Common phrases and what to write instead
The fix is nearly always a specific example from your own history. These are fictional replacements to show the shape.
| Instead of | Write something like |
|---|---|
| Hard-working | “No missed shifts in 12 months, including the Christmas peak.” |
| Team player | “Ran the tuck shop with two other students and shared the cashing up.” |
| Excellent communication skills | “Explained bills and payment plans to about 60 customers a day.” |
| Passionate about… | Name what you did about it: a course, a project, volunteering. |
| Results-driven | Give the result: “cut late renewals from 18 to 4 in six months.” |
| Responsible for the stockroom | “Unpacked and priced two deliveries a week.” |
| Duties included… | Start each line with what you did: “Booked”, “Checked”, “Trained”. |
| Detail-oriented | “99.7% picking accuracy over the last year.” |
| Self-starter | “Set up a shared order sheet without being asked; orders now go out the same day each week.” |
| References available on request | Leave it out; employers ask when they need referees. |
Why these words do not work
A recruiter reads many CVs that say the same things. Adjectives cannot be checked, so they are skimmed; specific facts can be checked and remembered. Facts also give you something to talk about at interview.
Check your own CV
Search your CV for each phrase above, or paste it into the CV checker, which lists vague phrases it finds and links you to the line. Then rewrite each one with an example you could explain.