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Words that Sabotage Your CV!
Alesia Benedict, CVGetInterviews.co.uk



Creating a winning CV is a feat of strategy involving focus, wording, design and content selection. To achieve a career marketing document that wins interviews, all areas of the strategy must be spot-on and consciously used in the most effective manner. One of the most common mistakes job candidates make when writing their CVs is not paying attention to strategy and word selection.

There are actually words that can have a detrimental impact on the effectiveness of the CV. When most job candidates write them, they don't consider word choice because they are primarily worried about getting down the basic information. Wording is critical and the wrong one can sabotage your CV.


The average agent and/or hiring manager sees hundreds of CVs from qualified candidates. CVs begin to look and sound the same to them. Here are some words and phrases to avoid:

Soft-skill descriptions
Job seekers feel they need to communicate their soft-skills to the employer because they believe they are the traits that make them unique, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Soft-skills are so common that recruiters pay no attention to them.

Phrases to avoid or severely limit:
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Personable presenter
- Detail-oriented

Do not bore the reader to tears with these trite, overused and tired phrases. After all, no one will write that he/she takes long lunches, is lazy and argues a lot with peers. Hence, it is much more effective to write a description that is action-based and demonstrates these abilities rather than just laying claim to them. For example, rather than just stating you are an "excellent presenter," you could say "Developed and presented 50+ multi-media presentations to prospects resulting in 35 new accounts, totalling £300,000 in new revenues."

Age, health, appearance
Many seasoned job seekers are facing that scary time warp known as pre-retirement and fear age discrimination. They feel they can counter this perceived hurdle by giving a description of their age or health. But this can be death to a CV.

Phrases to avoid:

- Youthful
- Athletic
- Fit
- Healthy
- Mature

Additionally, unless specifically requested, there is no need to include personal details such as date of birth, marital status or whether you have children. This information is typically used to exclude candidates from consideration in the hiring process rather than include them. Unless the employer specifically asks, keep this information confidential.

Passive voice
Many people write in the passive voice because that is how we've been taught "formally" in school composition. The problem with the passive voice, however, is that it is just that passive! A CV needs to have punch and sparkle and communicate an active, aggressive candidate. Passive does not accomplish that.

Indicators of the passive voice:
- Responsible for
- Duties included
- Served as
- Actions encompassed

Rather than saying "Responsible for management of three direct reports" change it up to "Managed 3 direct reports." It is a shorter, more direct mode of writing and adds impact to the way the CV reads. On the flip side, whilst action verbs are great, don't overdo it.

I have actually seen:
- Smashed numbers through the roof'
- 'Electrified sales team to produce, '
- 'Pushed close rate by 10 per cent'


Take your time
A CV is a marketing document for your career just as a brochure is a marketing document for a product or service. Companies put careful thought and consideration into each and every word that goes into marketing copy and you should do the same in your CV. These words stand in your place with the employer and need to showcase you in a powerful way. In a perfect world, these things would not matter, but in the reality of job search today, they matter a great deal. Be wise - stop and give some thought to the words you choose.



http://www.careerbuilder.co.uk/Article/CB-332-C-V-s-and-Covering-Letters-Words-that-Sabotage-Your-CV/?cachebypass=$Y&lr=int_ukyahoo

mmmm!!!! l got allot
Thanks for these love words lol
I've saved them
though am not CV person (just devine favour) but i can as well keep it
because "no knowledge is waste"

Poster thanks a lot for sharing!

Nice

dont no wat to say

Abayomin70:

dont no wat to say

i guess that's because most of what is highlighted by the poster actually doesn't have any impact in Nigeria's paddy paddy labour market where less than 5% of jobs are actually won on merit and that most of the times are foreign organizations.

Still good points in settings where they are relevant!

@poster, thanks for this. Until now I'm one of those that makes this mistake.

Nairalanders! What has GEJ(PDP) got to offer to this country? What major thing has he done so far since he entered into power?? Please let's open our eyes and mind and see that people like GEJ can't lead. We need strong men at mind to take the mantle of leadership and move this country forward. Long live Nigeria.

[color=#770077][/color]

crownie:

Nairalanders! What has GEJ(PDP) got to offer to this country? What major thing has he done so far since he entered into power?? Please let's open our eyes and mind and see that people like GEJ can't lead. We need strong men at mind to take the mantle of leadership and move this country forward. Long live Nigeria.

CARRY UR STU-PID POST TO POLITICS SECTION

Personally I think this is informative. Thanks.

Nairalanders! What has GEJ(PDP) got to offer to this country? What major thing has he done so far since he entered into power?? Please let's open our eyes and mind and see that people like GEJ can't lead. We need strong men at mind to take the mantle of leadership and move this country forward. Long live Nigeria.

are u blind?
@poster
nice post but doesn't work sometimes.

^^^^^^^^^
I just dey laugh

For naija, if u no sabi person, na serious long tin oooo, all these one na if them see u at all.

Mojibola:

For naija, if u no sabi person, na serious long tin oooo, all these one na if them see u at all.

As much as your point is true to an extent, there's no harm in trying.

Mojibola:

For naija, if u no sabi person, na serious long tin oooo, all these one na if them see u at all.

True for the business that wants to die early and fast. A true business with the quality to have a competitive edge must strive to associate itself with people that can offer the qualities that'll make it successful. Not padi padi employees.

Well informative. Well done!

gud one @op,as a corp member i really need dis now.obulu (thanx)

Good enuff. Its all based on man know man period.

A well written article but it sometimes depends on the person analysing the CV. I have heard a human resource manager telling me that he loves a detailed CV that speaks a lot about you and your achievements while others have said they want straight to the point CV. So it all depends.

doctorT:

A well written article but it sometimes depends on the person analysing the CV. I have heard a human resource manager telling me that he loves a detailed CV that speaks a lot about you and your achievements while others have said they want straight to the point CV. So it all depends.

You have a point there. On the issue the poster raised about including personal information like date of birth, I have heard some HR saying it has to be included even when it is not requested. The HR person further said a CV without date of birth is assumed that the applicant is above a considerable age and he's trying to hide it. All these cause confusion and I think if there is no universal standard, applicants should study the organization he/she is applying to and comform to their standard.

You have a point there. On the issue the poster raised about including personal information like date of birth, I have heard some HR saying it has to be included even when it is not requested. The HR person further said a CV without date of birth is assumed that the applicant is above a considerable age and he's trying to hide it. All these cause confusion and I think if there is no universal standard, applicants should study the organization he/she is applying to and comform to their standard

fact, fact, fact, fact

THIS IS INSPIRING AND EDUCATIVE,

Many thanks for a job well done.

crownie:

Nairalanders! What has GEJ(PDP) got to offer to this country? What major thing has he done so far since he entered into power?? Please let's open our eyes and mind and see that people like GEJ can't lead. We need strong men at mind to take the mantle of leadership and move this country forward. Long live Nigeria.

You need to use ur head well. He has just spend 8 months in power and he has increase the megawatt. Do you think he is the only one ruling this complex nation? Do you even know the definition of governtment all? If you are giving the privilege to rule this nation, what will you do?

off topic

Nice , but doubt Nigeria Employers even look at CVs

^^ gbam! LOL

Na the physiques be the 1st catch.

With the downturn in the economy, it is becoming increasingly important for people to opt for fast and inexpensive ways to bolster their credentials and brush up on their business skills. Many are turning to quick-hit business education programs, commonly referred to as "mini-MBA" programs, which have proliferated business schools across Europe in recent years. The classes, which typically range in price from $2,000 to $4,000, are designed for the following people:

* People who have had their Masters a long time ago and they need quick reminders and professional/ academic updates,
* Experienced Professionals and Entrepreneurs who never made time out for their Masters yet they require the academic and practical relevance of a Masters experience.
* Middle Managers who often don't have a business background or MBA, but want to get a better grasp on business essentials to help them progress in their Careers.
* They also frequently serve as a testing ground for people who are not certain they want to invest the time or money in an MBA, which can take two years or more and cost upward of $100,000.

In recent years more business schools have started offering mini MBA programs through their Executive Education Programs, according to experts in the field, though there is no data that tracks the number of programs. Classes usually are taught by MBA professors who, in a few days or in a month or two of evening courses, give a condensed overview of the major topics and concepts taught in full-time, two-year MBA degree programs. Students generally receive continuing education credits for the classes, though some schools allow them to earn credit hours toward a degree program. In most cases, tuition is paid by an individual's company, but increasingly schools are seeing more students pay for the classes out-of-pocket Schools say interest in mini-MBA programs has increased sharply in the past year, with many rolling out additional sections and enrolling a record number of students.

These types of MBA boot camps were originally offered by consulting companies such as McKinsey & Co. and Booz Allen Hamilton to get their recent undergraduate hires schooled on business essentials. But in recent years, more Business Schools and Universities have begun to offer these types of Programs on campus, and the use of the term "mini MBA" has taken on a more formal usage in the Management Education Community, says Dan LeClair, vice-president and Chief Knowledge Officer at the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which accredits Business Programs.

This type of Mini MBA is taking place in Lagos, Nigeria (Sheraton Hotels and Towers) between the 6th and 10th of June 2011, the Curriculum is designed and being delivered by the University of Huddersfield, U.K. and the cost is basically N500,000.00, but you get to pay N400,000.00 if you Register before the 18th of April, 2011. For more infromation on Registering, you can either e-mail: bluesliplimited@gmail.com or call 08181180274, 08185476473.

@poster am surprise wen I read d part of age not compulsory wen I was thinkin its no 1.

olly pass:
i guess that's because most of what is highlighted by the poster actually doesn't have any impact in Nigeria's paddy paddy labour market where less than 5% of jobs are actually won on merit and that most of the times are foreign organizations.

lysaa: As much as your point is true to an extent, there's no harm in trying.

As much as there's a point there, the judgement is IMO skewed. When you succumb to certain 'conspiracies', it's akin to slave mentality which would let you remain in chains.