4: A monster guide

6: Acting as your personal advertisement, the presentation and structure of your CV is crucial

13: Unfortunately too many people follow the tradition of using stock phrases and keywords

18: Due to this overuse, many recruiters have become immune to certain phrases

24: Not making your CV stand out from the crowd can seriously damage your job search chances

29: Here are the most common phrases and suggested alternatives

33: 'Team player'

35: As it's unlikely that anyone would claim the opposite, statements like this become meaningless

40: The most effective way to get your future employer's attention is to demonstrate your experience by giving a real life example

48: For instance, have you worked within a team to achieve a specific goal?

51: What was your role?

54: 'Project management skills'

57: This is just a fancy way of saying that you're organised

60: Employers want to know what you've done in your current job that demonstrates your abilities

64: Have you organised and events or managed a budget? If so, tell them.

68: 'results orientated'

70: And so you should be!

72: After all, employers are running businesses.

75: And they want a return on their investment in you

78: Convey and quantify your accomplishments and your potential to solve your future employer's problems

83: Did you increase sales?

85: If so, by how much?

88: Did you save money for your organisation?

91: Did you achieve your targets in the face of difficult circumstances?

95: 'People management skills'

97: Does that mean that you were a manager or simply that you got on well with your customers and colleagues?

101: Management implies that you held a position of responsibility over other staff and it can confuse employers if you didn't have any direct reports

110: 'Responsible for'

112: Everybody is responsible for something in their job

115: And just because you were responsible for something doesn't necessarily make you a responsible person

121: Did you train staff or introduce a new initiative?

124: Did you rescue a failing project and turn it around?

129: By using examples of past experience, you will put yourself in a strong position and stand out from your peers

136: So, bin the jargon and cliches, and get personal.

140: This guide was brought to you by monster.

142: For more advice, jobs and career tools visit monster.co.uk

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