Résumé Help: Clichés to Avoid…Please!
If a recruiter or hiring manager has read it once, they’ve read it one thousand times, “To obtain a challenging position in a fast paced environment that will allow for personal growth and career advancement.” Think about it, what exactly is that statement telling the reader that is not obvious for any job seeker? Nothing! That’s why this candidate should eliminate that statement altogether. This objective statement adds no value to the résumé.
It would be much better to start with a strong headline to show the unique values the candidate brings to a potential employer. We should focus on what we offer the employer, rather than what we want.
Cliché number two is another one I really would like to eliminate from all résumés in 2012. “Track record of consistently meeting and exceeding customer expectations and company goals.” The candidate would be more attractive with more precise examples of how he has exceeded expectations. Perhaps he can say that he surpassed profit goals 12-15% for five consecutive years. The more concrete the statements, the more compelling it will be.
The bottom line is that you should carefully craft your résumé to present the values that you offer a potential employer. These items should be well-considered and pertain to your unique history and goals. Some of the items seen in this example are very generic and in a challenging job market, it will lead to a poor response.
If you would like a résumé critique, please contact Debra Wheatman at debra@careersdonewrite.com or visit us at http://careersdonewrite.com. The Résumé Help blog appears weekly on Mondays.
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