By Kevin Donlin, Guaranteed Resumes
To succeed in today's job market, your resume and cover letter must be
concise and easy to read. Sounds obvious, right?
But you'd be surprised how often a resume or cover letter are ruined when
the author utilizes a superabundance of polysyllabic terminology (uses too
many big words).
Here are seven of the most commonly used "big words" that I see every day in
resumes sent to me by clients. Warning! Using these words may cause severe
drowsiness ... and get your resume tossed in the wastebasket.
- Implementation - My all-time least favorite word. It's a favorite of
senators and others who make their living by not speaking clearly. Try
saying "roll-out" or"set-up" instead.
- Utilization - Have you ever heard anyone use this word in a conversation,
ever? Neither have I. Never "utilize" what you can simply "use."
- Impact (used as a verb) - Wisdom teeth are impacted. And I suppose
meteorites can "impact" the moon. But in your resume and cover letter, use
the verb "affect."
- Impactful (allegedly an adjective) - "Illiterate" is the image this word
conveys. Say "high-impact" (better) or "effective" (best).
- Facilitate - Don't "facilitate" a meeting; "help lead" or "conduct" it
instead.
- Deliverables - I'm pretty sure this term refers to "products" or
"finished goods." But I could be wrong.
- Interface - I think it was Isaac Asimov who said: "When I'm interfacing
with a woman, I'm kissing her, by God." This word can be the kiss of death
to clarity. Instead of "interfacing" with people, "work" with them.
In short, don't hide behind your vocabulary. Just be informative and clear.
Write as you would speak to your manager. Then read your resume and cover
letter aloud. If you find yourself gasping for breath halfway through a
sentence, stop. Break it into two or three shorter sentences. Then read it
again until it flows smoothly.
When you've finished, call your best friend and read your writing over the
phone. If it's 100% clear by phone, congratulations! Your resume and cover
letter are now easier to read than 98% of what's out there in the job
market.
Best of luck to you!
-- Kevin Donlin is the author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days ... or your money back. For more information, please visit
http://www.collegerecruiter.com/guaranteed-resumes.php
