Straight Truth: "Happy Words" on your resume are just a distraction placed there by your ego

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Jun 06, 2023

Happy Words are when we feel we must write that we are "Collaborative, diligent workers" or a "Motivated self-starter" or other positive traits we want to tell the reader about ourselves.

Our resume represents a view of our lives, so naturally we want to tell the reader what great people we are. But these words are unverifiable and (since everyone seems to write them) somewhat meaningless. Most recruiters I talk to skip right past them to what you have DONE.

Focus on the impact you can deliver.

People who are hiring have something they want done, a problem solved. Show them through what you have done that you are an expert at getting things done. Showing that you are obviously an “independent leader” through your clear leadership results is much stronger than claiming this in words.

Audience Insights

As will be the case with all posts in this series, I first post my answer, above, on LinkedIn, and then my audience comments. I have consolidated additional ideas worth considering, including:

Think of the recruiting process as a trust battery that needs to be charged. When using “Happy Words” you are using adjectives, which are opinions and not fact. To build trust upfront, start with facts.
The resume: You can trust me because I’ve delivered on XYZ.
The interview: You can trust me because I will solve your problems because I’ve delivered on XYZ. And it relates to your current challenges. And the method I went about solving them matches your company values.
The purpose of the resume is to get a call, not to get the job.
On your resume, SHOW IT (using measurable impact), do not state it.

Course: Leadership Resumes That Get Results

I have reviewed over 10,000 resumes and conducted more than 2,500 interviews in my career. This course covers the steps to get interviews from your resume, including: