According to a recent study, recruiters spend an average of 6.2 seconds looking at an individual CV. Working with that kind of attention span and operating with limited space, writers need to make every word count.
Because CVs are meant to broadcast information to potential employers, sometimes our focus gets stuck on things like formatting and getting the dates of our past work experience right. But just as important as the details themselves are good writing and sharp keywords that will make that recruiter want to pick up the phone and bring you in for an interview.
So what exactly do recruiters and hiring managers want to see? To be sure, this will vary significantly depending on your industry and ideal career, but one thing is certain: There are some words that you want to avoid, they include;
1. Passionate, Career-Oriented, or Goal-Driven
Job hunters tend to overuse buzzwords such as passionate, career-oriented, and goal-driven, among others. Unfortunately, they don’t add value to resumes. Employers already expect a positive, enthusiastic mindset from anyone who wants to work at their company.
A better way to express your personality is to explain your interests. Recruiters can use your hobbies, passion projects, and drivers of motivation to gauge how well you’d relate to their company culture.
2. References Upon Request
Try preparing at least three references before applying for a job. Reach out to qualified professionals who can vouch for you, like old managers, coworkers, direct supervisors, or even college professors.
3. Jargon and acronyms
It’s important to remember that the first person reading your CV may be from the HR team or a recruitment agency. They won’t necessarily have the technical insight into your role. Always spell out acronyms the first time you use them and minimize jargon. Have a friend without knowledge of your job cast a critical eye over the CV to ensure it makes sense to a layperson.
4. Buzzwords and clichés
This is the biggest CV no-no of all! If a recruiter has read one CV for a ‘hardworking, ‘reliable’ candidate who is a ‘team player’ with ‘excellent communication skills’, they’ve read a thousand. Remove these cheesy words from your CV right now! They are overused to the point of meaninglessness and add nothing of value. If you really do possess these skills, aim to show, rather than tell. This means that instead of saying you’re a team player and expecting the reader to believe you, provide a solid example of when you used this particular skill.
5. Too much of the past
If you’re a senior professional, limit your work experience to the most recent 15 years and remove dates from degrees and certifications that occurred before the time period. Employers care most about what you’ve done recently and how that’s relevant to their open position.
There you have it. It is now time to sit down and start revising your CV. If you are worried that by deleting some of these things your CV will become shorter and not get you shortlisted, don’t beat yourself up. Let a CV writing expert help you draft a new one that will get you jobs!
https://jobcenterkenya.com/words-you-need-to-delete-from-your-cv-in-2023/
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