When Big Words Backfire on Your Resume

When Big Words Backfire on Your Resume When Big Words Backfire on Your Resume A thesaurus can be a useful tool when you want to avoid repetition of absoluts or when you know the meaning you want to convey but cant quite put your finger on the right word. If you use it to find polysyllabic synonyms for plain language, however, your attempt to sound smarter may backfire. Jessica Stillman, writing for Inc., warns that before you get out the thesaurus in an attempt to impress, remember that simplicity and clarity are generally a better signal of mastery than flowery language.One of the main drawbacks to using the thesaurus is that words often have multiple meanings. For example, the word flowery from the quote above has several definitions. A quick search on thesaurus.com offers up these related words bombastic, figurative, floral, florid, inflated, and odorous. The first and fifth options could make sense in the context of our quote, but the other choices are nonsensical.That doesnt s top English professor Michael Eddys students, who routinely use Microsoft Words built-in thesaurus to pepper their papers with the kind of flowery language Stillman warned against. As Eddy explains it, dressing up a piece of prose with thesaurus-words tends not to work well. And heres why a thesaurus suggests words without explaining nuances of meaning and levels of diction. So if you choose substitute words from a thesaurus, its likely that your writing will look as though youve done just that.Its not just college students who fall prey to big-word-itis the business world is notorious for buzzwords and unnecessarily long synonyms. Anyone in the working world, in any number of occupations, is going to have to write some sort of report or presentation and may be tempted to talk in dynamic-synergy nonsense to fit in, says Rebecca Schuman, writing for Slate. While it might seem like mimicking that language will make your resume and cover letter sound mora professional especially if yo ure worried that your experience or credentials arent impressive it often has the opposite effect.In other words, your big words arent fooling anybody.We all want to make a good impression, but when it comes to your resume, dont utilize lucid communication skills just be clear, be specific, and be honest, says writer Bill Reagan. The goal of your resumeisnt to show how creatively you can embellish your experience, its to show that youre the right person for the job.So when should you use a thesaurus during your job hunt? There are only two good reasons to consult Mr. Roget if youre brainstorming keywords for a job search or if you discover that youve written responsibilities ten times on your resume. Its all too easy to repeat a word multiple times in a single document, but doing so makes your writing appear dull, unimaginative, and careless not exactly qualities that employers look for in candidates.Try reading your resume and cover letter out loud. This proofreading trick can h elp you spot grammar mistakes and typos, andits also a great way to catch unintentional repetition. Pay particular attention to the verbs you use to describe your work experience ideally, they should be active and specific. If you find lackluster language or repetitive word choices, choose an alternative preferably one whose definition you already know. Otherwise, leave the thesaurus alone.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.