A Job-Seeker’s Guide to the Best Words to Put On a Resume

Looking for a job?

You might be wondering what words to put on a resume to make finding a job easier. Well, you’re in luck! We’ve compiled the best words to use. These are the most effective words that will help get you noticed by employers and land interviews faster than ever before.

With these powerful words, you’ll be able to create an eye-catching document that will make hiring managers want to call you right away! So what are you waiting for?

Get started today with these top 10 resume buzzwords!

1. Communication Skills

Listing communication skills in your resume is a no-brainer.

There’s just one problem: what exactly qualifies as a skill? Believe it or not, there are some specific qualities that hiring managers look for when vetting candidates’ abilities to communicate effectively.

For example, “public speaking” and “speaking foreign languages” both sound good, but they carry slightly different connotations. “Public speaking” is more formal while “speaking foreign languages” suggests you are multi-lingual.

Additionally, the best words to put on a resume for skills should show that you’re willing to go above and beyond in your professional life. This means including words like “mediation,” which implies that you’re able to resolve conflicts peacefully and effectively.

2. Leadership Skills

If there’s one thing every employer wants in a candidate, it’s leadership skills.

If you can prove that you’re a leader, you’ll be more than halfway toward getting hired—no matter what industry or position you’re applying for. After all, who doesn’t want to hire someone who can take over consistently and provide valuable input?

Of course, the best words to put on a resume will show that you’re a natural-born leader. If you want to impress hiring managers, good words to put on a resume include:

“supervised”
“organized”

These suggest that you’re capable of leading others without too much guidance and that you have a knack for staying on top of projects.

3. Dependability

Hiring managers want every employee to be as dependable as a Swiss watch.

In other words, they need you to show that you’re always going to be on time and ready to work—whether the job requires it or not. Hiring managers understand that there’s more to being a productive member of their team than just showing up to work on time.

They need you to be ready and willing to do anything in the position—even if it requires overtime and working over the weekend. The best words to put on a resume will indicate that you’re dependable by nature, so your resume should include words like:

“reliable”
“punctual”
“responsible”

4. Initiative

You might not think of yourself as a particularly proactive person, but hiring managers want to see initiative on your resume.

If you can prove that you’ve always been willing to go above and beyond in all areas of your professional life, it will indicate that you’re the type of employee who will be ready and willing to start tackling projects as soon as they’re assigned.

Plus, showing that you’re proactive will give the impression that you’ll continue taking initiative throughout your career with this company!

The best words to put on a resume for this attribute include:

“initiative”
“energetic”
“motivated”

5. Entrepreneurial Spirit

Millennials are stereotypically seen as lazy and entitled, but this simply isn’t the case.

In fact, millennials and Generation Z-ers have a lot of entrepreneurial spirit—they just aren’t self-employed yet. Since hiring managers want to know they can trust you to work on your own when necessary, there is no better way to show that you’re willing than by including the words:

“entrepreneurial”
“self-starter”

6. Problem Solver

Hiring managers will always need problem solvers in every industry.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone who works for them needs to be able to solve problems like Sherlock Holmes (although it wouldn’t hurt!). Instead, this means they want all employees and interns to understand how their role can help prevent issues from cropping up.

So, the best words to put on a resume for this attribute include:

“creative problem solver”
“innovative thinker”
“problem-solving skills”

7. Out of the Box Thinker

Hiring managers want people who will think outside of the box in every position—especially when it comes to sales roles that require coming up with creative solutions to client objections.

If you have an out-of-the-box mentality, hiring managers are more likely to see you as someone who will continue generating fresh ideas even after being in a position or industry for an extended period.

The best words to put on your resume for this type of thinking are:

“creative”
“innovative”
“original”

8. Team Player

Hiring managers always want to know that everyone on their team is a team player.

In other words, they need someone who understands that the people around them are just as important as the work they do themselves. If you’re eager to get involved in company-wide initiatives, note this on your resume—and you’ll stand out from the crowd!

The best words to put on your resume for this attribute include:

“supportive of colleagues”
“cooperative”

9. Strategic Thinker

Hiring managers also want strategic thinkers who are capable of coming up with long-term plans to further the company’s goals.

If outlining strategies for short-term success is what you do best, there is no better way to convey this than by including the words:

“strategic”
“strategy”

10. Team-Building Skills

We’ve already discussed that hiring managers always want team players, but they also need at least one team builder.

This means that they will expect you to bring everyone together both in and out of the office—whether it’s setting up an impromptu game night or organizing company outings.