Resume Wording

Resume Keywords Are an Important Tool in Crafting a Resume That Gets You the Interview

When it comes the resume wording, there are many wrong ways to do it, as well as a few right ways.

The content of your resume is extremely important. Yes, the format, the layout, and the appearance all matter.

But none of those factors will have quite as much impact as the words you use and the ways in which you put those words together.

You'll find many examples of effective wording on some of the sample resumes contained on this website.

Feel free to use those as a jumping off point. But you'll be writing much of your content from scratch, so it's essential that you understand exactly how to approach the words that you write if you want your resume to POP.

Here are a few "dos" and "don'ts" when it comes to the wording that you use.

Resume Wording Dos

• Use lots of action words, words that convey that you "did" something.



• Use bulleted, short phrases, rather than lengthy sentences and paragraphs



• Use the correct buzzwords or keywords for the industry you want to get a job in.



• Emphasize the positive.



• Include enough information on each job to show your full breadth of knowledge.


• Be concise. This is not an academic essay. You want it to be easily digestible.



• Use symbols, such as "#", "$", and "%", and numbers. They'll stand out and grab the attention of the reviewer. For example, "Increased sales in a 5-state territory by $20,000 a month."



• Plug your qualifications by focusing on accomplishments and specific results, rather than a routine listing of your job duties.

Resume Wording Don'ts

• Avoid vague wording such as "a few months." Specific dates are more powerful.



• Leave out the "I's,' as in "I directed..." It's better to start each phrase with an action verb.



• Leave out the negatives or any irrelevant information. If you have had job duties that aren’t relevant to your current job goals, you don't need to include them.



• Don’t go into too much detail on each job; save that for the interview. Think "highlights."



• Don't be vague or long-winded. Clear and concise will win the day. The "Baffle 'em with bull**" approach doesn't work well on a resume.



• Don't use the wrong words or punctuation. Have someone with top-notch writing skills review your resume simply for grammar and clarity.


• Don't write a meaningless or inane job objective. Many experts recommend that you avoid having an objective altogether on your resume, but objectives CAN be useful in some circumstances. But only if they actually say something.

If you follow these few simple resume wording tips when you write your resume, the result will be a document that markets your abilities effectively. And that will get you the job!

Be sure to read our resume wording tips on resume key words and action verbs.