It is known that if a resume does not pass the 'So what, anybody can make that claim' test, leave it off.

Instead of being another candidate professing to be a "hard worker," revitalize your application with a little seek-and-replace exercise. Scan your résumé for empty, overused words such as the following:

1.  Outstanding

2.  Effective

3.  Strong

4.  Exceptional

5.  Good

6.  Excellent

7.  Driven

8.  Motivated

9.  Seasoned

10. Energetic

"Watch out for words that are unsupported claims of greatness, Even When You Don't Fit In," "If you call yourself an 'excellent manager,' how do we know?"

The nouns following those subjective adjectives can be equally meaningless. Anyone who has ever had a co-worker can claim to be a "team player."

A better route to take is describing accomplishments and letting the hirer make his own judgment. Give specific, and preferably quantifiable, accounts of what you've done that makes you an "outstanding salesperson." Likewise, peruse your performance reviews for quotable material from supervisors that demonstrates why they consider you a "strong leader." Listing awards or other forms of recognition also can be used as support.

Some words should be avoided because they convey traits that employers consider standard for anybody who wants to be hired. "You're motivated? Hope so. A good worker? So happy to hear that; I didn't want to hire a bad worker," Don't take up precious résumé space with unnecessary items.

Also on the "don't" side: words that seek to overcome what you might think are your shortcomings. "Using 'seasoned' for 'over 50' or 'energetic' for 'inexperienced' looks like spin and smells like spin,". Keep the focus on what makes you right for the job.

On the flip side, certain words can make hiring managers do a double take. Light up their eyes with these 10 words and phrases:

1.  Created

2.  Increased

3.  Reduced

4.  Improved

5.  Developed

6.  Researched

7.  Accomplished

8.  Won

9.   on time

10.  Under budget

"We suggest that résumé writers include action words to describe their jobs," Verbs project the image of someone who has the background and initiative to get things done. Employers can clearly comprehend what you've accomplished and can use that as a basis for envisioning future success with their company. Think about it: If you were hiring, would you rather take on someone who calls himself a "productive manager" or somebody who states that at his last job he "increased company profit by 3 percent," "reduced employee turnover in his department to the best level in five years" and "improved brand awareness by implementing a new social media strategy"?

Lastly, it can be beneficial to use verbs and nouns that are common to your specific industry. This shows your familiarity with the language of your field and optimizes the chances of getting past an automatic scan for keywords. But remember, too, that all companies tend to speak a universal language: money.

"Terms such as 'on time' and 'under budget' are often good. Hiring managers want to know you can get things done with minimum fuss. Tell them what makes you the most profitable choice for the job and employers will tell you the best word of all: "hired."