Your resume decides whether you even get a discovery call or not. Since the first impression is the last impression, you need to tailor your resume to showcase your expertise and stand out from the crowd. A well-crafted resume is job specific, well-formatted for reading, and focuses on your core competencies and experience. But when a recruiter is quickly glancing over your resume, certain buzzwords and phrases can really help them register your expertise in that split second. In this article, we’re going to explore powerful resume buzzwords that you can add to your resume and how you can leave a lasting impression on those at the other end of the table.

Benefits Of Adding Buzzwords To Your Resume

Buzzwords Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly

ATS or Applicant Tracking Systems are used by hiring managers to make the hiring process seamless. These digital tools scan resumes and either accept or reject them based on whether a resume consists of certain resume buzzwords based on job description. If you want to be chosen for the next step of hiring, it's essential for you to tailor your resume buzzwords based on the role that you're applying for. You can also use a resume checker to see if your resume is optimized for ATS.

For example, if you've created marketing strategies in your previous roles, and the job description asks for someone with experience in wedding marketing strategy, mentioning the word 'marketing strategy' in your resume with enough context can help you secure the attention of the Applicant Tracking Systems and consequently, prospective employers.

Buzzwords Can Help You Get Noticed By The Employers

Not all hiring managers rely on ATS to assess technical skills of experienced candidates. Many of them may prefer to review your resume manually. That's when the relevant resume buzzwords can help you get noticed by employers and even help you land a job interview. Don't be afraid to use industry-specific jargon if the job description asks for them. Using an active voice and resume buzzwords to describe your relevant experience can help you highlight your technical and soft skills more appropriately.

Buzzwords Can Prevent Mismatched Hiring & Can Help Steer Recruiters

This is where industry-specific language comes into play in your resume.

Let’s say for instance you’re applying for a role in the cybersecurity industry or perhaps you’ll be in a cybersecurity analyst or risk & compliance role in an industry where compliance is highly crucial, like healthcare or the financial sector. This is where it would be pertinent to mention terms like insider threat, or endpoint monitoring.

While it may seem like the recruiter should make the connection, considering past experience, you might have to steer them in the right direction, by making it obvious that you know these very specific terms and have hands-on experience. In that example above, being able to highlight specific examples of insider threat, would help reinforce your expertise even further.

At the same time, it's important to ensure you don’t just sprinkle in jargon that you don’t have experience with and do not deeply understand. You might just be caught out later at the interview stage. Or if you do end up getting the job, it ends up just being a mismatched role, as the recruiter assumed you had certain skills when hiring.

Buzzwords Make Tracking Your Accomplishments Easier

Resume buzzwords make resumes easier to read, which means that action verbs describing relevant resume skills with the help of resume buzzwords can help employers track your professional experience smoothly.

Strategically chosen keywords can spotlight your expertise and achievements, making it easier for hiring managers to identify your strengths and qualifications at a glance. This approach can streamline the hiring process, helping your resume stand out by clearly demonstrating the value you bring to potential employers..

25 Powerful Resume Buzzwords That You Can Add To Your Resume (With Examples)

To Showcase Your Management Skills

Strong management requires a mix of professional experience combined with efficient soft skills. Using the following resume buzzwords in your ATS-friendly resume or even your cover letter can help you make a lasting impression on potential employers:

Strategic Planning

Management requires foresight in business. Using this resume buzzword can show employers that you're ready to take the reins of the team for successful completion of work.

Example - ' Created and executed a strategic plan for reducing operational cost by 35% in a span of 6 months.'

Performance Management

This resume buzzword is associated with your efficiency as a manager. You can highlight your ability to manage teams of all sizes using this phrase in a statement.

Example - 'Develop a performance management system that enhanced employee engagement by 20% YoY'

Operational Efficiency

Operational efficiency denotes your ability to streamline management processes through the use of technology and employee feedback. Using this resume buzzword shows that you're able to manage end-to-end execution of a project.

Example - 'Reduced the number of human resources in supply-chain through operational efficiency, cutting overhead costs by 10%'

Budget Management

Budget Management is a crucial resume keyword for a management job. Irrespective of the industry you work in, having experience with budget management can be a crucial factor in getting the right job.

Example - 'Successfully conducted a marketing campaign in 80% of the allocated budget through budget management analysis'

Cross-Functional Collaboration

A strong management job candidate must be able to work and manage tasks across the board, much like a project manager does. So, using this buzzword in your resume can show your ability to multitask.

Example - 'Managed cross-functional collaboration between marketing department and external vendors through stakeholder management for the preparation of an international event'

To Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are necessary to have for roles that need you to be a self-starter, take ownership of your work, or even guide people in order to achieve success for a business. If you want to showcase your leadership skills, no matter which level of role you’re applying for, use these five buzzwords in your resume:

Spearheaded

This resume buzzword shows that you aren’t afraid to dive-in head first and take responsibility for tasks that you really care for. Using this buzzword can help the hiring team see you as a proactive candidate.

Example - ‘Spearheaded an initiative to increase diversity hiring by over 20% in the marketing department to reach out to audiences from different demographics’

Delegated

Delegation is an extremely important part of being a leader. Knowing when to delegate tasks and what to spend time on yourself can make or break a business. It also shows that you inherently trust individuals in your department and team to take care of things.

Example - ‘Delegated responsibilities in an equitable manner across a small team to ensure the completion of the project cycle ahead of the schedule’

Orchestrated

Orchestrating tasks related to business requires a deep understanding of how things need to be organized beforehand. Since organized is an overused buzzword found in all resumes, this unique variation can help you grab some eyeballs.

Example - ‘Orchestrated a 3-day business seminar, hosting 50+ clients from across the country ’

Initiated

Initiating new programs shows your ability to execute a task from start to finish. Moreover, if a task initiated by you was for the good of the business, outside of your scope of work, it shows hiring managers that you’re a true leader.

Example - ‘Initiated an anonymous employee feedback system to improve employee engagement and retention rates’

Mentored

Mentoring people and taking newbies under your wing is a core skill that organizations look for in their future leaders. So feel free to use this resume buzzword wherever it’s appropriate. Bonus points for you if you can use any of these mentees as your reference.

Example - ‘Mentored 3 new hires during the buddy program to feel welcomed and settle into their new role by consistently providing professional guidance’

To Showcase Your Collaboration Skills

Being able to collaborate with others in a team setting, and being a team player is an important skill that many employers seek in potential candidates. You can use a combination of examples from your previous experience along with these resume buzzwords to showcase your collaboration skills:

Liaise

Liaison showcases your ability to create and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Using this buzzword to elaborate on your experience can help you stand out from the crowd.

Example - 'Liaised with internal and external stakeholders to manage the schedule of a project management cycle as new developments were made’

Partnered

Collaborated is an overused word found in almost every resume. Make yours truly shine by using the correct synonym in place of it.

Example - ‘Partnered with 2 different teams to deal with customer dissatisfaction with a product resulting in 35% success rate’

Cross-Departmental

If you’ve had any past experience of working with a department that you weren’t directly associated with, or weren't a part of, then use this buzzword to show your collaboration skills.

Example - ‘Unified different team members for a cross-departmental project to ensure higher levels of efficiency across the board’

Facilitated

An important aspect of being a team player is facilitating tasks and meetings for seamless execution of the processes that are set in place. Since collaboration involves having a sense of team spirit, using this buzzword can help you seem like a part of a team.

Example - ‘Facilitated the completion of 2 international projects in a span of a month by eliminating redundancies throughout the project cycle’

Jointly Developed

You can replace the word developed by any other action verb like created, initiated, or pioneered, but the word joint is a crucial aspect for showcasing your collaborative skills. It also denotes that you are happy to share the credit where needed, making you seem like a humble and cooperative candidate.

Example - ‘Jointly developed new policies for the administrative department for seamless functioning of everyday tasks’

To Showcase Your Communication Skills

Clear and effective communication is the backbone of every successful workplace. When applying for any position in any industry, always focus on presenting your communication skills through your resume by using the following buzzwords:

Negotiate

Negotiation is a lucrative skill to have, no matter what profession you are a part of. Showing that you negotiated with internal and external stakeholders through spoken or written communication can make you seem like a good fit for organizations that deal with a lot of clients or are looking for someone who can help them streamline their processes by negotiating the terms of work.

Example - ‘Successfully negotiated the terms of project with external stakeholders on a large-scale project to make it more efficient’

Engage

Being able to engage your audience is an important part of being a good communicator. Showcase your ability to bring engagement through the art of communication by using this effective resume buzzword.

Example - ‘Created and presented engaging presentations at internal and external events, driving up client engagement rate by 17% ’

Persuasive

Being persuasive in your communication can help you become a great asset for any organization. Don’t shy away from giving real-life examples of times when you successfully persuaded others in a professional setting, along with the end-result.

Example - ‘Persuaded 3 different teams across the organization to work 2 hours overtime for an urgent project, ensuring timely completion’

Written Communication

A lot of corporate communication is written. Think of emails, marketing material, website information, and sales copy. If you have strong written communication experience under your belt, show it off with pride and some quantitative examples.

Example - Incorporated storytelling in written communication for over 500 SEO blog posts for various niches that garnered at least 5k views each’

Feedback-Oriented

A good communicator is someone who listens as well as they speak. Using this buzzword in your resume makes you come across as confident, accountable, and a people person.

Example - ‘Built strong interpersonal relationships with customers through feedback-oriented communication style, increasing customer satisfaction rate by 40%’

To Showcase Your Accomplishments

Sometimes going through hundreds of resumes can make hiring managers miss out on some details here and there. By using the following buzzwords in your resume, you can ensure that your accomplishments don’t go unnoticed:

Implement

Implementing new projects shows your ability to lead and is a great way to highlight your big achievements.

Example - ‘Achieved 50% enhanced employee retention rate by implementing flexible work policies’

Optimized

Optimizing something means you’ve made it better than before. Whether you’ve done it through a new perspective altogether or just by readjusting the old policies, using this resume buzzword can certainly make the hiring organization more interested in your profile.

Example - ‘Optimized X website’s content to bring in 25% more organic traffic per month’

Revamped

Revamping things is a great way to change things while keeping the essence of the brand intact. So if you have revamped a training process, a website, or even a fashion line, make sure to use this buzzword in your resume.

Example - ‘Revamped the customer engagement strategies, resulting in 30% higher customer satisfaction rates’

Exceeded

Exceeding the expectations is something that you should always mention in your resume to showcase your expertise and stand out to employers. Starting a sentence with exceeded is a sure-shot way to grab the attention of people who are reviewing whether you should be contacted for the role or not.

Example - ‘Exceeded sales targets by 30% YoY through effective communication and collaboration efforts’

Launched

Launched is a proactive approach of talking about things that you brought to an organization. Whether you’ve launched a new product or social media campaigns, showcasing your ability to start new things is a good way to make your accomplishments count in your resume.

Example - ‘Launched a successful social media campaign for Mother’s Day, resulting in 20% higher brand visibility, 30% more user engagement, and long-term brand awareness’

20 Industry-Specific Buzzwords To Add To Your Resume (With Examples)

Essentially, buzzwords are meant to describe the personal experience of a jobseeker based on the roles that they've had in the past and the things that they've learned. So a focus on certain specific resume buzzwords based on the type of industry that you're applying for, you can combine the following relevant buzzwords with the right job keywords to build a professional resume:

For Technical Jobs

Technical jobs are all about a deep understanding and knowledge of how information technology is processed. By using the following buzzwords in your resume, you can showcase your experience while hitting the right ATS-friendly keywords.

Data Analysis

Example - ‘Identified key customer trends through data analysis and formulated a strategy to boost product sales by 20% in the next quarter’

Programming Languages

Example - ‘5+ years of experience in using programming languages like Python, Java and C++’

Software Applications

Example - ‘2+ years of professional experience in leading e-learning software applications development teams ’

Compliance

Example - ‘Facilitated and managed data security compliance policies for various Fintech organizations’

Cybersecurity

Example - ‘Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and cybersecurity professional with vast knowledge of network protocols’

For Finance Jobs

Financial jobs require a lot of planning and strategy in order to make well-informed decisions. The following buzzwords will make you come across as someone smart and knowledgeable, exactly what the profession demands.

Strategy

Example - ‘Created tailored financial strategies to help over 20 clients reduce their overhead business expenses’

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Example - ‘Designed a Cost-benefit analysis framework to increase the organization’s revenue by 20% YoY’

Research

Example - ‘Conducted extensive research on market price to provide knowledge on different streams of income to clients’

Decision Making

Example - ‘Applied critical thinking to the decision making process of human resource allocation for boosting the organization’s ROI by 30% annually’

Budget

Example - ‘ Spearheaded Profit and Loss Management of 3 100 million+ organizations simultaneously’

For Creative Jobs

Creative roles often require a high level of commitment and exclusivity to one organization. Using strategic buzzwords in your resume can convey dependability and adaptability, demonstrating your ability to keep pace with industry changes.

Building trust through your resume can reassure hiring managers of your dedication and loyalty, making you a strong candidate for roles where discretion and commitment are essential.

Brand Awareness

Example - ‘Boosted brand awareness by 25% in 6 months through proactive social media management’

Adaptability

Example - ‘Adapted to a new CMS software in a span of 7 days and trained 5 team members on how to use it for website management ’

Omnichannel

Example - ‘2+ years of experience in an omnichannel marketing role for improving the unified brand presence by 35%’

Conceptualize

Example - ‘Conceptualized 150+ social media creatives for a quarterly content calendar ’

Problem Solving

Example - ‘Identified pain points of customers and adopted 3 problem solving strategies to reduce the attrition rate by 20%’

For Business Jobs

Business jobs require a combination of street-smartness along with people management skills to make and manage big business decisions. These resume buzzwords can have a strong impact on recruiters as they evaluate if your profile is right for the job.

Devised

Example - ‘Devised an end-to-end strategy to launch a new product and contributed to the successful execution’

Integrated

Example - ‘Integrated unique data analysis solutions to gain deeper insights into customer relationships and increase revenue by 21%’

Customer Experience

Example - ‘Utilized a blend of human and technological resources to create a holistic customer experience’

Core Competencies

Example - ‘Innovated new policies to utilize the organization’s core competencies and reduced overhead costs by 15%’

Goal-Setting

Example - ‘ Showcased strategic thinking and made use of organizational skills for goal-setting of team members across the departments to evaluate KPIs efficiently’

5 Ways To Add Buzzwords To Your Resume Seamlessly

Tailor Them According To Job Requirements

Resume buzzwords can become extremely powerful when used in the right context. So always aim to match the way you use these keywords to the way a job description has been written. If your tone, use of resume buzzwords, and values match that of the role and organization, you're bound to be called for the next round, irrespective of your previous roles.

For instance, if your technical skills and soft skills as a venue manager landed you your previous gig as a wedding venue manager, you can easily transition into corporate venue management, because most of your skills are transferable in nature. So be smart about what you add and tailor your resume accordingly.

Avoid Keyword-Stuffing

The next thing to keep in mind is to add your buzzwords for your resume in a professional manner rather than repeating the same buzzword again. Keyword-stuffing can make your resume read unnatural, so make sure to use the buzzwords properly. if somehow you find yourself repeating the buzzwords in your resume, opt for close alternatives that mean the same.

Provide Examples Of Your Accomplishments

Giving concrete examples of your previous experience, and relating them to the relevant keywords mentioned in the job listing can help you make a strong impact on the resume reviewer. The right buzzwords for resumes are a great way to build your example professionally and stand out from hundreds of resumes that you're in competition with. Also, focus on making the information quantifiable. Understanding something like “ Increased brand awareness by 20% through an omnichannel marketing approach” is better than “Experienced omnichannel marketing professional.”

Keep The Information Short And Crisp

Whether you're applying to a job as a fresher or you've got experience of managing complex projects under your belt, you must present your resume in a manner that's easy to digest and understand. Focus on mentioning your quantifiable achievements, transferable skills, and keep an active voice throughout the resume.

A good way to do this is by using the XYZ method to create your resume. Google describes this as: "Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]. X refers to the goal, Y refers to the time period or scale of measurement, and Z refers to the action you took to accomplish the goal.

Use Variations Throughout Your Resume

Variations in resume keywords can help the ATS as well as the recruiters pick on your experience across the industry and various job roles. For instance, if you've worked as a software manager in two different organizations, explain the difference between the two experiences, highlight your accomplishments, and make every line count. You can also use bullet points to mention the accomplishments. Keep it simple and under 5 points to not make your resume too lengthy.

Final Thoughts

Creating a resume that highlights your accomplishments and catches the eye of potential employers can seem like a difficult task to balance, but using the right buzzwords can make a considerable difference to the way your resume is perceived. Always remember to tailor your resume buzzwords according to the industry and role that you’re applying for and make it look professional yet natural for best results. To start building your resume to include these buzzwords, sign up for Huntr.