Words and Phrases to Cut From Your CV (And What to Say Instead)

Why Certain Words Sink Your CV

A recruiter reads between 50 and 300 CVs a week. When they hit "dynamic, motivated, results-oriented team player with excellent communication skills," they can finish the sentence before they've reached the word "communication." These expressions are so ubiquitous they've stopped meaning anything — they create noise where there should be information.

The problem isn't that these words are false. The problem is they're not provable and they're not differentiating. Everyone says they're dynamic. No one checks.

This guide lists the formulations to cut, explains why they're problematic, and gives the alternatives that actually work.

Category 1: Empty Adjectives

These qualifiers appear in the profile section of almost every CV. Their ubiquity has drained them of meaning.

Cut these

• "Dynamic" — what does this mean concretely?
• "Motivated" — that's the minimum required to apply
• "Rigorous" — everyone says it
• "Versatile" — often read as "I'm not sure what I am"
• "Proactive" — corporate filler
• "Passionate" — without evidence, it's just air
• "Results-oriented" — cliché, especially in sales
• "Strong communicator" — says nothing without context

What works instead

Replace adjectives with evidence. If you're rigorous, show it through delivered projects and process discipline.

Bad: "Dynamic professional seeking to leverage my skills in an innovative company."

Good: "Sales manager with 6 years of B2B SaaS experience. Grew managed portfolio revenue from £1.2M to £3.8M. Looking for a Head of Sales role at a growing scale-up."

Read our guide on writing a strong profile summary for an opening that actually hooks recruiters.

Category 2: Passive and Vague Experience Descriptions

These are the formulations that sound responsible but say nothing about your actual contribution.

Cut these

• "Responsible for" — describes a role, not an action
• "In charge of" — same problem
• "Participated in" — you were in the room, that's all we get
• "Contributed to" — what contribution? what proportion?
• "Involved in" — maximally vague
• "Worked on" — who did what?
• "Assisted with" — to what degree?
• "Managed day-to-day" — "day-to-day" adds nothing

What works instead

Start each bullet with an action verb followed by a measurable result.

Bad: "Participated in implementing a new CRM for the sales team."

Good: "Led the Salesforce CRM deployment for 25 sales reps — 40% reduction in data entry time, 100% adoption within 6 weeks."

Category 3: Generic, Unproven Skills

These appear on almost every CV and add nothing without context.

Cut or reformulate

• "Proficient in Microsoft Office" — by 2025, this is the bare minimum. Only mention it if advanced-level (VBA, complex financial modelling) is relevant to the role.
• "Good communication" — communicating what, to whom, in what context?
• "Team player" — unprovable. Replace with a collaboration example.
• "Self-starter" — on what type of work?
• "Adaptable" — show it through a concrete situation.

For IT skills specifically, read our guide on how to present technology skills on a CV.

Category 4: Empty Intention Phrases in the Profile

These explain what you want for yourself, not what you bring to the company.

Cut these

• "Looking for a challenging position" — so what?
• "Seeking to leverage my skills in" — too formal, too empty
• "Eager to contribute to a dynamic team" — filler
• "Looking for new challenges" — worn phrase without substance
• "Hoping to grow in an innovative environment" — it's your project, not theirs

What works instead

Your profile must be centred on the value you deliver, not your expectations. Frame it from the recruiter's perspective: why hire you?

Bad: "Marketing graduate looking to join an innovative company to apply my skills in a stimulating project."

Good: "Digital marketing manager with 3 years in paid acquisition (Google Ads, Meta). Managed £200k/year budget, average ROAS 4.2. E-commerce specialisation in fashion and beauty."

Category 5: Corporate-Speak That Sounds Hollow

Cut these

• "Thinking outside the box" — it stopped landing in 2009
• "Synergies" — corporate jargon
• "Value-added" — empty without a specific example
• "Change agent" — sounds like a PowerPoint deck
• "Strategic vision" — must be illustrated or it's self-proclamation
• "Paradigm shift" — doesn't belong in a CV

The Takeaway

The golden rule for a strong CV: replace every claim with proof. Every adjective with a number or achievement. Every passive phrase with an active verb and a result.

That's also why being selective about what goes on your CV matters as much as knowing what to write. A shorter, precise CV always beats a long one filled with empty formulas.

And remember to tailor your CV to each job offer — some words that feel generic in a broad context become relevant when they match the exact terminology in a job description.

Create a CV That Says the Right Things

CV Creator lets you build a structured, targeted CV in minutes — no sign-up required, one-time €2, unlimited CVs for 2 hours. ATS-compatible templates designed to pass filters and convince recruiters.

Further reading:

• The CV profile summary: the 3 lines recruiters read first
• Action verbs for CV: describe your experience with impact
• 5 CV mistakes that cost you interviews
• How to tailor your CV to each job offer
• What to leave off your CV