We’ve already told you how great the new 2015 MINI 5 door is.
How it inspired us to think about what it means for young professionals (YPs) to open as many doors as possible.
Both literally and figuratively.
And one of the most important ways to ensure you’re doing that as a YP is to open the interview door by having a resume that impresses (rather than depresses) the reader.
So the next time you’re putting together your accomplishments, these are five terms you should always avoid including on your resume.
‘Cause it could mean the difference between opening your next door or having it slammed in your face…
HONEST
Well, we did think you were honest… right up until the moment you felt the need to tell us that. Now we’re kind of wondering what made you bring it up in the first place. The default is to assume you’re honest; you shouldn’t have to tell us right off the bat. It’s like saying, “I won’t steal from you” the minute you walk in the door – if you want to build trust, this is not the way to do it.
EFFECTIVE
This is probably the most over-used word you can find on a resume. It’s like someone decided that this was a stepped-up version of saying “I get things done” and everyone else bought in. The irony here is all you’re getting done is communicating that you’ve never bothered to use a thesaurus.
PEOPLE PERSON
Oh, really? You know who’s not a people-person? A cat. Claiming that you get along with other humans shouldn’t be something you need to make clear from the get go; rather, it should be a pre-requisite for applying to the position. Unless of course you are in fact trying to get a job working solely with cats…
HARD WORKER
Once again, this should go without saying. When you’re applying for a job you should be focusing on what you’ve done in the past that will allow you to help this new company in the future. Also, this is the easiest term to follow up on – if you’re hired, they’ll know within a day or two whether or not you were being honest about being a hard worker.
HIGHLY QUALIFIED
Settle down there, Captain Experience – this one isn’t up to you. You might think you have everything you need under your belt to proclaim yourself the perfect candidate for a position, but it’s always the employer’s choice whether or not you’ve got what it takes to be the right person for the job, let alone if your talents are already exceeding its demands.
#NOTABLE
Cover image from: The Office
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