When you think your résumé is the best it can be and are ready to send it to employers, stop and perform this simple task before proceeding. Give it a once over with one question in mind: Is my résumé redundant? Too often job applicants are prone to relying on the same verbs to convey their duties and accomplishments, but doing so can threaten their chances of landing an interview.
Redundancy on a résumé is boring for the person reading it and implies one of two things about the applicant — either she doesn't really want the job because she didn't take the time to polish her résumé, or she isn't resourceful enough to open a thesaurus and get some ideas to effectively include powerful verbs. Update your résumé to include varied but straightforward words and phrases to help set you apart from the repetitive pack.
British Knights
Bunny Hug
Vertbaudet
i think that it's certainly a common mistake to use the same words again and again when you're talking about things that you've done in past positions. there are 'action' words that you feel are the best way to communicate things and you overuse them - so giving your document a 'once over' is a really smart thing. i've found myself that i've used a word multiple times and it makes you seem like you are telling people what you think they want to hear rather than what you do - so be careful with that.
sometimes less is more - and remember that your interview is what's going to sell someone on your experience. the resume is to get you in the door - so be clear and to the point and you'll see the most success.
1Of course, using the thesaurus *too* much can be a negative as well. You don't want to stand out in that way, either. Get someone to read over your resume for you to help you keep the synonym urge reasonably checked.
2Very true, I've seen my boss roll her eyes and toss aside a repetitive resume, saying she couldn't imagine working with someone who actually spoke that way.
3I can't understand how all the resumes I review utilize the same language. If you're going to stand out and send me a document, where's the unique selling position? Reading resumes can be like Mad Libs.
And you Craiglist people, stop saying you are from the SF Bay Area, when you're actually in Utah.
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