6 Resume-Killing Words and Phrases to Avoid

6 Resume-Killing Words and Phrases to Avoid6 Resume-Killing Words and Phrases to AvoidWhen it comes to your resume, theres one place you know that you want to end up in the hands of that interested hiring manager who will eventually invite you to vorstellungsgesprch for that position.But, theres also one place where you absolutely never want your resume to land the dreaded trash bin of that very same hiring manager. Cue the horror movie soundtrack.So, how can you know exactly what will earn you a spot in either place- so that you can either follow those rules or avoid those errors? Your word choice is a great starting point.Stay away from these resume-killing words and phrases to ensure your document is at the top of the pile, and not the bottom of the waste basket1. ObjectiveLets face it- pretty much every job seeker has the same objective. They all want to land that job theyre applying for, right? For that reason, objective statements at the top of resumes have become a thing of th e past.If you include one, youll run the risk of looking out of touch- not to mention youre wasting precious real estate on your resume.Instead, include a summary statement that shares a few impactful statements about your skills, qualifications, and what makes you a no-brainer fit for this job.2. References Available Upon RequestThis is another thing thats pretty much assumed by hiring managers. If you knocked an bewerbungsinterview out of the park and then was asked to provide references for that employer to contact, would you ever respond with a nonchalant, Sorry, dont have any?Absolutely not (at least, I certainly hope not). No matter what, youd find a few people for them to contact.Needless to say, employers know that if and when they ask for references youre going to give them some. So, theres no need to include that clich and unnecessary line on your actual resume.3. PhoneChances are, youve included something like, Phone 123-867-5309 in your resume header before. Youre not al one- Ive done it too.But, ask yourself this what else could those numbers possibly be? Its not your social security number, or your bank routing number, or some secret code that spells out, Hire me Its obviously your phone number, and the hiring manager will immediately know that- even without that descriptor in front.Will including this make a hiring manager instantly toss your resume away? Probably not. But, when its a struggle to make everything fit neatly on one page already, why include extra words?4. Microsoft OfficeThis is a tradition of the past that seems to still be holding strong on many resumes. However, its another thing thats likely assumed by the hiring manager- pretty much every job seeker can type up a document in Word (thats probably what you used to create your resume, right?) or create a simple spreadsheet in Excel.Of course, if you consider yourself a total mail merge pro or an Excel whiz who loves to build complex macros, those are special qualifications that d eserve to be listed.But, if youre just including this generic term as a subtle way of saying, Oh, and I know some basic computer skills youre better off just leaving it off entirely.5. IYour resume is a listing of all of your skills, experiences, and qualifications- not anybody elses. So, with that in mind, theres no need to include any personal pronouns like I, my, or me. That hiring manager knows this information all pertains to you.Remember this your resume doesnt need to be written in first or third person. And, while this might sound complicated, its really not.Instead of using a sentence like, Im a self-motivated and deadline-driven writer in your summary statement, youd just cut out the pronouns and say, Self-motivated and deadline-driven writer. Simple, right?6. Hard-workingYouve likely never seen someone submit a resume that said, Lazy slacker who only ever puts in the bare minimum required to get the job done. So, do you really need to flip the script and clarify the fact that youre a hard worker?Hiring managers are going to bank on the fact that- if you get the job- youre going to roll up your sleeves and put your all into it. Theres no need to explicitly state that on your resume.Ultimately, theres no surefire way to get your resume to the top of the to be interviewed pile. But, staying away from these six resume-killing words is a great place to start.And checkingout these five things hiring managers look for in a candidatecan help, too.