• Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities. Numbers and specific results tell a much more compelling story than generic job descriptions.
• Tailor your resume to each specific job. Carefully read the job description and align your language, skills, and achievements with what the employer is looking for.
• Proofread and get a second opinion. Fresh eyes can help you spot and eliminate those sneaky buzzwords that might be holding your resume back.