I’m 29 – no sign of any babies, but I do have cervical health concerns
I’m 29 – no sign of any babies, but I do have cervical health concerns

Jordan Lillis

‘I planned my own funeral and worried I wouldn’t be there for my daughter’
‘I planned my own funeral and worried I wouldn’t be there for my daughter’

Meg Walker

This adorable thatched cottage in Monaghan is currently on the market for just €195,000
This adorable thatched cottage in Monaghan is currently on the market for just €195,000

Sarah Gill

Ask the Doctor: ‘My pharmacist told me I may have the beginnings of glaucoma — how can I stop it from progressing?’
Ask the Doctor: ‘My pharmacist told me I may have the beginnings of glaucoma —...

Sarah Gill

The ‘success wound’ – why it impacts women and what you can do about it
The ‘success wound’ – why it impacts women and what you can do about it

Victoria Stokes

A Jamie Oliver favourite: The angry bean salad
A Jamie Oliver favourite: The angry bean salad

Meg Walker

What is it really like to live on an Irish island?
What is it really like to live on an Irish island?

Caitríona McBride

This homely stone cottage with idyllic country views is on the market for €295,000
This homely stone cottage with idyllic country views is on the market for €295,000

Sarah Finnan

A luxury wedding pop-up is coming to Dublin this week
A luxury wedding pop-up is coming to Dublin this week

Shayna Sappington

Pete Davidson’s Brooklyn Heights penthouse is back on the rental market — and it’s surprisingly chic
Pete Davidson’s Brooklyn Heights penthouse is back on the rental market — and it’s surprisingly...

Sarah Gill

Image / Editorial

These Are The 10 Buzzwords We Need To Keep Off Our CV


By Jennifer McShane
26th Jan 2016
These Are The 10 Buzzwords We Need To Keep Off Our CV

January isn’t all bad. Okay, the thought of being?practically?penniless and cold doesn’t fill us with joy, but on the plus side, there’s never a better time for you to embrace change. Whether you’re looking to finally kick a bad habit (give up those cigarettes), or take on a positive one (join your first yoga class), the first month of the year is when we can start as we mean to go on.

For many this means a bit of soul searching and reflecting on the things we’d like to achieve to feel accomplished, fulfilled and happy.?Something that?ignites all those feelings is our place of work. And if, for whatever reason, you are looking to go in another direction and tackle the job market once again, the first thing you’ll need to do is polish your resum?.

This can seem like a tedious and daunting task, but a new survey conducted by LinkedIn could make this easier. A CV is hugely important as it’s the first impression a potential employer will have of you, so you should be extra aware of what goes on it. It has to contain?clear, concise information – and your online profile should be eye-catching as well – so why fill it with the same age-old jargon that could apply to anyone? You reportedly only have 8.8 seconds to stand out?as is.

To help, LinkedIn has?published its annual list of overused career buzzwords, which are as follows:

  1. Motivated
  2. Creative
  3. Enthusiastic
  4. Track record
  5. Passionate
  6. Successful
  7. Driven
  8. Leadership
  9. Strategic
  10. Extensive experience

Catherine Fisher, author of the LinkedIn blog post and career expert, said that these words are ineffective and underwhelming to employers because they’re generic and vague. You don’t need to banish every reference to them, but instead of saying your track record is second-to-none, why not give an example to prove this? Another tip would be to take the top five words and flip them into a negative. You would never describe yourself as unenthusiastic or unmotivated, for example, so why not?forgo their positive terms too?

“If you’re motivated about your career, passionate about doing your best work, and are highly creative, then I’ve got news for you: so is everyone else,” she said.

The best advice she offers is that you should focus on your accomplishments and as mentioned?above, use specific examples to highlight your talents. And this particularly works regarding?online profiles: Get recommendations from previous employers, list your unique skill set – anything that makes you stand out from the crowd.

You’re a unique individual, so let this shine through on that important piece of paper.

For more tips, see the LinkedIn post here.