Two of the most dreaded words that resume writers hate to see in your resume are:
RESPONSIBLE FOR…
When I look at someone’s resume or LinkedIn profile and see those words, I cringe, much like the sound of fingernails on a blackboard. Resumes and the related LinkedIn profile and other bios on social media should speak with the active voice.
Yesterday, I crowd-sourced again on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook to give you feedback from resume writers, career professionals, and job seekers who understand how resumes and career marketing has changed. I asked: Career Pros: Give me reasons the words “responsible for” should never be seen on your #resume or LinkedIn Profile.
No Dinosaurs!
Cindy Kraft From the dinosaur age. Well, at least 10 years outdated anyway.
Heather Coleman It’s been overused. Give me results, numbers – it’s assumed that in any position you would have designated responsibilities.
Deb Dib No one cares what you know how to do — “responsible for” is baseline and BLAH. Question the employer asks is “What did you DO with what you know how to do?!”
Make a case–don’t have employer thinking, “So what, who cares? Prove you have done/can do what the market needs NOW, and what that means to the employer. Drop all the junk from the resume that is anything anyone can do, and concentrate on IMPACT rather than responsibilities (or even a suite of accomplishments).
Have ‘em thinking “I need that, and she can do it better than anyone I’ve seen! Get her in here for an interview — yesterday!”
I’ve never seen a “responsible for” resume elicit that response 
Natalie Misurelli It’s boring! A boring resume will lead a prospective employer to think you’re boring. Why would they want to hire you than? Be interesting and replace responsibilities with accomplishments and successes. This will show the employer how you can be successful in their organization.
Ed Han It’s passive/reactive filler, the equivalent of a limp handshake.
wendywoowho @JulieWalraven Well, are you responsible for doing something, or did you really do it? Kill passive constructions.
No Responsible For!
So there you have it. When you are tempted to put “responsible for” in your resume, LinkedIn Profile, bio or other marketing information, think DINOSAUR!
Show your value, keep your words in the active tense, quantify and qualify your accomplishments, add your industry-specific keywords, and if you struggle with any of this, ask for help from a professional to create your career marketing strategy with cutting-edge techniques to make you the candidate selected not the dinosaur in the corner.
I chuckled when I read this…when I see those words on a resume, I roll my eyes. Imagine what a potential employer does!
The scary part is when people are using new modes of sharing like LinkedIn or website portfolios and then put the dinosaur in their resume. Thanks for stopping by, Carrie. Come again!
Thanks for the mention, Julie!
You are welcome, Ed! Thank you for your comments on both LinkedIn and Twitter!
Thanks for the mention, Julie. Twice in one week … and it’s only Tuesday!
Ed – loved the limp handshake visual!
Cindy, you started the visual for the topic, you had to be included! Thank you… Isn’t he a lovely dinosaur?
Thanks for the results of your poll! I always think that “responsible for” means the person indeed was responsible for whatever it was, but they might have benignly neglected it. There is ZERO power to that useless phrase.
Good thoughts, Amy, and thank you for stopping by. I think that phrase has been drilled into my head as the one to erase from resumes for years but I see it popping up all over lately.
Great article! I hate seeing “responsible for” on resumes. The whole point of the resume is to show off your accomplishments and achievements, not your job description. Am I right? Being able to effectively communicate what you do (or did) is extremely important. Quantify your results, and highlight how you took on leadership roles, etc.
Nice job on this post. Keep up the great work!
.-= Kirk Baumann´s last blog ..Building Your Own A-Team =-.
Thank you, Kirk,I’m glad you agree. Yes, accomplishments, achievements and tell the stories, quantify and qualify! Challenge, Action, Result!
You got it!
[...] Is it filled with many listings of job duties rather than actual accomplishments? Do you have any dinosaurs on there? Keep what you need, and get rid of what you [...]
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