
If you’ve been searching for executive positions for some time, it’s possible that you’ve gotten into the habit of utilizing catchphrases to describe yourself. While there’s nothing wrong with choosing great brand attributes to define who you are, you want to avoid those that sound generic to decision makers who read your executive resume. Sometimes, a word or phrase sounds impressive, but when broken down into simple language actually means that you are organized, or work well with others—something all executive candidates should be great at by now. To avoid sounding too clichéd or ordinary on your resume, let’s take a look at some phrases that you should and should not include.
Phrases To Avoid
Once you’ve spent hours finding amazing skills and accomplishments to share on your executive resume, you assume your work is complete. But the real challenge comes with finding unique ways to describe those qualities. Many job candidates fall into a pattern of using certain words and catchphrases they know sum up skills into a neat little package. However, those very words have been seen time and time again by key decision makers and are just too redundant and inauthentic to offer real meaning. What are some of those phrases you want to avoid?- Superior communication skills
- Team player
- Strong work ethic
- Exceeded expectations
- Proven track record of success
Words You Shouldn’t Avoid
When it comes to choosing phrases to include in your resume, it gets a bit tricky. You don’t want to choose clichéd phrases that make your resume sound redundant, as it would by using the phrases listed above. Instead, you want to come up with descriptions based on specific experiences that show you’re an authentic candidate. A great way to come up with great descriptions is by combining action verbs with colorful adjectives. Here are a few action verbs to consider:- Accelerate
- Orchestrate
- Incentivize
- Capitalize
- Revolutionize
- Fortify
- Catapult
- Encouraging
- Unbiased
- Courageous
- Upbeat
- Harmonious
- Confident
- Impartial