Avoid These Words In Job Interviews

Crafting a resume can feel overwhelming, and it’s tempting to rely on buzzwords and clichés to make your skills pop. But overused phrases can make your resume sound generic. Instead, focus on concise, impactful language that reflects your unique skills and experiences.

Below, we’ve broken down powerful action words and tips to help you create a resume that’s professional, relatable, and easy to read.

"Actually" Can sound corrective or defensive. Use it sparingly to avoid unintentionally challenging the interviewer.

"Always" Sounds inflexible. Avoid absolutes and show adaptability.

"Amazing" Overused and vague. Replace with specific, meaningful descriptions of why the role excites you.

"Basically" Diminishes your accomplishments. Be direct and confident in describing your achievements.

"Boring" Negative and unprofessional. Reframe past experiences positively.

"Benefits" (Perks, Vacation Time, PTO, etc.) Avoid discussing perks early; focus on the role and your qualifications first.

"Can't" Sounds inflexible. Focus on what you can do and your problem-solving skills.

"Curse/Swear Words" Unprofessional and risky. Keep language clean and polished.

"Dedicated" Overused and cliché. Demonstrate dedication through examples instead of claiming it.

"Fired" A red flag. Use terms like “laid off” or “let go” if necessary.

"Hate" Too negative. Use softer language like “dislike” or reframe positively.

"Honestly" Suggests you weren’t truthful before. State your points directly.

"I don't know" Sounds unprepared. Offer to find the answer or relate it to your experience.

"I guess" Sounds indecisive. Be clear and confident in your responses.

"I think" Makes you sound unsure. State your opinions confidently.

"Just" Makes you sound defensive or unsure. State your points confidently.

"Kinda" Sounds uncertain. Be clear and decisive in your responses.

"Learn" Avoid saying you’re there to learn; emphasize what you can contribute immediately.

"Like" A filler word that undermines professionalism. Practice speaking without it.

"Me, Myself & I" Focus on teamwork and collaboration, not just individual achievements.

"Motivated" Overused buzzword. Show motivation through specific examples of your work.

"Negatives" Avoid negative words like “can’t” or “don’t.” Keep the tone positive.

"Never" Another absolute that can make you seem rigid. Use more nuanced language.

"Nervous" Admitting nervousness can make you seem less confident. Stay composed.

"Overqualified" Can sound arrogant. Focus on how your experience adds value.

"Perfectionist" A cliché response to weaknesses. Be honest and specific about growth areas.

"Salary" Avoid discussing salary too early. Wait for the interviewer to bring it up.

"Sorry" Over-apologizing makes you seem unsure. Only apologize if truly necessary.

"So" A filler word that adds no value. Speak directly and concisely.

"Stuff" Too vague. Be specific about your accomplishments and experiences.

"Sure" Sounds hesitant. Use stronger affirmations like “absolutely” or “certainly.”

"Try" Implies uncertainty. Use confident language like “I will” or “I can.”

"Um" A filler word that makes you seem unprepared. Practice pausing instead.

"Whatever" Sounds dismissive and unprofessional. Avoid it entirely.

"Weakness" Don’t bring up weaknesses unless asked. Frame them as areas for growth.

"Whatever" Sounds dismissive and unprofessional. Avoid it entirely.

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