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Stand out with your CV

Reading Time: 4 minutes

When writing your resume, its important to avoid cliches and focus on providing concrete examples of your skills and accomplishments. If you use cliches, its likely that employers wont take your resume seriously and you wont have the opportunity to show them what youre really capable of. Instead, focus on providing evidence of your abilities and how they can benefit the company.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON CLICHES TO AVOID IN YOUR RESUME?

Common cliches to avoid in a resume include:

  • Using overly formal or elaborate language
  • Making exaggerated or grandiose statements
  • Using overly general or meaningless buzzwords, such as “team player” or “results-driven”
  • Including irrelevant information, such as your hobbies or a personal statement
  • Using a generic template or format
  • Including typos or grammatical errors
  • Focusing too much on your responsibilities rather than your accomplishments

Curriculum vitae and Résumé writing

WHAT DOES A CLICHE LOOK LIKE IN A RESUME?

“Responsible for” – This phrase is often used to describe job duties, but it doesn’t provide any information about what the person actually did or accomplished. For example, instead of saying “Responsible for managing a team,” you could say “Led a team of 10 employees and increased productivity by 15%.”

“Proven track record” – This phrase is often used to indicate that a person has a history of success, but it doesn’t provide any information about what that success actually was. For example, instead of saying “Proven track record in sales,” you could say “Achieved over $500,000 in sales in the past year.”

“Results-driven” – This phrase is often used to indicate that a person is focused on achieving results, but it doesn’t provide any information about what those results were. For example, instead of saying “Results-driven marketing professional,” you could say “Developed and executed a marketing campaign that generated a 20% increase in website traffic.”

“Dynamic” – This phrase is often used to indicate that a person is versatile or adaptable, but it doesn’t provide any information about how that person has demonstrated those qualities. Instead, you can use specific examples to show how you have handled different challenges or how you have been able to learn new skills quickly.

“Team player” – This phrase is often used to indicate that a person works well with others, but it doesn’t provide any information about how that person has demonstrated that quality. Instead, you can use specific examples to show how you have contributed to a team’s success or how you have helped resolve conflicts among team members.

Young woman holding her resume

Why does my CV need to be ATS optimised? When applying for a job, your CV is your first chance to make …

DO YOU NEED HELP WITH WRITING YOUR RESUME?

Dave Crumby

When writing a resume, its important to make sure you are creating an effective document that will grab the attention of a potential employer and make you stand out from the competition. The last thing you want to do is fill up your resume with common cliches that could potentially damage your chances of getting an interview. 

I have spent the last 10 years supporting companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies to find and the best talent around the world.  

During this time, I have:

✔️ Scanned and reviewed more than 26000 CVs.

For the past 4 years I have been producing professionally written CVs for job seekers who have secured new roles across 3 continents. 

Are you interested in working with me?

Email me today.

Best of luck,

Dave Crumby

Your Career Optimiser | Certified CV Writer

Winner of Most Supportive Career Branding Service 2022

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