WRITING SKILLS FOR APPLICATIONS

AND CVs
At University you learn how to write
essays or reports for your tutors which are
entirely different in style to the short,
pithy statements which will sell you to the
employer. Most CVs can be improved by a
greater attention to the language and
grammar you use. CV and application
form writing is an art. It is one you can
learn with a bit of perseverance and a
good dictionary and thesaurus! Here are
some golden rules.
MAKE VERBS WORK FOR YOU
Your best friends are active verbs and your
worst enemies are passive verbs.
Example:
Don’t say: I was responsible for organizing
a programmer of speakers
Do say: I organized a programmer of
speakers
When you use the verb “negotiated,” in
your CV, you are describing what you did
but you also show you have negotiating
skills as well as demonstrating that you
use them. Use active verbs linked to skills
the employer is looking for. See our list of
“Action Words” on page 3 and try to
weave as many into your application as
are relevant.
Avoid weak verbs like endeavored, tried,
hoped and attempted. “I feel that I am” is
often used, which again should be avoided
as it too can sound weak.
EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DID
You may find in writing your descriptions
in
CVs or in answering questions on
application forms that you are too concise
or too wordy. Asking yourself the
following questions is a useful strategy for
making descriptions more detailed as well
as pertinent.
– Who? …With whom did you work?
– What? …What duties/activities did
you perform?
– Where? …Where did your job fit
into the organization?
– Why? …What goals were you
trying to accomplish?
– When? …What timelines were you
working under?
– How? …What procedures did you
follow?
Use them to help you convey to the reader
what you did. Remember that no-one
reading your CV will have a lot of time to
ponder what you mean. Making it easy to
understand for the reader gives you a
better chance of having an impact.

Use verbs when possible rather than noun Examples:

forms of verbs. The technical term for this Don’t say:
is "nominalization". Planned activities for the children
Do say:
Examples: Planned arts, crafts, activities and
Don’t say: Resolution of customer queries exercises
to tight deadlines was required Do say: weekly for children with learning
Resolved customer queries within tight disabilities
deadlines
Don’t say:
Don’t say: Simplification of the logging I worked as a counter assistant in a
procedure resulted in speedier progress building society
chasing of faults Do say:
Do say: I simplified the logging procedure • Gained valuable experience
which resulted in speedier progress working to targets within a fast
chasing of faults moving financial sector
 • Worked quickly and accurately on a
number of complex computer
programmers
• Deal effectively and professionally
with the public in a busy branch
• Proved highly adaptable and
flexible whilst working within a
team
Don’t say:
This job involved dealing with the public
and using the till Do say:
• Worked as part of a team of six in
this busy city center store
• Developed my communication skills
through interacting with customers
• Used tact and diplomacy to deal
with customer complaints
OR
I worked on the tills, in the warehouse,
stacking shelves and pricing items.
Teamwork and working directly with
customers was an important element of
my job. I often worked at the busiest
times and I loved the buzz of working
under pressure to get a job done on
time.
SELL YOUR EXPERIENCES IN
EMPLOYER SPEAK
OK, so you have only got casual jobs like
receptionist or waitering to put on your
CV. Boost your descriptions of this work
by thinking about how an employer
would perceive the work. Employers
generally see how any work, even the
most humble duty, fits into the bigger
picture. Show that you can see it that
way too.
Every job area has its own way of
speaking. You are more likely to get the
attention of the recruiter if you speak
their language. How do you learn to
“speak” their language? Tailor the
content, organization, and wording of
your CV, especially in your descriptions.
You will need to do some research into
the area of work, company and position.
Read job ads and see what words are
commonly used? Try to use these words
in your descriptions.
Examples:
Don’t write
• Answered the phone
Do write
• Acted as liaison between customers
and sales staff
Don’t write
• Cleared tables
Do write
• Created healthy environment for
customers and maintained positive
public image
CUT THE PADDING
When writing essays, we tend to use
longer sentences. The best sentences in
applications are short ones. Although you
want variety in the structure, don’t start
them all with I. However, it is likely that
the number of I sentences will be greater
than you are used to. Just remember you
are writing about yourself so the frequent
use of “I” and “me” is OK.
In a CV or a word limited application form
the long phrase takes up space. Don’t be
tempted to overuse phrases like “As a
result of this.”, “In response to this.”,
“before doing this.”, “even if.”, “even
though..”, “in order to..”, or words like
consequently, furthermore, however,
moreover, nevertheless, and therefore.
Examples
Is of the opinion that REPLACE WITH Thinks
During the course of REPLACE WITH During
In attendance REPLACE WITH Attends
In the direction of REPLACE WITH Towards
in the region of REPLACE WITH Near, almost
Owing to the fact that REPLACE WITH
Because
At the present time REPLACE WITH Now
Give consideration to REPLACE WITH
Consider
Different from REPLACE WITH Unlike
The whole of REPLACE WITH The entire, the
MAXIMISE YOUR IMPACT
This opening sentence of a covering letter
gets right to the point. It names the
position and where the applicant learned
of it. Straight away it confidently
demonstrates what they can do for the
company and how their qualifications have
prepared them for the job. All in one
sentence!!
Example:
I believe that my knowledge of public
relations and my proven communication
and leadership skills make me a strong
candidate for the position of Media CHECK IT! CHECK IT! CHECK IT!
Relations Coordinator which was Spelling and grammatical errors can be
advertised on the Nottingham University overlooked easily in a CV. It is essential
Website. to check it yourself several times and ask
someone else to proof read it for you.

ACTION PHRASES FOR APPLICATIONS

If you use these phrases they must be qualified by evidence of your experience.
Examples:
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and people management skills through my
retail experience, working on Nightline and as captain of the University Netball team.

• Achieved all of my data inputting targets to a high standard, demonstrating that I

am able to work accurately under pressure.

• Proficiency in the use of statistical computer packages gained through my final year
project.

Effective
Sole/Lone/Only/Single
Proficiency in, skilled in/at, experienced in/with, practiced in/with/at
Analyzed problems and developed solutions
Excellent interpersonal and people management skills
Able to analyses and interpret data
Able to exercise good judgement and sound reasoning
Good interpersonal skills
Able to concentrate and pay attention to detail
Can work well on own initiative
A good communicator
Ability to organize and motivate staff
A good planner
Careful and methodical approach
Able to work accurately under
pressure A good organizer with an
eye for detail
A good team worker
Patient, tolerant and able to communicate
A good listener with a common sense approach
Persuasive but tactful
A flexible approach to changing situations
Determination and drive to see projects to successful completion
An active decision maker
An effective time manager
Highly numerate and computer literate
Adaptable to team or individual roles
Produces to deadlines
Extensive visual memory

ACTION VERBS FOR CVS

Accelerated Achieved Administered Advised Allocated Analyzed

Appraised Arranged Assessed Assisted Attained
Broadened Budgeted
Checked Coached Communicate Competent Completed
Comprehensive
Conducted Considerable d Consolidated Controlled e
Co-ordinated Created Consistently Converted
Delegated Delivered Designed
Developed
Directed Demonstrated Devised
Ensured Established
Expanded
Evaluated Facilitated
Generated
Helped
Identified Implemented Increased Influenced
Innovated Instructed Improved Introduced Investigated Initiated
Interviewed
Launched Led
Liaised Maintained Managed
Minimized Motivated
Marketed
Negotiated Networked
Operated Organized

Participated Performed Pertinent Pinpointed Planned

Prepared Presented Persuaded Produced Programmed Promoted
Prompted Proposed Processed Provided
Proved
Qualified

Recommended Recruited Reorganized Represented Researched

Resolved Resourceful Reduced Responsible Reviewed Revised
Responded
Selected to Simplified Strengthened Supervised
Spearheaded
Taught Tested Transformed Translated
Trained
Undertook
Volunteered

Won

Grammar Websites
http://www.dailygrammar.com/
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

GETTING FEEDBACK ON YOUR APPLICATIONS:

A Careers Adviser at the Centre for Career Development can give you feedback on your CV
or application form. Please note that we expect that you will follow the advice in this and
our other leaflets: “Writing a CV” and “Completing an Application Form”, as well as on our
website before seeking such feedback.

For more information and advice contact us at:

Centre for Career Development (CCD), Portland Building, Level D West, University
Park,
Nottingham NG7 2RD
Tel: 0115 951 3680

SAB August 2006