Keywords: The Good, The Bad, and The Overused

Keywords: The Good, The Bad, and The Overused
by Cathy Eng
One of today's major buzzwords is "keywords" and even though the English language contains thousands of usable keywords, many are getting used way more than they should in resumes. The secret to keywords is to be as specific as possible, using words that set you apart from the competition rather than put you in a class with them. Here are some of those keywords I would classify as good, bad, and overused. Good: These keywords communicate power and uniqueness of a candidate. Bilingual/Multilingual Black Belt Six Sigma (or other program credential) C++ Expertise (or other software expertise) PMP – Project Management Professional (or other professional certification) Global/International Award-winning Entrepreneurial* Be careful with entrepreneurial as it can communicate that you lack loyalty and may jump ship to start your own business at any time. Bad:* These overly general keywords are more or less a minimum requirement for any job. Self-motivated Hardworking Honest Organized Professional Team Player Overused: So many candidates use these more trendy keywords that hiring managers’ eyes simply glaze over when they see them. Innovative Results-Driven Dynamic Forward-Thinking Problem-Solver Goal-Focused If your resume contains any keywords in the latter two categories, you may want to purge them and replace them with more specific, impactful keywords that make you stand out as a knowledgeable, well rounded candidate. Above all, be sure to select keywords that adequately describe your skills and talents (and not those you would like to have). Be confident and clear, and you can create some great keywords! Cathy Eng is a Certified Advanced Resume Writer (CARW), author, and owner of Resume Rocketeer, Inc. With corporate expertise spanning marketing, communications, operations, and human resources, Cathy boasts a distinctive talent for maximizing client experiences to create compelling and effective resumes and cover letters that consistently win interviews. An accomplished author, Cathy also holds a B.S. in Journalism. For a free resume analysis, visit www.resumerocketeer.com.

One of today's major buzzwords is "keywords" and even though the English language contains thousands of usable keywords, many are getting used way more than they should in resumes. The secret to keywords is to be as specific as possible, using words that set you apart from the competition rather than put you in a class with them. Here are some of those keywords I would classify as good, bad, and overused.

Good: These keywords communicate power and uniqueness of a candidate.

Bilingual/Multilingual
Black Belt Six Sigma (or other program credential)
C++ Expertise (or other software expertise)
PMP – Project Management Professional (or other professional certification)
Global/International
Award-winning
Entrepreneurial*

*Be careful with entrepreneurial as it can communicate that you lack loyalty and may jump ship to start your own business at any time.

Bad: These overly general keywords are more or less a minimum requirement for any job.

Self-motivated
Hardworking
Honest
Organized
Professional
Team Player

Overused: So many candidates use these more trendy keywords that hiring managers’ eyes simply glaze over when they see them.

Innovative
Results-Driven
Dynamic
Forward-Thinking
Problem-Solver
Goal-Focused

If your resume contains any keywords in the latter two categories, you may want to purge them and replace them with more specific, impactful keywords that make you stand out as a knowledgeable, well rounded candidate. Above all, be sure to select keywords that adequately describe your skills and talents (and not those you would like to have). Be confident and clear, and you can create some great keywords!

Cathy Eng is a Certified Advanced Resume Writer (CARW), author, and owner of Resume Rocketeer, Inc. With corporate expertise spanning marketing, communications, operations, and human resources, Cathy boasts a distinctive talent for maximizing client experiences to create compelling and effective resumes and cover letters that consistently win interviews. An accomplished author, Cathy also holds a B.S. in Journalism. For a free resume analysis, visit www.resumerocketeer.com.