Buzzwords in Your CV: Use Them Right or Risk Being Overlooked
When writing your CV, you’ve probably come across advice like “use strong buzzwords” or “make your profile keyword-rich.” While that advice is technically correct, many job seekers fall into the trap of stuffing their CVs with empty phrases that sound impressive but say very little.
Buzzwords like “dynamic,” “innovative,” “hardworking,” or “team player” are commonly used — but if you’re not backing them with real-world results, they quickly become meaningless. Recruiters see hundreds of CVs daily, and overused, vague terms won’t help yours stand out.
In this article, we’ll explore how to use CV buzzwords the right way — and how to transform those tired phrases into powerful statements that impress hiring managers and get picked up by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
What Are Buzzwords?
Buzzwords are commonly used terms or phrases intended to impress. In the context of CVs, they are words that describe skills, traits, or achievements, such as:
“Strong communicator”
“Motivated professional”
“Results-driven”
“Problem-solver”
“Detail-oriented”
While these words may describe you accurately, they’re also used by nearly everyone else. Without context, they sound like fluff.
The Problem with Generic Buzzwords
Let’s take a few examples and break down why they don’t work on their own:
“Team player” — Almost every job requires teamwork. Saying this doesn’t make you stand out unless you show how you worked in a team and what impact that had.
“Go-getter” — What does that even mean? It’s vague. Employers want to see initiative in action, not just claims.
“Hardworking” — Everyone says this. Prove it with outcomes or persistence in challenging situations.
“Creative” — Unless you show how your creativity brought results, it sounds like just another empty word.
How to Use Buzzwords Effectively
Here’s how to turn buzzwords into impact-driven statements:
1. Pair Buzzwords with Quantifiable Achievements
Weak:
“Excellent communicator”
Strong:
“Handled 25+ daily customer support calls and maintained a 98% satisfaction score for 12 consecutive months.”
Weak:
“Problem-solver”
Strong:
“Identified and resolved a recurring billing issue, saving the company £5,000 annually.”
Weak:
“Leadership skills”
Strong:
“Led a team of 5 designers to deliver 10+ projects on deadline, resulting in a 20% increase in client retention.”
2. Use Active Verbs Instead of Passive Phrases
Start your bullet points with strong action verbs that show what you did rather than what you are. Here’s a cheat sheet:
Buzzword Better Phrase
Team player Collaborated with a cross-functional team to deliver a mobile app ahead of schedule
Strong communicator Presented weekly progress updates to stakeholders, reducing confusion and rework
Results-driven Achieved a 40% increase in website traffic by implementing targeted SEO strategies
Multitasker Managed scheduling, email responses, and customer service for a team of 10
Creative Designed a rebranding package that improved client perception and led to a 15% revenue boost
3. Mirror the Language of the Job Description
Many companies use ATS software to screen CVs based on keywords. If your CV doesn’t contain the right buzzwords — even if you’re qualified — you might be automatically filtered out.
💡 Tip: Review the job listing and identify key terms used. Include these exact words in your CV (as long as they honestly apply to you), especially in your skills section or summary.
Example:
Job Ad Says:
“Looking for a detail-oriented individual with experience in managing digital campaigns and analysing KPIs.”
Your CV Should Say:
“Detail-oriented digital marketer with 3+ years managing campaigns across Google Ads and Meta platforms. Analysed KPIs weekly to optimise ad spend and increase ROI by 25%.”
4. Balance Buzzwords with Evidence and Story
Buzzwords on their own are claims. Back them up with:
Numbers: Use percentages, timelines, amounts, or growth figures.
Context: What was the challenge? What did you do? What changed as a result?
Before:
“Motivated sales professional.”
After:
“Motivated sales professional who exceeded quarterly targets by 35% through strategic outreach and referral partnerships.”
Common Buzzwords (and How to Replace Them)
Here’s a list of common buzzwords — and better ways to express them with real examples.
Buzzword Instead, Try This
Hardworking “Consistently worked overtime to ensure project deadlines were met.”
Team player “Contributed to a team that launched a new CRM system, reducing customer response times by 50%.”
Self-starter “Initiated a monthly newsletter that increased internal communication and team morale.”
Detail-oriented “Performed quality assurance checks that reduced data entry errors by 40%.”
Innovative “Developed a new social media strategy that boosted engagement by 70% in 3 months.”
Passionate “Volunteered 10+ hours weekly for a nonprofit digital campaign that reached 1,000+ new donors.”
Excellent communication skills “Created user guides and FAQs that decreased support requests by 25%.”
Leadership “Trained 3 junior staff members, two of whom were promoted within a year.”
Final Tips for Writing a Buzzword-Smart CV
1. Cut clichés. If a phrase could apply to anyone, rephrase it.
2. Start with verbs. Use words like “led,” “built,” “increased,” “developed,” “created,” and “implemented.”
3. Tailor every time. Even small tweaks for each job can make a big difference.
4. Proofread it aloud. If it sounds vague or fluffy, rewrite it.
5. Use real numbers. Quantifying makes everything more believable.
Conclusion: Show, Don’t Just Tell
Yes, buzzwords can work — but only when they’re grounded in action, evidence, and relevance.
Think of buzzwords like seasoning. A little adds flavour. Too much makes it unpalatable.
So, instead of just calling yourself a “go-getter,” show the results of your drive. Instead of saying “detail-oriented,” prove it with the impact your precision had on a project or team.
Need Help?
If you did like a quick scan of your CV to highlight weak buzzwords or rewrite them for stronger impact, send it in. I’ll review it and offer suggestions to sharpen your message and help you stand out.
