Phrases You Should Never Include on Your Résumé

So you think you've written a definitive résumé? Well, don't hit "send" until you check it for the following overused résumé turn-offs, which were compiled by CareerBuilder. Job candidates have very little time to make a positive impression with their résumé. In fact, 68 percent of hiring managers spend less than two minutes reviewing a résumé, and 17 percent spend 30 seconds or less. If they open up a document that's littered with clichéd phrases, they're far more likely to quickly move on to the next applicant. And be sure to keep the "show, don't tell" rule in mind: It's always better to demonstrate what you've accomplished in clear, concrete terms rather than describing your work with vague phrases such as "hard worker" and "major contributor." Employers prefer "strong action words that define specific experience, skills and accomplishments," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "Subjective terms and clichés are seen as negative because they don't convey real information. For instance, don't say you are 'results-driven.' Show the employer your actual results." And definitely avoid the following 10 phrases, which surveyed employers said were worn-out. More than 2,200 hiring managers and HR professionals took part in the research.