5 Words That Are Killing Your Resume

5 Words That Are Killing Your Resume (And What to Use Instead)

"Responsible for managing a team of 5." "Responsible for increasing sales." "Responsible for customer satisfaction."

You know what that tells me? Absolutely nothing about what you actually did.

For comprehensive strategies on optimizing your resume language, our professional impact dictionary covers the exact verbs and metrics for your role.

The Problem with Weak Words

Here's the thing about resume writing: every word is real estate. You have maybe 10 seconds to grab a recruiter's attention.

When you use vague, passive words, you're wasting that precious space. You're telling me what you were supposed to do, not what you accomplished.

And trust me, every other candidate is using the same tired phrases. Your resume needs to tell your unique story, not blend into the pile.

The 5 Words to Delete Right Now

1. "Responsible for"

Why it's killing you: It's passive. It tells me your job description, not your impact.

What to use instead: Start with what you actually did.

See the difference? One describes a task. The other shows a result.

2. "Helped"

Why it's killing you: It makes you sound like a supporting character in your own career story.

What to use instead: Own your contribution.

You didn't just "help." You did something. Say it.

Similar weak phrases: "Excellent communicator," "strong team player," "great collaborator." These are empty claims without proof. To turn vague communication claims into measurable stakeholder management proof (stakeholder count, meeting cadence, alignment outcomes), see our Stakeholder Management Metrics guide.

3. "Various"

Why it's killing you: It's lazy. It screams "I can't be bothered to be specific."

What to use instead: Be specific. Name 2-3 examples.

Specificity = credibility.

4. "Duties included"

Why it's killing you: Same problem as "responsible for." It's a job description, not an achievement.

What to use instead: Show the outcome.

5. "Worked on"

Why it's killing you: It's vague. Did you lead it? Support it? Watch from the sidelines?

What to use instead: Clarify your role and impact.

The Pattern You Need to Follow

Every bullet point on your resume should follow this formula:

[Strong Action Verb] + [What You Did] + [Measurable Result]

Examples:

• "Launched email campaign that generated $50K in new revenue"
• "Streamlined inventory process, cutting waste by 22%"
• "Presented quarterly findings to C-suite, influencing $2M budget allocation"

Notice: no passive language, no vague descriptions, just clear actions and results.

What If You Don't Have Numbers?

I hear this all the time: "But Maya, my job doesn't have measurable results!"

Yes, it does. You're just not looking hard enough.

Instead of numbers, use:

• Scope: "Managed team of 8 across 3 time zones"

• Frequency: "Delivered weekly reports to senior leadership"

• Recognition: "Selected to present at annual company conference"

• Comparison: "Reduced processing time from 2 hours to 30 minutes"

• Comparison: "Reduced processing time from 2 hours to 30 minutes"

There's always a way to show impact.

Use our metrics inventory system to uncover these hidden numbers in your calendar, tickets, and emails—it's the fastest way to replace vague words with hard proof.

The Reframe Exercise

Take your current resume. Find every instance of these 5 words.

For each one, ask yourself:

1. What did I actually do?
2. What changed because I did it?
3. How can I prove it?

Then rewrite the bullet point with that information.

Your Resume Tells a Story

Here's what I want you to remember: your resume isn't a list of tasks. It's the story of your professional impact.

Every word should move that story forward. Every bullet point should make the reader think, "I want this person on my team."

Weak, passive words don't do that. Strong, specific action verbs do.

The Bottom Line

Delete these 5 words from your resume:

1. Responsible for
2. Helped
3. Various
4. Duties included
5. Worked on

Replace them with strong action verbs that show what you actually accomplished.

Your resume will go from forgettable to "I need to interview this person."

That's the power of the right words.

Industry-Specific Action Verbs

Different industries value different skills. Here are power verbs tailored to specific fields:

Tech & Engineering

Sales & Business Development

Marketing & Communications

Management & Leadership

Finance & Accounting

Healthcare & Medical

More Before & After Examples

Let me show you how to transform entire resume bullet points:

Example 1: Customer Service

Before:
"Responsible for handling customer complaints and resolving issues."

After:
"Resolved 95% of customer complaints on first contact, improving satisfaction scores by 23% in 6 months."

What changed: Specific action verb + metric + impact

Example 2: Project Management

Before:
"Worked on various projects to improve team efficiency."

After:
"Spearheaded 3 process improvement initiatives that reduced project delivery time by 40% and saved $120K annually."

What changed: Concrete verb + specific number + measurable outcome

Example 3: Teaching/Training

Before:
"Duties included teaching students and helping them learn."

After:
"Designed and delivered curriculum for 150+ students, achieving 92% pass rate (15% above district average)."

What changed: Action-focused + scale + comparative metric

Example 4: Data Analysis

Before:
"Helped with data analysis and reporting for management."

After:
"Analyzed customer behavior data across 50K+ transactions, identifying $2M revenue opportunity through targeted upselling."

What changed: Specific verb + scale + business impact

The Formula for Strong Bullet Points

Every resume bullet should follow this structure:

[Action Verb] + [What You Did] + [How You Did It] + [Result/Impact]

Example:
"Launched a customer referral program using automated email campaigns, generating 300+ qualified leads and $450K in new revenue in Q1."

Breakdown:

• Action Verb: Launched
• What: Customer referral program
• How: Automated email campaigns
• Result: 300+ leads, $450K revenue

Not every bullet needs all four elements, but aim for at least three.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Action Verbs

Mistake #1: Using the Same Verb Repeatedly

Don't start every bullet with "Managed" or "Led." Vary your verbs to show range.

Bad:

• Managed team of 5
• Managed project timeline
• Managed stakeholder expectations

Good:

• Led team of 5 across 3 departments
• Coordinated project timeline with 12 stakeholders
• Aligned executive expectations through weekly reporting

Mistake #2: Choosing Verbs That Don't Match Your Level

If you're entry-level, don't claim you "spearheaded" or "orchestrated" unless you truly did.

Entry-level appropriate:

• Contributed, Supported, Assisted, Collaborated, Participated

Mid-level appropriate:

• Led, Managed, Developed, Implemented, Coordinated

Senior-level appropriate:

• Spearheaded, Orchestrated, Transformed, Pioneered, Architected

Mistake #3: Using Verbs Without Context

"Increased sales" means nothing without numbers.

Weak: "Increased sales through better customer service"
Strong: "Increased sales by 34% ($280K) through personalized follow-up system and customer loyalty program"

Action Verb Intensity Scale

Not all action verbs are created equal. Use this scale to choose the right intensity:

Low Impact (Avoid These):

• Did, Made, Got, Had, Was

Medium Impact (Use Sparingly):

• Helped, Worked, Handled, Performed, Conducted

High Impact (Use These):

• Achieved, Delivered, Generated, Increased, Reduced

Maximum Impact (Use for Major Accomplishments):

• Transformed, Pioneered, Revolutionized, Spearheaded, Orchestrated

Quick Reference: 50 Power Verbs by Category

Achievement Verbs

Accomplished, Achieved, Attained, Delivered, Exceeded, Outperformed, Surpassed

Leadership Verbs

Championed, Directed, Guided, Headed, Led, Managed, Supervised

Growth Verbs

Accelerated, Amplified, Expanded, Grew, Increased, Maximized, Scaled

Efficiency Verbs

Automated, Optimized, Reduced, Streamlined, Simplified, Eliminated, Consolidated

Creation Verbs

Built, Created, Designed, Developed, Established, Founded, Launched

Improvement Verbs

Enhanced, Improved, Refined, Revamped, Transformed, Upgraded, Modernized

Analysis Verbs

Analyzed, Assessed, Evaluated, Identified, Investigated, Researched, Studied

Your Action Plan

1. Print your current resume
2. Highlight every weak word (responsible for, helped, worked on, etc.)
3. For each bullet point, ask: "What did I actually accomplish?"
4. Rewrite using: Action verb + specific details + measurable result
5. Vary your verbs - don't use the same one more than twice
6. Add numbers wherever possible (%, $, #, time saved)
7. Read it out loud - does it sound impressive?

Your resume should make someone think "Wow, I need to talk to this person" not "Okay, they did their job."

The difference is in the words you choose.

And remember: even with perfect wording, your resume needs to get past the ATS first. Make sure you're avoiding 2-column layouts that robots can't parse.

---

Maya Rodriguez is a certified career coach and resume writer with 8+ years of experience helping professionals tell their career stories effectively.