190+ Resume Buzzwords: What to Include and Avoid

You want your resume to stand out so you use buzzwords like “team player,” “go-getter,” “rockstar,” but are they right for the role you’re targeting? To recruiters, these resume clichés often read as vague, overused, and meaningless.

Resume buzzwords can be misused by job seekers who simply add them to their job application without considering the role’s requirements, industry, or work culture. However, with the right strategy, there are certain popular resume phrases that can work to your advantage.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• The most overused resume clichés and buzzwords to avoid
• Recruitment buzzwords that still work, if used strategically
• Strong resume phrases that replace fluff with facts

Want to jump ahead and write a resume that captures a hiring manager’s attention? Use our Resume Builder to personalize your resume featuring attention-grabbing measurable achievements and key skills tailored to your desired role.

What Are Resume Buzzwords?

Resume buzzwords are commonly used phrases or adjectives that job seekers include to sound impressive, for example, words like “dynamic,” “results-oriented,” or “team player.” These terms show up in resumes across all industries and job levels, and while they’re meant to convey the applicant’s strengths, they often fall flat without the proper context.

Some buzzwords are so overused that they’ve become meaningless. Others are simply vague and fail to show the actual value you bring. In today’s hiring landscape, where both humans and applicant tracking systems (ATS) scan resumes for relevant qualifications, you need to be as precise and intentional as possible to get noticed.

That doesn’t mean all buzzwords are bad. In fact, certain recruitment buzzwords can work when you back them up with metrics or results. The key to incorporating buzzwords on your resume effectively is knowing which ones to cut and how to replace them with more concrete, compelling resume language.

Resume Buzzwords and Clichés to Avoid

Recruiters and hiring managers have seen all the trendy resume phrases come and go in and out of popularity throughout the years. Therefore, it won’t be easy to impress them. 

Don’t follow resume fads that claim to guarantee you an interview just because you include a buzzword on your resume. Instead, learn the most common resume buzzwords recruiters want you to avoid and why including them can hurt your chances.

“Hardworking” / “Self-starter”

These resume buzzwords may sound positive, but they don’t convey how effective you are on the job. Anyone can claim to be hardworking, but what hiring managers want is proof.

Instead of simply stating these resume clichés on their own, try quantifying your effort:

“Team Player” / “Works Well with Others”

Another typical resume buzzword is calling yourself a “team player”. This overused resume phrase can be improved with details about how you’ve collaborated with others.

“Works Well Under Pressure”

This phrase on its own doesn’t explain how you manage pressure or what outcomes you achieve under stress.

“People Person”

“People person” sounds friendly but it fails to convey what interpersonal skills you’re referring to. Employers want to know how your skills benefit teams, customers, or outcomes.

“Bottom-Line Focused”

This phrase tries to show business impact but lacks specifics. Hiring managers want to see exactly how you improved the bottom line.

“Strong Work Ethic”

Every applicant claims to work hard, but what matters more is what you accomplish with your effort.

“Seasoned Professional”

“Seasoned” is vague and can even feel outdated. Instead, highlight your years of experience and the results you’ve delivered.

“Best-in-Class”

This buzzword sounds boastful without evidence. Avoid superlatives unless they’re tied to real recognition or data.

“Think Outside the Box”

Unless you're applying for a creative role, phrases like these often sound like filler.

“Rockstar” / “Ninja” / “Guru”

These trendy recruitment buzzwords may have been fun a decade ago, but today, they come off as unprofessional or gimmicky.

“Fast Learner”

“Fast learner” is a common resume phrase used by job seekers who want to show adaptability or eagerness to grow, but it’s vague and unverifiable on its own. Employers care more about what you learned and how quickly you applied it to make an impact.

PRO TIP

Ultimately, the words on your resume should align with what the employer is asking for in the job posting. Use words that reflect your personality and professionalism, but always support them with real, measurable results to make a strong impression.

Recruitment Buzzwords That Can Work—If You Show Proof

Certain resume buzzwords—or rather, keywords—can be powerful when they’re relevant to the role and paired with concrete examples of your achievements.

Choose words that clearly reflect your skills and contributions; not just who you are, but what you’ve done. Below are buzzwords and action-driven terms that are generally safe to use, organized by skill category. Use these to describe your strengths, but remember to follow up with how you demonstrated them.

Leadership & management

Use these words to highlight your ability to guide teams, make decisions, and drive outcomes:

Communication

These words are effective when backed by examples of written, verbal, or cross-functional communication:

Work ethic & drive

Convey reliability, initiative, and consistency without falling back on vague claims like “hardworking”:

Creativity & innovation

These keywords are especially relevant in marketing, design, tech, and startup roles, as long as you explain what you created:

Problem-solving & critical thinking

Use these to demonstrate how you identify challenges, think analytically, and implement solutions:

Teamwork & collaboration

Ideal for showing how you contribute to group efforts and support shared goals:

These recruitment buzzwords immediately signal the context of your accomplishments, and when paired with measurable achievements, you create the type of compelling, factual resume phrase employers want to see.

You can find hundreds more of these resume keywords in our collection of recruiter-approved action verbs.

Industry-Specific Resume Buzzwords

Some resume buzzwords are industry staples that signal that you speak the language of the profession. However, you should still use those terms purposefully.

When to use industry buzzwords

When to avoid industry buzzwords

Examples of resume buzzwords by industry

Finance & Accounting

Healthcare

Tech & Software Development

Marketing & Advertising

Skilled Trades & Manufacturing

Food Service

Retail & Sales

Education

Human Resources

Business Operations

How to Choose the Right Resume Buzzwords

Want to know the best way to choose effective resume buzzwords? Let the employer tell you what they’re looking for.

Job descriptions are full of target keywords, including technical skills, soft skills, tools, and areas of expertise. When you reflect those same terms in your resume, you boost your chances of passing applicant tracking systems (ATS) and standing out to human reviewers.

Here’s an example of a job ad for a software developer role where we’ve highlighted key resume buzzwords an applicant should consider including in their resume.

Job ad example

MonkeyTech Solutions – Software Developer
We’re looking for a collaborative, detail-oriented software developer with a strong work ethic and a passion for building scalable web applications.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain full-stack applications using JavaScript, React, and Node.js
• Collaborate with product and UX teams in an agile environment
• Debug, test, and optimize code for performance and usability
• Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Contribute to a fast-paced, results-driven team culture

Requirements:

• 3+ years of experience in software development
• Proficiency in modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Angular, etc.)
• Familiarity with RESTful APIs and database design
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to thrive under pressure and meet tight deadlines

And here’s how to incorporate them in a resume work experience section:

Resume work experience example with keywords

Front-End Developer
Thunderbolt Digital | New York, NY | 2021–Present

• Developed and maintained scalable, high-traffic web applications using React, JavaScript, and Node.js.
• Collaborated with product and UX teams in an agile environment to launch new features across 3 platforms.
• Debugged and optimized code, reducing page load times by 45%.
• Communicated solutions clearly across technical and non-technical teams, improving issue resolution speed.
• Contributed to a results-driven team culture, consistently meeting 2-week sprint goals.

Notice how we’ve flagged, not only catchy, descriptive resume buzzwords, but also job-relevant keywords like required skills, team culture fit and areas of expertise. When you combine these elements, you can make an interview-winning resume. 

How to add buzzwords to all resume sections

You can include buzzwords in all sections of your resume as long as you do so intentionally and strategically. Here are some tips and examples of how to add resume buzzwords on all sections of your document.

In the resume summary section

Your resume summary is the first thing a hiring manager sees, so it’s a great place to include job-specific buzzwords that reflect your most valuable skills.

In the skills section

The skills section is an ideal spot to list technical terms, tools, and soft skills directly mentioned in the job description. This is also where keyword matching for ATS really matters.

Check out this example featuring marketing resume buzzwords in the skills section:

Want to make your own resume with the right resume buzzwords? Check out our resume examples for all jobs, industries and career levels.

3 Tips to Replace Resume Clichés with Powerful Resume Language

Follow these tips to write standout resume phrases that avoid clichés and convey powerful accomplishments instead.