8 Words not to be seen on your CV
While the usage of right words can strengthen your CV, using
wrong words can cost you the opportunity. You should ensure that you use the
best suitable words to present your candidature but also see to it that you do
not use the wrong or negative words and phrases.
There are certain words which are seen very frequently on CVs
but they actually irritate the selectors and at times may even cost you the
interview call, as they can paint a wrong picture about you as the potential
candidate.
In our last article we saw 10 power words for your
CV which can add more weight to your 2 page CV even. This article is a
continuation to it and explains the type of words you should not use on your
CV. However it is different if you want to use them knowingly.
1. Responsible for – This is a very common
set of words seen on CVs. While the candidates do not realize, these are a set
of most irritating words selectors see on the CVs. Until you provide additional
information to show them how did you help the organization with this
responsibility, these words are meaningless.
For e.g. It doesn’t make any sense if you just say
“Responsible for promoting the product in north region”.
The selector would keep wondering When? For how long? What
was the outcome? and may finally dump your CV thinking that the candidate is
not matured enough. However, if you write “Promote the product XYZ in “alpha”
districts of north India from 2004-2006 achieving a visibility of 75%”, it will
definitely add value to your CV.
2. Failed - Never ever use the word “fail”,
“failed” in your CV. There is nothing bad about getting failed in something you
do. After all it is the one who tries who fails. The one who has never failed
means he has never tried but mentioning it on your CV shows that you are not
able to come out of your failure. Failures should actually give us the strength
to stand and fight back. Moreover, though you should not lie in your CV yet you
always have a right to keep quite. Discuss such things if asked.
3. Reasons for leaving the last employment –
Did not get well with the boss/ Boss was not good. This is another thing which
you can absolutely do without on your CV. Discuss only when asked.
4. Laid Off – Lay offs are going on
everywhere in the current market. The axe may fall on you also. It need not
necessarily be your fault that you were laid off. It is the effect of current
market situation which is affecting everybody. You may be one of them. So, it
is absolutely not required to mention this on your CV.
5. Health problems - Do not write about your
health problems on your CV. They might be minor but may actually cost you the
chance to face the interview. Even if you were ill for sometime but are fine
now, do not mention about them on your CV. Incase you have a break in your
career owing to these problems, leave them to be discussed in the interview, if
asked.
6. Wife/ Children – Unless you are applying
for a job where the employer has to bear the expenses of your wife and children
or this information is going to have an impact on your working conditions, this
information is useless for the interviewer.
7. Political affiliations and inclinations :
You may have a political affiliation or inclination but CV or interview is not
the place to talk about it. Do not mention them on your CV.
8. Anything that makes you look extremely different
should be avoided. The selectors portray a personality through a
CV and such things may give them an impression that the candidate likes to show
off which might work to your disadvantage eventually.
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