Words of Distinction

Tag: resume

Cut the Clutter: Scan for Unhelpful Jargon

Posted on October 7, 2024October 8, 2024 by Emily Wong

Word clutter hides a clear focus.—Roy Peter Clark, How to Write Short

Today let’s focus on something close to my heart: cutting the clutter (aka jargon) from your sentences.

⚠️Yes, keywords matter, but beware.

It’s easy to get so caught up in trying to beat the ATS (applicant tracking system) or boost SEO (search engine optimization) that we lose sight of our message.

Keyword packing without strategic context won’t add the strength you need for a powerful profile. At best, that tactic will slow down the reader. At worst, it’ll cause some eye rolls on the other side.

Bottom line: Don’t confuse buzzwords with words that actually do bolster a phrase.

Here’s an example:

Original sentence:

Skilled strategist maximizing workable solutions and performance for key marketing goals.

(Wait…what?? As in, what does this person actually do, what do they deliver, and what are the results?)

Revised sentence:

Marketing strategist who introduces sustainable solutions that lead to multimillion-dollar results.

See how, by replacing a word salad with meaty specifics, the sentence is stronger?

💪 Try this exercise:

Print out a copy of your resume and ask a friend or relative (preferably one with a strong BS meter) to review it and highlight confusing or vague statements.

💡 HINT: Don’t ask them to edit. Ask them to just identify anything that doesn’t make sense with a quick read. Nothing works better than a fresh pair of eyes to catch statements that bog down your resume.

Once you have that highlighted document, play with the words, rearrange them, and see what you can cut. Hands down, the #1 reason resumes are a drag to read is that they’re bloated with unnecessary words.

🛎️…Or ask a professional for help.

My main service is re-writing resumes and LinkedIn profiles, but did you know that I’m also available to provide 1:1 guidance and feedback on your resume, LinkedIn profile, and other career documents?

Not everyone needs a complete resume or LinkedIn overhaul—if you have questions about your strategy, content, or layout, I’m here for you.

After our meeting, I’ll send you a recording as a reference. Schedule here for a 1:1 resume or LinkedIn review.

The Difference Between Scope and Achievements on Your Resume

Career Cohort

The Difference Between Scope and Achievements on Your Resume

00:00 / 5:04

One of the challenges I see job seekers facing when they send me their resume is distinguishing between scope and achievements.

But there is a difference.

Scope is the context within which you do your job. Think of it as the setting for you to razzle dazzle your audience with your amazing achievements.

Scope captures the breadth of your job and/or leadership. Examples might include the number of people on your team, the value of a portfolio you inherited, or the territory for which you’re accountable.

Scope is important to include because it demonstrates your ability to lead and manage initiatives.

But it’s those BIG, JUICY achievements that set you apart.

Example #1

Let’s use territory management as an example.

🌐 You’re talking about scope if you say you managed markets that included North America, Europe, and Asia.

🏆 BUT you’re talking about an achievement if you say you expanded that market by 80% in under two years.

Example #2

How about team leadership?

🌐 If you say you led a team of 150 high performers, you’re still talking about scope.

🏆 On the other hand, if you say you built a team of 150 high performers from scratch, that’s an achievement.

Example #3

Say you’re communicating what you do in sales.

🌐 If you simply say you managed a $60M portfolio, that’s scope.

🏆 However, if you say you grew your portfolio from $10M to $60M in one year…now that’s quite an achievement!

TIPS

🌐 Include scope in the paragraph under each job title.

🏆 Reserve your bullets for those BOLD and BODACIOUS impact stories.

By the way, if you’d like to get tips like this more frequently, I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn. Please do connect with me. You can find me here.

Here’s the link to the episode on Apple podcasts

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Connect with me:

For more tips and advice for your job search, I post regularly on LinkedIn (emilysfwong), Instagram (@YourResumeCoach), Facebook (@CareersEmily), and Twitter (@CareersEmily)

You can also follow my blog, sign up for my monthly job search tips, and schedule a free discovery call right on this site.

Other episodes you’ll enjoy:

Getting Your Resume Past ATS

How to Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills Without a Formal Title

Servant Authorship: Authentic Writing in an AI World

A Gap in Your Career Doesn’t Have to Mean a Gap in Progress

Posted on July 12, 2021July 15, 2021 by Emily Wong

Let’s talk about career gaps without stirring up the usual associated anxiety. Your career opportunities don’t dry up just because you took time off from work. In fact, some important personal or professional growth may have taken root during those periods. If you plan to travel, study, volunteer, or take care of family, you may find you return to the office reinvigorated and with a newfound appreciation for work in the traditional sense.

The good news: according to a recent LinkedIn poll, the perception of employment gaps may be shifting.