This is more for the jobseeker – but as a recruiter do you agree?!
Recruiters receive hundreds to thousands of applications during the hiring process. Securing a job is quite difficult, mainly because you’ll need to sieve through high competition, impress during the interview stage, and finally get the job.
A compelling CV creates the first landing impression that’ll highlight your educational background and skills perfectly.
Unfortunately, when trying to use intelligent strategies to make an outstanding CV, people often congest it with buzzwords and industry-stereotyped jargon perceived to impress the recruiter.
It’s time to stop the trend. Alternatively, there are some keywords employers love to screen CVs for as they detail expertise. This guide expands the CV phrases recruiters love and hate. It’ll also detail better strategies and tips to make your CV more compelling.
Benefits of Industry-Specific Keywords and Phrases
Regardless of the job sector, employing unique and specific keywords in a CV remains a winning strategy. Employers love and prefer individuals who have them in their applications.
With current technological advancement, recruiters use the applicant tracking system (ATS) to sieve through CVs and get the perfect candidate. The keywords are usually industry-specific and relevant to the job description and qualifications essential for the role.
Therefore, researching and including the right keywords in your CV increases your chance of advancing into the interview stage and getting the role.
CV Phrases Recruiters Love to See in Applications
1. Results-specific illustrations
There’s nothing more exciting than numerical illustrations of information. It shows specificity and exactness in CVs. When describing past projects and work experience, ensure to quantify your impact using numbers, metrics, and percentages.
For example, “I worked as a digital marketing manager for TechXlo, where I achieved a 33% increase in website organic traffic. This further resulted in a 22% increase in sales and profits of the company’s products”.
Recruiters love seeing numerical explanations in CVs, especially during previous work experience, because it proves you’re a result-oriented asset capable of driving significant improvement in their business.
2. Industry-specific keywords
Every work industry has its set of specific keywords relevant to the business. Recruiters love to see such phrases as they show expertise. The key here is to research, understand, and intentionally sprinkle these keywords in your CV.
For example, an individual applying for a software development job should include phrases like Java, Python, and Javascript. A digital marketer should have terms like SEA, SEM, Social media marketing, Google analytics, Brand strategy, Content strategy, copywriting, etc. A financial expert should include words like budgeting, financial reporting, portfolio management, Audit procedures, etc.
3. Action verbs
While detailing previous work experience, don’t passively explain the task achieved. Instead, the words to use in a CV are powerful and action verbs. Recruiters love to see them as they powerfully convey your expertise. Examples of action verbs include “achieved,” improved,” “managed,” “influenced,” “launched,” and “trained.”
4. Detailed and evident soft skills
In a bid to create a compelling and balanced CV, individuals often abuse words like “team player,” “excellent communication skills,” “born leader,” etc. Recruiters often hate this generalization. Instead, they value individuals who show details and evidence of their soft skills.
For example, instead of saying “team player,” write, “I collaborated with a 5-person team to develop and implement Techxlo marketplace”. Instead of “born-leader,” write, “I led a cross-functional team to create and market Big5’s top product where we achieved a 23% increase in sales”.
5. Problem-solving abilities
The engine of businesses and companies is problem-solving. Employers are, therefore, seeking individuals who’ll add value to their business. Recruiters love to see words and phrases that detail an applicant’s commitment to identifying and solving issues.
For example, an SEO manager can write, “I identified and solved the error 404 issues on SprintB’s website, and this increased organic traffic by 12%.
CV Phrases Recruiters Hate to See in Applications
In the same vein, here are words and phrases that recruiters despise seeing in CVs. Although conventional, they’re red flags and can ultimately be the distinction between a successful and unsuccessful application.
1. Overused terms
Examples like “team player,” “hard worker,” “born leader,” “highly motivated,” and “excellent communication skills” lack originality and detail. Don’t just write generic phrases. Instead, give examples and explain your achievement.
2. Over-exaggeration
Words like “extremely,” “highly,” “results-driven,” and “detail-oriented” are CV phrases recruiters hate to see. They are “CV fluff,” which lacks clarity and specificity. Instead, explain using numerical terms or results, the achievement you made, or the trait you intend to promote.
3. I believe I’m perfect for this job
If you’re not convinced that you’re perfect for the work, then you won’t be going for it. Recruiters, despite seeing this phrase in CVs, cover letters, and applications.
4. Unnecessary information
Things like age, gender, marital status, or belief systems are some personal information recruiters hate to see. Other examples include listing your hobbies and interests, outdated skills that are irrelevant to the job description, extremely long paragraphs of text over-emphasizing a point, and photographs.
Final Verdict: Include Industry-Specific Keywords
In the end, incorporating industry-specific keywords and phrases in a CV is an excellent opportunity to show expertise and stand out. By being aware and including the terms recruiters love to see, you can make a compelling first impression and get the job. However, avoid generic terms, over-exaggerations, and unnecessary information that recruiters hate. With a compelling and strategic CV, you’re on track to advance and win the job.
