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We fill our resume with buzzwords that make us sound like the perfect employee: master multitasker! People pleaser! Extremely dedicated! But it turns out these “good” habits might actually give off a warning signal to a hiring manager. Why? We’ll break it down for you and reveal the double meaning behind some popular resume keywords.
The Juggler
“Multitasking” is one of those traits we used to think was great. But it turns out that it’s actually really bad for you. Just think about: how can you possibly give your full attention to more than one thing at a time? You can’t!
The ‘Yes’ Man
If you’re a people pleaser, you might never say no. And if you never say no, you might get in over your head — and drown. Successful employees know when to say no. They delegate when they need to. And they’re better workers for doing so.
The Dedicated Employee
Extreme dedication is great, but becoming a workaholics could lead to extreme burnout. Everyone needs to take a break to refuel their mind and their body. Sometimes all it takes is a lunch break and other times it requires a week-long vacation.
What other resume buzzwords have double meanings? Share your thoughts below!
Spectrum Brands Careers Blog 
January 13, 2015 at 12:50 pm
“Perfectionist” – candidate thinks it implies detail-orientation and quality assurance but it can lead the reader to think that too much time is spent ensuring it’s perfect when other priorities need attention too. As a former recruiter, I didn’t like to see “perfectionist” on a candidate’s resume.