The 10 phrases employers don't like to see on a CV - and what you should say instead.

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Summarising yourself on a piece of paper when applying for a new job is difficult. Okay, it’s more than difficult — it can be downright torturous. It’s why we often revert to the same ol’ cliched sayings on our CVs.

Research from the New College of Humanities has found you have less than 60 seconds to impress your potential boss before your resume gets tossed in the bin. And 20 per cent of recruiters say this will happen before they even finish reading it. Ouch.

The research also examined the top 10 phrases employers hate to see on a CV — and they’re we’ve all used at least one of them. So to help you out, The Glow asked Peter Noblet, Senior Regional Director of Hays, as well as Career Coach and the brains behind The Career Guide, Olivia Evans, for some alternative phrases that will make your application shine.

1. “Can work independently”

It’s very common to see “I work well both independently and in groups” on a CV; in fact 47 per cent of people use this phrase when applying for a job. According to Noblet, stating this isn’t actually adding any value to your CV. Instead, if working independently is a genuine strength of yours, then explain it by giving an example.

“So rather than simply saying ‘I work well independently’, say ‘I independently designed and implemented a new strategy that increased sales by 25 per cent’,” he suggests.

2. "Hard worker"

Rather than saying you're a "hard worker" outright, as 42 per cent of job seekers do on their CV, use an example to prove how you go the extra mile to get work done. This might be creating a successful product launch in a short time frame, or never missing a deadline in two years in your last role.

"It is important to quantify your accomplishments in concrete terms, e.g. per cent sales growth. You might also consider adding further weight to your accomplishments by including insights into how you overcame major obstacles," Evans says.

3. "Work well under pressure"

Though you want to demonstrate that you can work effectively under the pump, this phrase might do you more harm than good as 39 per cent of people applying for the same job are using it too.

Instead, Noblet recommends you give an example of how you managed your time to meet multiple deadlines while keeping a clear head and remaining organised, instead of using that exact phrase. (Post continues after gallery.)

4. "Good communicator"

Evans explains the crux of the matter is that recruiters are seeking authenticity when making staffing decisions. No one wants to read one thing on a CV and then experience something entirely different in an interview or, worse still, on the job.

"If you have excellent communication skills or you are an effective team player, then by all means include these 'key skills' in your CV," Evans says.

"But keep them 'key' [with] no more than five, and ensure they are meaningful — that is, skills as opposed to vague statements such as 'hard worker' and 'enthusiastic'."

However, it might serve you to be a little creative and avoid the term "good communicator", considering 36 per cent of other job applicants include it. One way of doing this, Noblet says, is to give details of a presentation that won a client or meetings you chaired that you kept on schedule.

5. "Enthusiastic"

Again: show, don't tell. Around 35 per cent of your competition are using this exact phrase, so do yourself a favour and be a little more creative. "Show your passion and enthusiasm for your field by describing a task you threw yourself into and your successful outcome," Noblet explains.

6. "Team player"

Noblet says this is "definitely" another over-used phrase, and it's employed by 32 per of jobseekers. That's a lot.

There are so many ways to showing, instead of telling, your prospective employer that you are a team player. "Show how you worked in a team to meet a specific goal. For example, ‘Worked with our international and local marketing teams to implement a global rebrand across 12 countries’," Noblet explains.

Similarly, if you play a team sport, use this as an example.

7. "Good listener"

This phrase is used by 28 per cent of people in their CV, so go a step above by stating an example of your good listening skills. "State how you successfully delivered what a customer or your manager asked for," Noblet suggests. 

8. "Excellent written communication skills"

The best way to demonstrate your 'excellent written communication skills' is employing language that is concise, proof-read and coherent in your CV. Before you submit your application, ask someone to cast their eye over it to check for any spelling, layout or typing errors.

"Pull out the jargon. The job and project titles used in some organisations may not best represent your skills and experiences, or how these are understood in the broader market," Evans says.

Also, don't forget to amend your CV, cover letter and other documentation for each job opportunity. "I'll never forget reading a cover letter for a job application addressed to our competitor. Remember less is often more — include enough information to cover what’s important and to evoke an invitation for a connection or an interview," Evans advises.

9. "Proactive"

Noblet says you can show you are proactive — without actually just stating the word — by describing how you took action without being asked to fix a particular problem. Note that 22 per cent of jobseekers use this word, so describing how you're proactive can help you stand out from the crowd.

10. "Problem solver"

It could be that you knew how to resolve a situation where a customer was unsatisfied, or that you knew how to prioritise an exceptionally busy period at work. Regardless of which example you use, it is better to give an example, rather than just say you're a problem solver (especially considering that 19 per cent of job applicants use these words on their CV.)

"Describe a problem your team was faced with, and how you solved the particular challenge for the benefit of your organisation," Noblet suggests.

What are your tips for writing a CV?