CV Cliches to Avoid
November 29, 2023
Australia’s technology industry is booming and providing a wealth of career opportunities for tech candidates. According to the Tech Council of Australia, there are currently 861,000 people employed in tech jobs across Australia and technology is the seventh-largest employing sector in the country.
To capture the attention of Hiring Managers, it’s important to have a well-crafted resume that can stand out from the rest. You want to highlight your skills and achievements to demonstrate why you’re the best applicant for the job (read our guide on how to write a CV in Australia). But simply including a CV cliché like “detail-oriented” may not help you get to the front of the pack. In fact, it could do the opposite if your resume is full of cliches that have no depth.
In today’s article, we’re looking at some of the cliches to avoid when writing a technology-focused CV.
Detail-Oriented
We mentioned this one earlier, as it’s one of the most commonly used CV cliches in the book. Attention to detail is essential in most roles, but it’s an attribute that’s much more effective to ‘show’ rather than ‘tell.’ As recruitment experts, one of our top tips for writing a CV is to thoroughly proofread it and ensure it’s error-free before sending your application. If a candidate claims to be detail-oriented but has a CV riddled with misspelled words and typos, it could even make the Hiring Manager question the sincerity of the resume as a whole.
Passionate
The word “passionate” is often referred to as a buzzword and is found in the CVs of many applicants. However, the term is too broad to have enough substance. With everyone using it, including it in your technology CV may not help you stand out.
Instead of claiming to be passionate about the industry, try to provide a concrete example of how you demonstrate that passion. For instance, include information regarding affiliations with professional industry organisations, past volunteer work, and other opportunities you’ve taken to sharpen your skills beyond the immediate technology roles.
Innovative
Rather than just saying you’re innovative, it’s much more effective to include examples of how you’ve displayed innovation. The key is in expanding on the words you are using and framing the phrase into a concrete answer that an employer can relate to. Just having the words ‘I am innovative’ doesn’t really mean much!
Perhaps you played a key role in creating a prototype or found a new way to streamline communications. These tangible examples demonstrate your ability to innovate, which will be far more impressive to most Hiring Managers.
Team Player or Works Well Independently
As more technology businesses look to create a positive team culture that nurtures connection and growth, it’s important that workers can collaborate towards mutual goals. On the other hand, in an industry as quickly moving as technology, it’s expected that any strong candidate can work independently. Both skills are critical in modern tech jobs, but there are better ways to demonstrate them when writing your CV.
Again, providing evidence is key. For instance, try “I have worked with internal Developers, Testers, Training and Marketing teams to implement the new companywide intranet for 3,000 salespeople” or “I independently designed and implemented the new companywide intranet for 3,000 salespeople.”
Excellent Communication Skills
The ability to communicate effectively will always be a sought-after attribute in any workplace, but the phrase “excellent communication skills” is a great example of one of the most overused CV cliches. These days it’s been used so much that it’s nearly lost all meaning – and it certainly won’t help you stand out.
It’s vague and it doesn’t help to paint a picture of who you are as a candidate. Someone with excellent communication skills could be referring to their ability to present to groups, create complex instruction manuals or chat with colleagues. Which is it that you’re trying to convey?
By being more specific and giving examples of instances you’ve used your communication skills effectively, you’ll be able to demonstrate your value to the hirers.
So, How Do I Avoid the Cliches?
You may have noticed by now that there’s a theme to avoiding these CV cliches: “Don’t tell them, show them.”
Rattling off a list of overused cliches throughout your CV makes it too easy for Recruiters to pass you over in favour of the next, more interesting resume.
Instead, if you want to stand out from the competition and make a lasting impression on the Recruiting Manager, try demonstrating your impact on the industry. Use persuasive and creative language to explain why you’re a great match for the technology role and include examples of your achievements.
Summary
If you’re considering applying for a new tech job, it might be time to review your resume and ensure it doesn’t include any CV cliches!
Working with a recruitment agency can be an excellent way to explore what is currently available in the industry and prepare for the application process.
Get in touch with the team of technology and digital recruitment specialists at Emanate Technology. Our team are experts in connecting Tech professionals with the best employers in Australia. To find out more about how we can help you, get in touch with our teams in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, or Melbourne.
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