100+ Good Buzzwords for Your Resume

To help you choose the right buzzwords, we’ve listed the top 100 buzzwords to include on your resume this year. We’ll then show you how to use them on your own resume.

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What are resume buzzwords?

Resume buzzwords are terms from the business world that you include in a resume to demonstrate your most important skills and attributes. They can be action verbs or adjectives that describe your abilities or contributions at work.

Used appropriately, relevant buzzwords quickly communicate a lot of information. For instance, when hiring managers see buzzwords like “data-driven” or “streamlined” on your resume, they have an idea of the skills and processes you used to achieve a desired result (as long as you gave enough context).

If you want to learn more about resume buzzwords, check out this video where Career Expert, Eva Chan, explains how to target the job description with your resume.

Start watching at 1:04 to learn which buzzwords can actually hurt your application:

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Our Expert:

Eva Chan

10 common cliches & good resume buzzword alternatives

To help you make a great resume that wins interviews, we’ve compiled a list of 10 overused or generic resume buzzwords (or cliches) to avoid. Under each cliche, we provide useful alternative resume synonyms you can use.

1. Natural leader

Leadership skills are important to employers, especially when you’re applying for a managerial position. But simply stating that you’re a “natural leader” or a “great manager” isn’t enough. You’ll need to show it with your past experience on your resume.

Leadership: resume buzzwords to use instead

The best way to convey your leadership skills is by using action verbs when describing your experience. Here are some great options to consider:

• Direct
• Mentor
• Train
• Counsel
• Initiate
• Guide
• Organize
• Launch
• Influence
• Produce
• Persuade
• Enact
• Cultivate
• Mobilize

2. Great communicator

Being able to communicate your ideas effectively is essential for almost any job. But simply claiming to have great communication skills won’t get you far.

Instead, choose a more specific adjective that shows how you used those skills.

Communication: resume buzzwords to use instead

Here are ten resume buzzwords that are better than “great communicator”:

• Articulate
• Persuasive
• Diplomatic
• Empathetic
• Amicable
• Adaptable
• Collaborative
• Supportive
• Cooperative
• Tolerant
• Conscientious

3. Seasoned professional

Everyone loves their food perfectly-seasoned, but hiring managers aren’t as keen on self-proclaimed “seasoned professionals” as you might think.

Professionalism: resume buzzwords to use instead

Use one of the following positive buzz words for your resume to demonstrate your expertise:

• Qualified
• Savvy
• Adept
• Enthusiast
• Efficient
• Expert
• Gifted
• Specialized
• Talented
• Competent
• Accomplished
• Proficient

4. Highly motivated

If you’re a recent college graduate or preparing an internship resume, it’s perfectly fine to describe yourself as “highly motivated”.

However, there are better buzzwords that can give your resume a boost and show the hiring manager that you’re dedicated and ready to start contributing to their company.

Motivation: resume buzzwords to use instead

Here are some resume buzzwords to use as an alternative for “highly motivated”:

• Driven
• Enthusiastic
• Keen
• Tenacious
• Confident
• Eager
• Earnest
• Inspired
• Productive
• Focused
• Prepared
• Devoted
• Dedicated

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One of the best ways to make your resume is by filling out one of our free resume templates. All our templates are designed by experts and free to download for Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

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5. Creative

Employers want you to be creative, especially in fields like graphic design that require innovation and artistry. However, the word “creative” on a resume isn’t impactful enough on its own because it’s too generic.

Creativity: resume buzzwords to use instead

Instead of simply describing yourself as “creative”, try using one of the following effective buzzwords for your resume:

• Artistic
• Original
• Progressive
• Imaginative
• Visionary
• Expressive
• Resourceful
• Inventive
• Adaptive
• Curious
• Perceptive
• Experimental

6. Passionate

Hiring managers love to interview candidates who are passionate about their work, but your resume will be much more effective if you show your passion through experience.

Passion: resume buzzwords to use instead

Don’t just state it — try using these action verbs on your resume to show how dedicated you are:

• Champion
• Cultivate
• Invest
• Empower
• Mobilize
• Spearhead
• Persevere
• Pursue
• Enrich
• Dedicate

7. Strategic thinker

Being strategic is essential for a number of careers. Unfortunately, calling yourself a strategic thinker is a cliche that hiring managers are tired of seeing.

Critical thinking: resume buzzwords to use instead

Consider these more effective alternatives to show off your critical thinking abilities:

• Analytical
• Observational
• Decisive
• Contemplative
• Logical
• Methodical
• Tactical
• Insightful
• Calculated
• Measured

8. Multitasker

No matter what your profession is, multitasking skills are a valuable attribute.

But without context, hiring managers won’t know whether your ability to multitask actually helps you do your job more effectively.

Multitasking: resume buzzwords to use instead

Try using any of the following action-oriented buzzwords to show you can juggle a variety of tasks:

• Coordinate
• Prioritize
• Balance
• Optimize
• Streamline
• Integrate
• Consolidate
• Merge
• Delegate
• Orchestrate
• Synchronize
• Direct
• Assign

9. Innovative

If innovation is important to your field, chances are “innovative” is overused on applications.

Innovation: resume buzzwords to use instead

Show hiring managers that your work stands out by using some of the following more original buzz words for your resume:

• Pioneering
• Unconventional
• Visionary
• Original
• Forward-thinking
• Adaptable
• Disruptive
• Inventive
• Trailblazing
• Resourceful

10. Skilled

It’s important to display your specific skillset throughout your resume, but it’s better not to describe yourself as “skilled” because this sounds nonspecific. The best way to show hiring managers what you’re capable of is through action words and examples.

Skills: resume buzzwords to use instead

Use these strong resume verbs to highlight some of your most important skills:

• Developed
• Implemented
• Managed
• Optimized
• Achieved
• Resolved
• Presented
• Analyzed
• Negotiated
• Trained
• Assessed
• Facilitated

How to effectively use buzzwords in your resume

Now that you’ve seen some of the best buzzwords, here are some examples of how to best work them into your resume:

Fit them in your resume summary

Your resume summary should give an overview of your most important qualifications, so it’s a natural place for some standout buzzwords hiring managers are looking for.

See how the following candidate used buzzwords appropriately in a receptionist resume summary:

Add them to your experience section

You can also include good buzzwords in the experience section of your resume to give hiring managers some context for how you used key skills. One of the best ways to use buzzwords in this section is to start each sentence or bullet point off with an action verb.

Take a look at how this physical therapist used action verbs and buzzwords throughout their experience section:

Use them in your skills section

Your resume’s skills section is a great place to highlight the most important skills employers are looking for, particularly if they’re mentioned in the job description.

To make your skills section more effective, try including a few resume keywords from the job description or buzzwords relevant to your industry.

Here’s an example of how one applicant used education buzzwords in their skills section to apply for a teaching position:

Frequently asked questions about resume buzzwords

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions and answers about including buzzwords on your resume:

What words should not be used in a resume?

Here are some kinds of words that shouldn’t be used in a resume:

• Words that make you sound like you’re bragging, like “exceptional” and “best”
• Overused words and phrases, such as “responsible for” and “team player”
• Industry jargon that isn’t commonly understood
• Pronouns, including “I” and “my,” because they’re repetitive and take up space

What are the best active words for your resume?

Here are some of the best active words for your resume:

What are overused buzzwords on a resume?

Overused buzzwords on a resume are phrases like “team player,” “detail-oriented,” and “results-driven.” Because they’re used so often by job seekers everywhere, these terms have lost their impact and instead cause hiring managers to roll their eyes.

We recommend replacing them with concrete examples and quantifiable achievements that showcase your skills and abilities more convincingly. This approach helps your resume capture attention and better communicates your value to hiring managers.