5 Resume Skills That Are Low-Key Holding You Back

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Keep scrolling to read this week’s main topic on the five resume skills that are low-key holding you back 👀

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5 Resume Clichés to Cut in 2025 ✂️

Did you know recruiters spend an average of 6-8 seconds reviewing a resume before deciding whether to move on? And when you add AI resume screeners processing hundreds of resumes an hour to the mix, getting your resume noticed feels like trying to win the lottery these days.

The truth is, some skills have become so common that they blend into the background. Think: “Microsoft Office” or “team player.” You might have the right skills, but if they sound generic or outdated, they could be costing you interviews.

The good news? A few simple tweaks can turn “meh” into “must-interview”!

Let’s break down some common resume clichés and how to reframe them in ways that will actually get you noticed.

1. Hard Worker 💪

This is probably the emptiest phrase in resume history. No one's going to write "moderately lazy" on their resume, right? And what does “hard working” even mean on paper, when it’s something people have to see for themselves?

✅ Try this instead: Quantify your work ethic:

• Consistently exceeded quarterly sales targets by X% for X consecutive quarters

• Reduced customer turnover through better onboarding strategy

• Managed X high-priority projects simultaneously while maintaining X% customer satisfaction rating

2. Microsoft Office Proficient 💾

Unless you're applying for your first-ever job, basic computer literacy is assumed, and even if it is your first job, there are plenty of other ways to show some finesse on this.

✅ Try this instead: Focus on advanced software skills or certifications that are actually relevant to the job:

• Created automated Excel dashboards with VLOOKUP and pivot tables that cut reporting time by X hours weekly

• Designed PowerPoint presentations that helped sales team close $X in new business

• Organized event budgets and schedules in Excel during X club planning

3. Team Player ⚽

Yes, collaboration matters, but everyone says they’re a team player, even if they aren’t. Seriously, have you ever met anyone who said they're terrible at working with others and got the job? We haven’t.

✅ Try this instead: Highlight collaborative wins with measurable and specific results:

• Coordinated a cross-functional team of X to launch a product feature that increased user retention by X%

• Led weekly strategy call with a team of X to streamline workflow

• Co-led volunteer committee that raised $X for local charity

4. Detail-oriented 🕵️

What can your resume really prove about this skill, besides not having typos, inconsistent formatting, or spacing issues? We can be more specific than that!

✅ Try this instead: Point to examples that show you’re on top of the details (and proofread that resume while you're at it 😉):

• Managed inventory tracking system with X% accuracy

• Reviewed contracts and identified compliance errors before client delivery

• Maintained X% error-free data entry across X records in CRM system

5. Strong Communication Skills 🦜

This one can be overused and vague. Communication can mean a hundred different things. If you’re so good at it, tell them why, not fluff.

✅ Try this instead: Explain the ‘how’ in your communication process:

• Presented quarterly updates to C-suite stakeholders

• Wrote customer knowledge base articles that reduced support tickets by X%

• Led onboarding sessions that boosted new hire productivity by X% within X weeks

Not sure where to start? Go through this checklist:

• Are the keywords for this job lining up with your qualifications?

• What changed for the better in a previous job/role because of you?

• How do your specific skills/certifications make you better at your job?

• What has your team or manager relied on you for?

• What feedback have you consistently received from peers or managers?

📌 Save this list before your next job application sprint, or forward it to a friend who is on the job hunt!

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