What Are Resume Buzzwords? (With Tips and Examples)
By Indeed Editorial Team
Updated February 3, 2023
Published September 29, 2021
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
When an employer reads your resume and cover letter, you just have a few seconds to make a good impression. Recruiters are frequently charged with examining many applications at the same time, and it's not uncommon for them to find the same standard verbs used on most resumes. Including resume power phrases is a wonderful approach to stand out and effectively catch their attention. In this article, we define resume buzzwords, list the words for your resume, discover advantages of utilizing these words, learn tips for using buzzwords in a resume, and find out examples of phrases using these words.
What are resume buzzwords?
Resume buzzwords are action verbs that you can use to showcase your abilities and expertise on your resume, making it stand out and increasing your possibility of going on to the next level of the application process. These terms provide rapid and effective context to your resume, assisting employers in understanding your worth as an employee.
Related: 10 Leadership Adjectives to Include on Your Resume
List of buzzwords for your resume
Examining an action verb list can help you realize how powerful they are when used on your resume. Below are various buzzwords organized by effect kind so you can choose the most appropriate terms for your resume:
Buzzwords for highlighting accomplishments
Your successes can sound more powerful if you use the proper action verbs. Following are some examples:
drove
enacted
endeavoured
established
exceeded
founded
pioneered
outperformed
overhauled
sharpened
shattered
sparked
spearheaded
steered
stimulated
streamlined
strengthened
supervised
surpassed
Read more: 280 Resume Action Words for an Impactful Impression
Buzzwords for highlighting responsibilities
Here are some action verbs you may use to describe your prior jobs and responsibilities:
accelerated
accomplished
analyzed
assembled
built
charted
created
constructed
coordinated
delivered
developed
executed
expanded
facilitated
finalized
forged
volunteered
guided
handled
headed
improved
increased
initiated
implemented
Iistituted
operated
organized
produced
reached
simplified
Buzzwords for expressing communication abilities
The following terms, when used correctly in a resume, may assist highlight your communication skills:
briefed
campaigned
collaborated
composed
conveyed
convinced
documented
campaigned
collaborated
composed
conveyed
convinced
documented
enlivened
instructed
performed
presented
promoted
spoke
trained
Buzzwords for creative experience
Here are some examples of powerful words to use on a resume to describe your creative experience:
authored
brainstormed
communicated
conceptualized
curated
customized
derived
designed
diagramed
drafted
edited
intensified
modelled
proofread
published
redesigned
researched
strategized
storyboarded
translated
transformed
visualized
wrote
Buzzwords for sales experience
Here are some strong adjectives to describe your sales experience:
acquired
boosted
captured
conserved
converted
earned
gained
generated
maximized
negotiated
outpaced
won
yielded
Leadership and management buzzwords
On your resume for leadership and management positions, avoid using clichés like kick-started or helped. Here are some words to try:
advised
aligned
arranged
augmented
centralized
championed
cultivated
restructured
revitalized
shaped
supervised
sustained
trained
reconciled
reduced
refocused
renovated
reorganized
replaced
resolved
restructured
revitalized
shaped
supervised
sustained
trained
Read more: 29 Leadership Words for Your Resume (With Definitions)
Buzzwords for financial experience
Here are some powerful resume terms to describe your experience as a financial professional:
audited
calculated
classified
collected
dispensed
halted
investigated
lowered
maintained
minimized
recognized
secured
Buzzwords for technical experience
Here are some examples of buzzwords you may use to convey your technical experience on your resume or cover letter:
advanced
architected
automated
coded
deployed
detected
devised
diagnosed
modified
networked
planned
programmed
remodelled
rewrote
refined
tested
troubleshoot
updated
upgraded
Related: How To Use Active Verbs on Your Resume (With Examples)
Advantages of using buzzwords
There are several advantages to using powerful language in resume writing. Using these buzzwords can help you achieve the following objectives:
Increased readability
While you may need to use industry jargon when discussing past employment experiences, it's important that your resume be understandable to someone who is not in your present role. While using industrial jargon, power words may assist you to get your point through.
For instance, rather than stating:
From Ruby to Node.js, we refactored essential component libraries
You might put it this way:
Improved development team efficiency by simplifying the code library from Ruby to Node.js
Various languages
It might be difficult to explain comparable tasks in a position without repeating the verb. Having a list of powerful resume words to refer to can allow you to add diversity to descriptions while also making the wording more appealing.
For instance, rather than stating:
In charge of a staff of five sales agents
In charge of meeting monthly sales targets
Responsible for interacting with clients on a weekly basis to guarantee success
You might put it this way:
Managed and coached a sales team of five people
Met and exceeded monthly sales targets consistently
Lead weekly client meetings to promote open communication and long-term success
Enhanced descriptions
Incorporating power words into your bullet points may make your responsibilities and achievements look more remarkable. Power words' detailed nature enables the recruiter or hiring manager to gain a better understanding of the candidate.
For instance, rather than stating:
Make cold calls and follow up on leads to find new business possibilities.
You might put it this way:
Find new business opportunities by making 40+ cold calls each day and chasing leads to guarantee pipeline adequacy.
Tips for using buzzwords in a resume
Here are some tips on how to incorporate keywords into your resume:
Use the term in its proper context
When integrating keywords into your resume, ensure that you fully comprehend the meaning of the term. Synonyms, or words with similar meanings, can appear appropriately in a variety of circumstances. Try to select keywords that are both distinctive and have the precise meaning you want to convey. The buzzwords guide and oversee, for example, may both assist you in highlighting leadership abilities and experiences on your resume.
Understandable words may be in more than one category
In certain cases, the same word might have many meanings in different situations. When adding keywords to your resume, make sure the meaning is obvious based on the rest of the sentence or phrase. On a resume, for example, the phrase support might relate to either client or team member help. In the context of technology, the term support can refer to the creation of IT systems or the debugging of computer problems. Focus on crafting sentences or phrases that explain your goal for the term's meaning if you're employing a word with many meanings.
Select a consistent verb tense
Throughout your resume, keep the verb tenses in mind. Most individuals choose to write about their current jobs in the present tense and their former work in the past tense. Use verb tenses consistently throughout the work, whether you choose to use this verb tense standard or another writing style.
Read more: How To Use Resume Adjectives (With Examples and Tips)
Examples of phrases using buzzwords
Here are some examples of how to use buzzwords in a sentence:
I evaluated the financial and operational elements of the GL OE and after-sales/spares businesses to help the VP in making data-driven decisions.
I managed the Salesforce integration of the two Salesforce instances, following the purchase of the worldwide business by the firm.
I conducted a thorough market study to identify Machine Learning methods used in Production Services throughout the industry.
To understand current advances in ML in Production Services, I conducted a competitive study of key fintech, tech, and IT businesses.
I analyzed current advancements in the industry and made recommendations for improved ML deployment.
I served as the client team's point of contact for various modules, ensuring frequent updates, and issuing a resolution with processes and deliverables.
As an SME (Subject Matter Expert) for technologies built by the team, I conducted in-house knowledge transfer workshops for coworkers.
One full data analytics module was upgraded for the EMEA area and implemented for the APAC region.
As a member of the support team, I served as a point of contact with many domestic and foreign banks for issue resolution and bug corrections.
As a mentor in the employee induction program, I trained and managed incoming workers, verified their assignments, and gave feedback.
As a member of the support staff, I received the most positive comments from both local and foreign clients for quick issue resolution.
I contributed material to the corporate blog with the goal of increasing user click-throughs.
Using On-Page SEO methods, I performed search engine optimization for improved page exposure.
Shortlisted from a pool of 100+ applicants, I was chosen as Student Coordinator from a pool of 15 candidates.
I began the process of launching and producing the official college magazine.
I was awarded for placing second in the whole scientific stream in class XI.
I won first place in Marketing Club's annual flagship event.
I participated in a CSR initiative that involves spending time with impoverished youngsters.
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