You've got one page (front only!) to make the case for why you're right for the job. That means that your resume needs to be concise, punchy, and direct. I guarantee you have at least one thing on there that can be dumped into the garbage.
Here are some of the most common filler words you can eliminate from your resume to free up space for meaningful content.
1. References available upon request
These days, HR managers and recruiters know exactly where to go to cross-check your experiences. "References available upon request" is wasted space on your resume. Prepare your references, have them available if someone asks, but don't highlight this on your resume.
2. Hitting benchmarks
We would hope that you're meeting expectations. But are you exceeding expectations? Focus on that.
3. Team player
These two words are overused. You can depict that you're a team player without saying you're a team player. Share that you enjoy cross-departmental collaboration or that you led a team of 10 people to launch a new initiative. Show don't tell.
4. I am seeking X position/career.
We already know this because you're applying for this job. Write this in a way that conveys your excitement rather than checks a box on the vetting list You may also want to consider changing an "objective" section to a "summary" section. This is where you give the recruiter a 1-2 line pitch for who you are and what you bring to the table in order to create context for the rest of the resume.
5. Strong work ethic
It's easy to write it, but it's your job to show your strong work ethic. Write about projects that demonstrate you have this quality. Give the HR professional context for why you have a strong work ethic. What type of project were you leading? What were the stakes? How did you deliver on your goals? Find ways to map out exactly what happened in a succinct way so that you can prove your strong work ethic.
6. Results-oriented
Let's hope everyone applying for any job is results-oriented. If you don't bring results, why have you employed at all? Sprinkle metrics throughout your professional materials to prove just how much you can deliver
Sarah Sax is the founder of Write For The Job.