Your CV Vocabulary
11th June 2017
Your CV should be free from any mistakes. It is important to make a good first impression, so take a look at our article to learn how to make your CV excellent.
If you want people to read your CV, your language must be simple and clear. You should use short words and short sentences. Employers can be very busy so they will often read you CV quickly, looking for key words and information that show you are the best person for the job.
Your CV should be a maximum of two pages, which means you need to think carefully about what you want to include, and what to leave out. Ask someone fluent in English to check your CV to make sure there are no spelling and grammatical errors.
Here are some things to look out for:
- Use capital letters appropriately
- Be consistent in your use of tenses. When describing your responsibilities and achievements, start each point with an action verb such as teaching, working, leading.
- Ensure you have the correct translation of titles or organisation names.
- Use British, not American English spelling (e.g. use organised, not organized )
Vocabulary and positive phrases
Show pride in what you have achieved. Enhance your CV by including positive adjectives and adverbs such as:
- Developed positive relationships with …
- Successfully managed …
- Gained invaluable experience …
Here are a few examples for phrases to use in your CV:
Responsible for (v-ing) / (n) | I was responsible for ensuring invoices were sent on time. |
In charge of (v-ing) / (n) | I was in charge of our company’s blog. |
Experience in (v-ing) / (n) | I have a lot of experience in marketing. |
Proficient in (v-ing) / (n) | I am proficient in Microsoft Office. |
Comfortable with (v-ing) / (n) | I am comfortable with customer service. |
Think carefully about the words you choose to use on your CV since you have only 2 pages to make a positive impression.
Learning business specific English is also a great way to familiarise yourself with the words and to ensure you feel comfortable writing your CV. So why not sign up for one of our courses?
For more Study Tips, you can read our Study Tips posts.
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