Revamp Your Resume: 20 Outdated Buzzwords to Banish in 2024 and What to Say Instead
Improve your English language resume with TER's expert insights. Discover 20 outdated resume buzzwords to avoid in 2024 and powerful alternatives to include instead in this guide.
RESUME WRITING TIPS
3/4/20248 min read
Revamp Your Resume: 20 Outdated Buzzwords to Banish in 2024 and What to Say Instead
Your resume acts as the first stage of you getting your dream job, showcasing your professional journey, so the choice of words it contains is crucial — yet some phrases have lost their impact. In 2024 employers are getting wiser to this, coupled with the challenge of automated HR software becoming a bigger-and-bigger barrier, sometimes stopping your resume before it is even seen by a human. So, now is the time to breathe new life into your English resume by discarding tired buzzwords that hinder your success. Discover which words and phrases to remove, and suggestions to change them for, in our handy guide below.
If you are still yet to write a resume, check out our other articles here, and here, or fill in the contact form for a FREE initial consultation.
Now, let's get into the guide!
The Buzzword Epidemic in Resumes
The buzzword epidemic is a long-held gripe for recruiters all over the world. We’ve all been guilty of peppering our resumes with those in-vogue, overused phrases like "detail-oriented" and "dynamic team player." Recruiters and hiring managers, including us, have seen it all, and unfortunately, it's often a one-way ticket to the rejection pile. These terms do little to differentiate you or effectively communicate your unique value proposition, instead signaling a lack of originality and depth, which is not what you want your potential employer to take away from your application, especially when you are in a competitive career environment like Thailand.
Why Avoid These Buzzwords?
They Are Meaningless
It’s simple — they've lost their power to impress. Think about it - if everyone is "results-driven," then the term is pointless. Such phrases diminish your ability to stand out from all of the other candidates, they’ve become a shorthand for "this is a generic resume that I've not put much effort into", often signaling to hiring professionals that you might not have much to say beyond a few clichés, which may lead them to question the level of effort you would put into the role if you can't be bothered to invest effort in your resume.
Think Of Your Audience
This is crucial, especially considering the main focus of this site: English resumes in ESL markets. Recruiters might not even understand what the buzzword means, rendering it at best ineffective, and at worst, a complete turnoff.
Not Only Boring, Also Vague
In addition, buzzwords are often vague and don't provide any specific information about your skills or experience, making it difficult for employers to understand what you actually bring to the table.
It's Not Just Humans You Need To Consider
In a more practical sense, the overuse of buzzwords could lead to electronic screening systems, designed to filter out applications before a human lays eyes on them, flagging your resume as generic or unoriginal. If you want your resume to get past these gatekeepers and into the hands of the relevant hiring managers, it’s time to get rid of these pesky buzzwords.
Common Resume Buzzwords to Ditch
Here's a culling list of 20 stale terms that need to be permanently deleted from your resume.
Hardworking: The term overstates the obvious — you should be hardworking anyway, you don't need to clarify it, even if you weren't, you wouldn't write "I'm lazy" on your resume!
Detail-Oriented: It's more compelling to show a meticulous approach in the narrative of your work, rather than stating it as a fact.
Proactive: While it’s commendable to take initiative, providing concrete examples is more persuasive than merely claiming to be proactive.
Go-Getter: What even is a go-getter? Be specific, it is immensely more valuable over generic motivation buzzwords.
Results-Driven: Focusing on outcomes could mean anything; be specific about the results you delivered instead.
Team Player/Team Oriented: Almost all jobs involve some level of teamwork, highlight successful collaborations instead.
Innovative: Innovation is a very broad term and on its own, without context, it’s just white noise.
Self-Motivated: Similar to "hardworking" it is stating the obvious - no one is going to want to employ someone that needs constant motivational interaction, everyone should have a degree of self-motivation.
Dependable/Reliable: This is expected; it's not really something to brag about.
Dynamic: This term has, urm - lost its dynamism through overuse.
Excellent Communication Skills: Employers expect you to communicate well. Give examples through your storytelling, not just a grand claim.
Exceptional Track Record: What's exceptional to you might be average to the employer, showcase this with examples as specifics always win.
Leadership Skills: Leading what? On it's own its largely meaningless, instead, showcase experiences where you effectively led a team or project.
Punctual: Another baseline expectation you claim to embody that will not tip the scales in your favour, not to mention the waste of pixels and electric spent typing it.
Multi-Tasker: Context is key here. Are you efficient at handling multiple projects or do too many tasks lead to spread-thin results?
Strategic Thinker: Using better descriptive terms for your specific thought leadership will be more memorable than an umbrella term like this.
Forward-Thinking: Yawn, this is vague and meaningless unless it’s linked to a progressive approach to a specific business challenge.
Cutting-Edge: Flashy and empty without proof - including this without context also proves the exact opposite. What defines cutting-edge in the context of your work?
Customer-Focused: Again, expected. Share instances where your customer focus made a tangible difference.
Passionate: Passion has to manifest itself to be meaningful, include anecdotes demonstrating your passion in action.
Crafting a Winning English Resume: Alternatives to Buzzwords
Now that you're aware of which words to avoid, it's time to discuss what you should use instead. Below, for each of the outdated buzzwords, we’ll suggest some potential alternative phrases or keywords that can elevate the content of your resume. These alternatives, when used thoughtfully, can help you articulate your skills and experiences in a much more powerful and precise manner.
As mentioned previously, including an example when appropriate is always a good idea.
1. Hardworking
Swap "hardworking" with:
Devoted to a high standard of work.
Diligent at ensuring tasks are completed on time and to expectation.
Tenacious in pursuing objectives and achieving outcomes.\
2. Detail-Oriented
Replace "detail-oriented" with:
Meticulous in reviewing work for quality and accuracy.
Vigilant at noticing and addressing small errors that could have big consequences.
Thorough in analysis and execution of complex tasks.
3. Proactive
Opt for more clarity:
Initiative-Driven in recognizing and addressing challenges before they manifest.
Anticipatory in considering future needs and positioning yourself and the company to meet them.
Resourceful in finding solutions without explicit direction.
4. Go-Getter
What’s your go-to for go-getter? Try these:
Action-Oriented in translating ideas into plans and execution.
Driven by Challenges that require determination and ingenuity.
Ambitious in setting and pursuing challenging goals.
5. Results-Driven
Be more descriptive with and include real life examples:
Focused On Delivering Measurable Results
Obsessed with Outcomes
Relish Pursuing Tangible Achievements
6. Team Player
Alternatives that reflect collaboration:
Partnership-Focused in achieving mutual success.
Harmony-Seeking to foster cooperation across diverse teams.
Contributing to a Cohesive Unit
7. Innovative
Set yourself apart as:
A Creator of Disruptive Solutions
A Pioneer of Change
A Developer of Novel Approaches
8. Self-Motivated
Show, don’t just tell:
Initiative-Seeking in steering advancement with your own drive.
Self-Directed Individual who needs little prompting to get started.
Thrives on Autonomy
9. Dependable/Reliable
Give concrete assurances and examples:
Consistent Performer Across all Tasks
Dedicated to Organisational Goals
Trusted to Lead the ***** Team
10. Dynamic
Show how dynamic you are by changing this for:
Proficient in Pursuing Varied Tasks
Flexible and Strategic in Approach
Adept at Navigating Multifaceted Challenges
11. Excellent Communication Skills
Be more dynamic:
Articulate in Any Context
Persuasive Presenter During Sales Conversations
Masterful at Transmitting Complex Ideas
12. Exceptional Track Record
Make it personal:
A Certifiable History of Overachieving
Proven Record of Achieving Superior Results
Architect of Implementing Breakthrough Business Processes
13. Leadership Skills
Get specific:
Adept at Guiding Teams Through Pressured Projects
Strategist of High-Performance Environments
Champion of Team Success
14. Punctual
Be precise:
Proficient in On-Time Project Delivery
Exceptional at Adhering to Time-Critical Tasks
Rigorous in Meeting Deadlines
15. Multi-Tasker
Clarify your juggling act:
Skilled at Precisely Juggling a Range of Tasks
Adept at Handling Multiple Diverse Tasks
Efficient at Coordinating Multiple Workstreams
16. Strategic Thinker
Reveal your thought process:
Exceptional in Real-Time Strategic Adaptation
Adept at Formulating Tactics to Achieve Goals
Skilled at Long Term Business Planning
17. Forward-Thinking
Define how this will help the company:
Holistic Process when Creating Future Business Plans
Progressive Approach to Planned Projects
Facilitator of Transformational Strategic Changes
18. Cutting-Edge
Show how you are!:
Pioneer of Creating Breakthrough New Business Processes
Leader in Implementing Novel Techniques
Receptive to Industry Evolution
19. Customer-Focused
Share customer/client stories:
Led by Client Satisfaction
Customer Engagement Specialist
User-Focused Experience Designer
20. Passionate
Turn passion into conviction:
Dedicated to the Company Mission
Ardent in My Pursuance of ****
Eager to Make a Positive Impact on the **** Industry
Tailoring Your Resume for Thailand in 2024
As we've discussed previously here, the best English language resumes and cover letters are tailored to the job you're applying for and the company you're applying to. Generic applications won't cut it, and neither will generic buzzwords, especially in the competitive Thailand job market. Take the time to understand the specifics of each job and emphasize the experiences and skills that are directly relevant, and mirror the terminology and key skills listed in the job description to highlight your fit for the role.
This isn’t about lying or embellishing on your resume; it’s about framing the truth in the most eye-catching and accurate manner. The result is a resume that reads less like a generic job application and more like the perfect candidate presenting their best self.
Conclusion
The employment landscape in Thailand and the wider world is competitive, and with the rise of AI in job application processing, jobseekers must do all they can to grab hiring managers' attention through their application.
By replacing the above buzzwords with unique and impactful language and including examples that highlights your skills and accomplishments, you are more likely to catch the eye of a hiring manager and secure that interview.
In your quest to perfect your resume, don't forget that there are services and professionals who can guide you through the process, so if you feel lost or unsure about your resume's transformation, consider seeking the expertise of a reputable resume writing service like us here at TER. Services like ours can be invaluable in helping you create a positive and informative narrative of your career through an exceptional English Language Resume.
For more information on how we can help you, please fill in our form at the top of the page, or visit our contact page here.
Rather Have An Expert Write Your Resume For You? Fill In The Form For a FREE Initial Consultation
View More Guides Here
Socials
Subscribe to our newsletter
About Us
TER was formed by Harry, a United Kingdom born, ex-recruitment consultant. During his time as a recruitment consultant Harry worked with thousands of jobseekers editing, reviewing and creating their Resumes, CVs and Cover Letters. Following this he worked for a cyber security consultancy in a sales and marketing role, before putting his skills and experience into creating ThaiEnglishResume to help Thai Jobseekers perfect their English Language Resume.