CV and Job appln advice
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4328266.stm
What not to say in an application
There are no "mistakes" only "valuable lessons"
Never say "never" but always mention your "achievement", is the advice
for job hunters trying to fill in application forms.
Admissions advisers and psychologists at the University of
Hertfordshire have drawn up a list of the 10 top words to make a good
impression in applications.
They have also listed the 10 worst words, including "hate" and "nothing".
This advice also tells applicants not to say "mistakes" but to mention
their "valuable lessons".
'Don't panic'
If applicants are worried about having too many valuable lessons, the
Hertfordshire academics also recommend avoiding other less than
positive words, such as "panic", "problems" and "awful".
APPLICATION FORM WORDS
10 Best: Achievement, active, developed, evidence, experience, impact,
individual, involved, planning, transferable skills
10 Worst: Always, awful, bad, fault, hate, mistake, never, nothing,
panic, problems
None of these words are good ways of selling your skills to employers,
suggest the academics.
If you want to push more positive buttons, there is a list of
feel-good words for applications, which will produce a more
appreciative reaction.
These good words include "experience", "involved", "planning" and "developed".
The advisers say companies or universities will see many similar
application letters - and that the choice of language generates a
positive or negative impression.
For instance, over-emphatic words such as "never" and "always" could
give a negative impression that "the applicant is making an
exaggeration which is seldom true".
"Every recruiter and admissions officer will have to assess hundreds
if not thousands of personal statements from hopeful applicants and
will make their decisions based on what they can see on paper.
"Choosing the right words is therefore vitally important if your
application is to stand out from the rest," says Karen Pine, a
psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire.
