How to Use Buzzwords for Resumes (With Examples and Advice)

Writing an attention-catching resume could persuade a hiring manager to invite you to an interview. You can improve your resume by integrating buzzwords to attract employers' attention. Learning how to use buzzwords in resumes can help you highlight your relevant skills and showcase strong communication skills. In this article, we provide lists of helpful buzzwords that you can use in your resume and discuss the benefits of including them.

What are buzzwords for resumes?

Having the right buzzwords for resumes can improve your chances of impressing a hiring manager and securing an interview. These buzzwords capture the reader's attention by focusing on the key skills that the job requires. These terms may not be specific to a position or industry but can include valuable communication and other soft skills that could be an asset to any sector.

The benefits of using buzzwords in your resume

Using buzzwords in your resume can increase your chances of proceeding further in the hiring process. Here are some of the benefits you may experience from using buzzwords effectively:

Helps with applicant tracking systems (ATS)

Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to analyse resumes digitally and filter the best candidates. An ATS may read your resume to identify precise details such as keywords and categories. It then determines whether the resume aligns with the recruiter's specifications. The system only approves resumes that possess these sought after features. Relevant buzzwords can help your resume perform well in the algorithm and improve the chances of a hiring manager reading it.

Makes a positive impression

Highlighting your relevant skills with resume buzzwords can help you impress hiring managers who aren't using ATS. Relevant buzzwords highlight your suitability for a position and help focus on why you're the best candidate. You may also check the job description to find relevant buzzwords to add to your resume.

Shows strong communication skills

Writing a powerful resume can help to show the hiring manager that you have good written communication skills. Linking buzzwords to the relevant skills you want to showcase can make your writing clearer and more interesting. Integrating buzzwords naturally into your resume and using them to describe your skills can also convey your strong writing skills.

Related: How to Write a Resume Employers Will Notice

Examples of buzzwords in resumes

Using buzzwords throughout your resume can enhance your writing and highlight your skills and experiences. These are some of the most common buzzwords you can incorporate into your resumes:

Task buzzwords

You can use these words when discussing the projects or tasks you have worked on. Consider what role you played in the project to choose more accurate and descriptive words. Rather than saying that you 'worked on' a task, you could use:

• altered

• arranged

• built

• compiled

• composed

• constructed

• crafted

• created

• designed

• dictated

• drafted

• developed

• devised

• established

• fashioned

• forged

• formed

• formulated

• invented

• pioneered

• planned

• progressed

• operated

• organised

• upgraded

Achievement buzzwords

You can use these words when discussing achievements in your present or previous workplaces. You can also include awards or other recognitions you received for successful projects. Rather than saying that you 'achieved' something, you could use:

• accelerated

• accomplished

• advanced

• amplified

• attained

• awarded

• boosted

• completed

• concluded

• created

• delivered

• demonstrated

• dispatched

• earned

• enacted

• enhanced

• expanded

• expedited

• executed

• finished

• generated

• improved

• performed

• procured

• produced

• reached

• settled

• surpassed

• won

Improvement buzzwords

You can use these words when you're discussing personal or business improvements that you have made. This can include team tasks, projects or systems that you transformed. Rather than saying you 'improved' a process or system, you could use:

• augmented

• boosted

• converted

• customised

• enhanced

• enriched

• influenced

• integrated

• lifted

• merged

• overhauled

• redesigned

• refined

• reformed

• remodelled

• renovated

• reorganised

• repaired

• restructured

• revamped

• revised

• revitalised

• saved

• streamlined

• strengthened

• transformed

• updated

• upgraded

Leadership buzzwords

You can use these words when you're highlighting the management duties you have performed. This can also include project management or team leadership outside of management roles. Rather than saying you 'managed' a team or project, you might say:

• aligned

• coached

• commanded

• coordinated

• counselled

• cultivated

• directed

• educated

• enabled

• enacted

• executed

• facilitated

• fostered

• guided

• handled

• hired

• impacted

• influenced

• initiated

• inspired

• instructed

• mentored

• mobilised

• motivated

• orchestrated

• piloted

• recruited

• spearheaded

• supervised

• trained

Experience buzzwords

You can use these words when detailing your experience in the field and your seniority in the industry. You may wish to use these words sparingly and link them to examples. Rather than saying that you're 'experienced' in a field, you could use:

• accomplished

• adept

• capable

• competent

• cultivated

• effective

• efficient

• mature

• polished

• practised

• proficient

• qualified

• skilful

• sophisticated

• superlative

• trained

• well-versed

Research buzzwords

You can add these terms when detailing the research work you have done for present or past employers. These buzzwords can help to show the nature of your involvement in a research project and describe your experience. Rather than saying that you 'researched', you could use:

• analysed

• assessed

• audited

• calculated

• checked

• considered

• cross-examined

• discovered

• examined

• explored

• identified

• inquired

• inspected

• investigated

• measured

• probed

• proved

• reviewed

• quantified

• questioned

• scrutinised

• searched

• studied

• surveyed

• tested

• tracked

Communication buzzwords

You can use these words when detailing your experience collaborating with diverse teams or clients. Even if the job you're applying for focuses on independent work, showing that you can communicate and collaborate with people can be valuable in many industries. Rather than saying that you have 'cooperated' with other employees, you could use:

• aided

• advocated

• assisted

• authored

• clarified

• coached

• collaborated

• composed

• consulted

• conveyed

• corresponded

• counselled

• defined

• explained

• facilitated

• fielded

• guided

• illustrated

• informed

• interacted

• mediated

• moderated

• negotiated

• networked

• promoted

• persuaded

• supported

Resume writing tips

Resumes highlight your key skills and convince the reader that you have the experience necessary to fill a job position. Candidates across many industries can benefit from knowing how to craft a compelling resume. Here are some of the best resume writing tips:

Follow a logical structure

Having an easy to follow structure can help the hiring manager to understand your writing and find the details they're looking for in your resume. Add your contact details at the top of your resume, including your full name, phone number, email address, home address and website, if relevant. You can follow these details with an objective statement about your career intentions before listing your skills, academic history and professional experiences. These components can be in any order. You may also want to include a section about your achievements and awards.

Related: How to Make a Resume

Use a simple design

Resumes typically include headings and bullet points to make them quicker to navigate. You may like to use a standard font, such as Calibri, Times New Roman or Arial, which are easy to read. The letter size in resumes can range from size 10–12 point. Keep font and font size consistent throughout so the resume looks neat.

Be concise and direct

It can be easy to include too much filler in a resume when trying to fit a lifetime of experience in one to two pages. You can limit the unnecessary content and direct the hiring manager's attention to your suitability for the role by focusing on relevant skills and information in bullet points. It may help to reduce your use of filler words, such as 'the', 'like', 'a' or 'that'.

Highlight your important skills

If you have a wide range of skills, you may wish to use bullet points to highlight your most important ones. This section can include both hard and soft skills, along with any relevant tools you're proficient in or certifications you have. You can check the job description to see what skills the employer may be looking for and include them on your resume.

Related: 10 Best Skills to Include on a Resume

Tailor your resume for each job

You can make specific resumes for the industry or role you're applying for so you can highlight your most relevant skills. For example, if you're applying to be a preschool teacher, your degree in early childhood education may be more valuable than courses you took on advertising and marketing. Tailoring your resume can involve minor changes to your objective and skills sections or switching buzzwords to highlight specific experience.

Integrate buzzwords throughout

When detailing your skills and experiences, you can use buzzwords to attract the hiring manager's interest and provide more detail about your role. You can often use these words in place of standard verbs. For example, you can replace terms like 'worked on' with more engaging phrases like 'arranged', 'built', 'compiled' or 'upgraded' to strengthen your resume. Linking tasks with these buzzwords can help you detail how your experiences increase your suitability for the position.