Everything You Need To Know About HR Buzzwords

Using the right words in your resume and job application can give you an advantage over the competition. But what words should you use? Typically, HR buzzwords make a resume stand out. Hiring managers notice resumes and cover letters that use certain buzzwords. However, standing out isn’t as simple as forcing a few keywords in your resume. If you want to improve your chances of a job offer, you need to use the right words and do so properly. Check out this guide on buzzwords and start rising above the other job applicants.

Know Which Words to Use

It’s difficult to use buzzwords in your resume when you don’t understand what buzzwords are, or which words qualify as buzzwords. Fortunately, the concept is easy to grasp. A buzzword is a word that stands out to a hiring manager. They look for the word because it’s something they look for in an employee. Here are a few ways you can find buzzwords:

Use Action Verbs

Typically, action verbs are buzzwords. These words make it easy for hiring managers to imagine you in the workplace. When you use action verbs, you create a powerful image. They also directly tell a hiring manager more about your value as an employee.

Although you can use a variety of action verbs to make an impression, here are a few you should focus on:

Expedited

Innovated

Supervised

If you struggle to think of action verbs, think about the job duties. Which duties would you need to perform in the role, and what actions would you take to succeed? Use those words to make it clear that you can get the job done.

Consider Company Values

When a company hires someone, they want to know that the employee will fit in. So, they look for someone who shares the company values. Hiring managers often notice resumes and cover letters that use words synonymous with their values or company culture.

To learn what these words are, you need to look at the company’s website. You might find some buzzwords in the mission statement or in the job listing. If you know anyone who works for the company, ask them about the company culture. Pick the words that best represent the company.

Use Phrases About Hard Skills

When you gain abilities from on-the-job training, you obtain hard skills. These are skills that inexperienced individuals won’t possess. For instance, you might have experience operating a complex machine. Because most candidates won’t have all the hard skills an employer is looking for, you should be sure to include them on your resume.

Hard skills are very job-dependent. Therefore, think about your specific position and write down a few hard skills. Financial skills, legal knowledge, and systems are all hard-skill buzzwords in various industries.

Use Phrases About Soft Skills

Even though soft skills are common, they’re worth mentioning and they often qualify as buzzwords. Soft skills transfer across industries. For instance, customer service skills and conflict resolution are soft skills.

Mention Education Requirements

More often than not, education requirements for a job are buzzwords. Similarly, certifications may be buzzwords. If you have any degrees or certifications, mention them in your resume.

Focus on Experience

If you include experience-focused buzzwords, you can show the hiring manager just how capable you are. Include your job title and any relevant titles you had in the past. If the job listing specifies any preferred experience, include those words. Your experience could set you apart.

Pick from the Job Listing

Throughout the job listing, there should be a few repeated or emphasized words. These words are keywords that matter to the hiring manager. If you use those keywords, you can gain attention and show your true worth. Some listings might have italicized or bolded words, and these terms are usually buzzwords you can use in your resume and cover letter. A few examples of keywords from a job listing are as follows:

Diligent

Focused

Energetic

Confident

Include Industry-Specific Terms

The last way you can find buzzwords is to use words that are highly specific to your industry. In fact, people outside of your industry may not understand these terms. By using them, you show the hiring manager that you have insider knowledge and experience.

Know When to Use the Words

While picking the right buzzwords can help you get a job, that alone isn't enough. You need to use the words properly or you risk missing out on an interview opportunity.

First, don't go overboard. If you use the same buzzword ten times in your resume, the words lose their impact. Likewise, you shouldn't have 50 different buzzwords. Doing so fills your resume with fluff and has the opposite effect that you want. As a general rule, only use each buzzword once or twice. Make a list of four or five buzzwords and don't use any others.

Secondly, you should make sure the buzzwords sound natural. If you can't seem to fit them into your cover letter or resume, reassess the situation. What can you say to make the buzzwords fit better? Read your document out and see how natural it sounds. If your buzzwords sound forced, do some editing.

Finally, be confident in your own abilities. As you write your resume, you should think about what makes you unique and talented. You don't need to lie to stand out; only use buzzwords that apply to you. If you fill your resume with buzzwords that don't apply to you, then you risk being caught in a lie.

Getting Help

If you're still not sure how to use buzzwords, then it's time for assistance. Check out resumes from other people in your industry. With the prevalence of social media, it's easy to see examples of other resumes. You can also ask a colleague or friend to look over your resume and help you with buzzwords. In the end, your efforts could make you a top candidate for a job offer.