You have finally decided to take your job search seriously and feel excited about obtaining your next role!
One of the first things you might wonder is how you should develop your resume, which consists of the format—the order of your sections—and the content, which includes the language you use to describe your skills and experiences. With so many resume tools and resources available, you can easily find multiple options for your resume format but developing content that will help you stand out from other candidates is trickier.
Language is a powerful tool that can make or break your resume content. Although it’s easy to include commonly used language to describe your skills and experiences, it’s not the best choice if you want a document that stands out. Job seekers frequently use the term “detail-oriented” to show their ability to pay close attention, but an industry expert says that attention to detail is often implied. “I can’t imagine telling a potential employer that you don’t pay attention to detail, so adding ‘detail-oriented’ to your resume has become a bit of a cliché,” says Lucy Samuels, a communication coach who focuses on career development in remote workplaces. “Employers are likely to ignore it or not believe that you actually are detail-oriented if you can’t show them.”
Using more expansive language to demonstrate your attention to detail can help your resume and cover letter stand out, which is central to thriving in a competitive job market.
Read more: 35+ Specific ChatGPT Prompts to Help Build Your Resume
Using language to enhance your resume and cover letter
To create a unique resume, anticipate how a hiring manager might see it. “Put yourself in the mindset of the hiring team who will review your resume,” says Samuels, who holds certifications in resume writing, interview prep, and career coaching. “What would they want to know? What seems obvious to you but might need some clarification?”
Using detailed language in your bullet points is also key to making your resume stand out. “Use adverbs to convey your detail-oriented approach. ‘Successfully executed 12 projects on time and within budget in Q1, ensuring all components met the highest quality standards’ or ‘leveraged market data to precisely forecast the company’s financial future and inform strategic planning.’”
Much like your resume, your cover letter should tell a compelling story about your skills and experiences. “Use your cover letter as a highlight reel to introduce yourself and reinforce the qualifications you’ve shared in your resume without regurgitating your whole resume.” Since the cover letter is formatted in paragraphs, Samuels suggests using it to “name drop, mention referrals, or express some kind of connection to the company in a way you can’t do in a resume.”
In addition, Samuels’ shares two simple guidelines for making your documents stand out. “Spell out abbreviations and acronyms that aren’t obvious.” She also advises you “provide context if your company or department is not well-known.” For instance:
Managed 10 long-term projects for Kelsi, Inc., a small product design agency headquartered in Switzerland.
By including adverbs, translating unique terms, and providing context about lesser-known companies, you can use language to optimize your resume and be more accurate about what you can offer potential employers.
35 synonyms for ‘detail-oriented’
It’s important to show you are detail-oriented but Samuels says it’s not something you have to say outright.
“Replace ‘detail-oriented’ with a stronger adjective such as meticulous, precise, accurate, or laser-focused. You can use these adjectives when describing yourself in the brief summary at the top of your resume.”
Be specific to communicate a more effective message. “Try using adjectives that highlight your specific detail-oriented approach such as process-oriented, results-oriented, or analytical.”
Here’s a full list of synonyms and phrases that convey a similar meaning as ‘detail-oriented’ but in a more specific, impactful way.
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Accurate
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Adamant
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Analytical
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Assiduous
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Attentive
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Careful
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Cautious
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Committed
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Comprehensive
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Conscientious
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Consistent
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Diligent
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Discerning
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Exact
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Fastidious
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Focused
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Keen
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Methodical
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Meticulous
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Observant
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Particular
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Planful
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Precise
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Process-oriented
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Prudent
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Punctilious
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Results-oriented
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Rigorous
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Scrupulous
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Strategic
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Studious
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Systematic
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Thorough
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Thoughtful
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Vigilant
Keep in mind that diversifying the language you use in your resume not only makes it more compelling and accurate but also points to your ability to communicate once you get the job you want. Potential employers can look at your resume as an example of how you develop professional emails, letters, memos, and reports. They know that the way you describe your skills and experiences in your resume and cover letter is an indicator of how you will communicate as a member of their team.
Read more: 8 Effective & Memorable Ways to Introduce Yourself Professionally (with Examples)
Other overused terms to avoid using
‘Detail-oriented’ isn’t the only overused phrase you should reconsider using in your resume and cover letter. Samuels cites at least three other phrases you should replace to make the language in your resume and cover letter stronger.
Team player
“So much of what we do in the workplace is collaborative. Yet, job seekers often add the term to their resumes without specifying ways they’ve truly been a team player. Use strong verbs and phrases such as collaborate, partner, strategize with, liaise, and build relationships with.” For example, a resume bullet like this could help to convey how well you work on a team:
Collaborated with a cross-functional team of 12 to manage relationships with enterprise clients.
Responsible for
“These two words are ‘responsible for’ so much waste on resumes. Get right to the point! Start your bullet points with a strong verb. Instead of saying ‘responsible for managing’, say ‘manage’”:
Manage 15+ stakeholders to drive quarterly product development goals.
Helped
“This is a weak verb that job seekers often feel they have to use if they have worked in support roles or as part of a team. Instead, use a strong verb to indicate that you were part of a project or initiative and say what your contributions were. Bonus points if you can quantify!”
Quantifying your accomplishments in the resume and cover letter shows how you positioned your employer for success in a measurable way—here’s an example:
Facilitated the transition to a new CRM, which increased lead generation conversion from 2% to 5%.
You should also swap out words like experienced, hardworking, and passionate for fresher terms like proficient, diligent, and ardent. Although you may need to include an overused phrase once or twice in your documents, minimizing use can help set your resume and cover letter apart from other candidates.
To further refine your documents, Samuels adds that you don’t need to quantify every bullet point but should add things like success rate, amount of money saved, or scope or size of a project where it’s appropriate. Consider adding “how you did something, what tools you used, or some special circumstances to which you quickly adapted” to make a lasting impression.
