As an international applicant, you may be inclined to use ‘impressive’ sounding words on your resume: “Synergized,” “dynamic,” “proactive team player”… they sound good, right? But the question is: are buzzwords compelling enough to get you noticed, or do they leave your resume feeling cluttered? The balance between using too much and too little is delicate.
The Problem with Buzzword Overload
Buzzwords do not share what you have actually done. While splashy, the are often vague and overused. Phrases like “results-oriented” or “strong communicator” are only powerful if backed by specific, measurable actions. For example, instead of saying “strategic thinker,” show how you created a plan that led to a 20% increase in efficiency. Quantify the adjectives you choose to use. Demonstrate your skill set.
What Recruiters Actually Want
American hiring managers scan resumes quickly—often in under 10 seconds. In those few moments, they are looking for:
- Clarity (What did you do? For whom? With what impact?)
- Quantified results (Think: numbers, percentages, timelines)
- Relevant skills (Tailored to the job description)
- Don’t forget to download the FrogHire.ai extension! The FrogHire.ai extension is designed to help you enhance your resume alongside each job post, increasing your efficiency.
- Action-oriented language (Use strong verbs like “led,” “built,” “analyzed,” “launched”)
- A line such as “Redesigned internal dashboard for membership team, reducing report generation time by 40%” is one which touches upon the task/audience, efficiency/results and quantifies your success
Trim the Bloat
International applicants may feel pressure to prove their value by writing more. But in the U.S., a concise, one-page resume is usually preferred (two pages max for more experienced professionals). Cut anything that:
- Repeats the same achievement in different words
- Lists too many unrelated skills
- Includes generic statements such “responsible for” or “duties included”
- As you tailor your resume for each application: if it doesn’t directly relate to the job you are applying for—it can probably go.
TLDR: Your resume should be a spotlight focusing on focusing tightly on what matters most to the role. Speak in results - quantifiably because in the American job market, clarity + impact > big words every time. Don’t forget: download the FrogHire.ai extension and increase your efficiency by searching for relevant positions across all five major job boards at once.