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Ten Words That Should Never Appear on a Banking CV

posted: 2 months ago

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You’re applying for jobs in financial services and you’re trying to assemble the perfect resume.

The definition of perfection will vary depending upon the job you’re applying to: the best résumés are usually tailored to particular job descriptions.

eFinancialCareers reports that there are also some universal rules of CV writing – and there are some words that should never, ever, inveigle their way in. When you’re writing a CV, professional CV writers strongly advise against adding anything from the following list:

1. ‘Unemployed’

On no account should your CV mention the words, ‘unemployed’, ‘unemployment’, ‘redundancy,’ or ‘layoff’.

They are all too negative. Instead, you should use positive and empowered phrases like, ‘career break,’ advised Jeremy L’Anson, a career coach and author who works with investment bankers.

2. ‘Dynamic’

Professional résumé writers warn against using clichéd words and phrases which appear on almost every CV.

'There are words which are used so much that they’re meaningless', said Victoria Maclean at City CV in London. Maclean said these include: ‘dynamic’, ‘proven track record’, ‘team player’, ‘succeed in a fast paced environment’ and ‘innovative.’ 'You see ‘innovative’ written on 90 percent of CVs', she added.

L’Anson warned against saying you’re ‘enthusiastic’ or ‘motivated’ for the same reason.

'Everyone says they’re ‘outstanding’', said Linda Jackson co-founder and managing director of London-based career management firm 10Eighty, 'It’s a big yawn and is meaningless'.

Janet Moran, founder of CV writing company The CV House said recruiters usually hate the word, ‘passion’ on CVs. Again, it’s too overused.

Hit the link below to access the complete eFinancialCareers article:

Ten words that should never appear on a banking CV

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image: © Justin Marty

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