1. Self-starter - it's good to know that you can start doing something on your own. Did you dress yourself today too? You deserve a medal.
2. Motivated - by what? How can you prove it? Instead, give examples of how you've been motivated into doing something with noteworthy results.
3. Responsible for - we don't need a rundown of what your job title denoted - what did you actually do? Talk about projects that you led, or exciting results produced by your responsibilities.
4. Problem solver - if you haven't ever solved a problem, you're probably not a human.
5. Passionate - this one isn't a complete faux pas, but make sure to follow up the explanation of your passion with what you've done about it, how it's driven you to where you are, and how you plan to carry on being passionate.
6. Innovative - did you invent the wheel, or did you just come up with a way to eat noodles with a spoon? Unless you genuinely have proof of your innovation, leave the sweeping statement off your CV.
7. Hard-working - everyone is 'hard-working', so therefore no one is. Find a more specific adjective to the type of work you've done/you hope to do.
8. Results-Oriented - if humans weren't results-orientated, how would anything get done? Just no.
9. Extensive experience - sweeping experience under the carpet with the word 'extensive' is a big no-no. Extend your description with clear and concise bullet points.
10. Synergy - what does that even mean?! It's so over-used that it hurts to type out.
11. Team-player - oh good, another one.
12. Driven - stop being driven and get in the driving seat!
13. Expert in MS Office - oh, does that include Access? No, how about Excel? No? So... Word?
14. Ambitious - doesn't everyone have ambitions? Explain what they are, and why you aspire towards them.15. Talented - really?
16. Reliable - are you expecting to receive and then retain all the company secrets, or are you just reliable at turning up to work on time?
17. Enthusiastic - if you're not enthused, you won't be hired. Companies want employees who want to do their work, and want to do it well.
18. Socialising - oh do you socialise with friends in your spare time? Amazing. Please tell us more about your wild off-the-clock antics.
19. Dynamic - are you a process/system characterised by constant change, activity or progress? Well, then you are very dynamic. But if you mean the posi vibes kind of thing, it means very little, so leave it off your CV.
20. Open to anything - way to make a company feel special :'(
21. Anything in 3rd person - the writer of this article advises that you do not use third person if you wish to be taken seriously.
22. Quick learner - this might be genuinely true, but as everyone uses this as compensation for not having a particular skill already, it's a pretty redundant phrase now. Instead, show us how you have learnt quickly in the past, to great avail.
23. Fast-paced environment - come on, you can phrase this differently, or delete it altogether - literally everyone writes this.
24. Good computer skills - Just no. This is far too vague; if you can't come up with any specific software packages that you are skilled in using, you clearly aren't as computer-proficient as you make out.
25. Strong work ethic - this is another phrase that could show off your attitude towards the need for hard work, but it's too clichéd. Tell us more about your work ethic and why it's so strong; avoid this blanket term.
Do you have any CV pet-peeves that you wish to share? Tweet us (@thegrbteam) and let us know.
