Best and Worst Words on Your CV
Every month a million people in Britain change jobs. The vast majority will get their new position after writing a
According to the University of Hertfordshire’s Psychology Department, there are ten ‘feel good’ words or phrases that it is vital to use on your application form. ‘Achievement’, ‘evidence’ and ‘experience’ are just three.
The others that strike just the right note with recruiters, personnel departments and admissions officers are: ‘active’, ‘developed’, ‘impact’, ‘individual’, ‘involved’, ‘planning’ and ‘transferable skills’.
The researchers also found that there are several words that you should avoid using. Employers are turned off, the study suggests, by applicants who use ‘always’ and ‘never’ in context of their skills and experience. Both these words suggest exaggeration. ‘Negative’ words such as ‘awful’, ‘bad’, ‘fault’, ‘hate’, ‘mistake’, ‘nothing’, ‘panic’ and ‘problem’ should all be avoided.
For example, you can avoid using ‘mistake’ by substituting it with the far more positive phrase ‘valuable lesson’ – one that you learned in the course of your employment. Claiming that someone was ‘at fault’ should be replaced with an admission that you and a colleague shared ‘differences’ of opinion or approach, which were overcome.
The Head of Education Liaison at the University of Hertfordshire, Ian Douglas, compiled this word list using his experience working with potential students. He reminds job hunters and university applicants alike to use the personal statement section of application forms to put across their aims and objectives.
He says: “Giving evidence of academic ability and life skills will help bring any personal statement to life, and makes it easier for admissions tutors and recruiters to realise what applicants have already achieved and what they want to achieve in the future”.
Karen Pine, a development psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire says: “Every recruiter will have to assess hundreds if not thousands of personal statements from hopeful applicants and will make their decisions based on what they can see on paper. Choosing the right words is therefore vitally important if your application is to stand out from the rest.”
While it is important that your words stand out, you also want your CV’s design to mark you out as a professional person. There are several golden rules when it comes to how you present your CV. Choose good quality white paper and an equally tasteful envelope. Keep your CV short; if it covers more than two pages, you are not editing your experiences and achievements thoroughly enough.
Too many CVs look over-designed, with colour and graphics. Unless you’re applying for a design job, leave the creative flourishes alone. Don’t include photographs unless it is specifically asked for in the application. A clear, simple layout and, most importantly, well-written text will let your words shine through.
For further reading see the UK Net Guide features on writing the perfect CV, handling job interviews and what employers want from graduates.
