Experts advise that hopeful Australian job seekers should eliminate the terms ‘obviously,’ ‘workaholic, and ‘perfectionist from their vocabulary in order to succeed. 

As bosses often hear the phrases and buzzwords, recruitment professionals warn against them. 

Leah Lambart is a Relaunch Me career coach and shared her tips on how to communicate your values in job interviews. 

Recruitment experts have warned against using these eight commonly uttered buzzwords and throwaway phrases in job interviews the hiring manager has heard a thousand times before

Experts in recruitment have cautioned against these common buzzwords and phrases being used during job interviews. These are words that hiring managers may have heard many times.

It was important to avoid using words like “just”, “only”, and “obviously” that minimize your capabilities. Instead, use positive language that highlights your accomplishments and strengths. 

Ms Lambart explained that even chief executives and chief financial officers can find it difficult. 

“People can easily fall for the trap of flattering or boasting words in order to sound arrogant during interviews.

She also warned against using overused clichés like ‘workaholic’ and ‘perfectionist’ that will have the interviewing panel’s eyes rolling.  

She said to steer clear of words that downplay your abilities like 'just', 'only', and 'obviously' but rather use positive language that sells your strengths and accomplishments

She advised against using negative language to downplay your achievements, such as ‘only’ and ‘just.’ Instead, she suggested that you use positive language that showcases your strengths.

1. Naturally

Interviews are not the place to presume that everything is obvious. The person who interviews you probably hasn’t met you in real life and therefore doesn’t have any information about you.  

‘Using the word ‘obviously’ can potentially rub people the wrong way as it suggests that the other person should understand something when they may not,’ Ms Lambart said.  

And other words to avoid

* Dedicated

* Motivated

* Team player

* Synergy

* Leverage

* Ownership

* Pro-active

* Reach out

Source: Hays recruitment director Jason Walker via Seek

2. You 

Interviewers only care about you and your accomplishments in a job, not your past department or team. Therefore it is best to substitute the words ‘we” with ‘I.    

‘It’s really important that people get comfortable using ‘I’ instead of ‘we’ so the panel can assess your personal contribution to a successful outcome,” Ms Lambart says. 

It was a good idea to practice talking about your abilities in mock interviews with friends. 

3. Simply

Ms Lambart explained that the term “just” can be used to diminish our accomplishments and responsibility. For example, it could mean you were a ‘just assistant with project’, or simply have basic excel skills. 

The word “just”, she said, will highlight areas you lack confidence in. Instead of using it, she suggested that you practice speaking about your achievements and skills without using the word. 

4. Only 

Ms Lambart explained that “Only” is another way to minimize your talents. 

If you believe you lack experience or skills, you should be open about what you know and how you will gain more exposure. 

Ms Lambart advised that you should always return to your strengths in interviews. 

5. You can work from anywhere  

Ms Lambart stated that the old term “workaholic” is obsolete as employers are now seeking employees who can balance work and life. 

She stated that employers are now looking for people who can balance their personal and professional lives and manage their time well. 

Instead she recommends describing how hard you work or are focused on getting the job done well. 

She also warned against using overused clichés like 'workaholic' and 'perfectionist' that will have the interviewing panel's eyes rolling

 She also warned against using overused clichés like ‘workaholic’ and ‘perfectionist’ that will have the interviewing panel’s eyes rolling

6. Perfectionist 

Interviewees who are perfectionists become a negative and a source of frustration for hiring managers. Using the term “perfectionists” can indicate that you focus too much on your tasks, rather than be efficient. 

Ms Lambart recommends avoiding using the term, but instead describing perfectionism in a different way if it’s a weakness.  

‘You could say that you set very high standards for yourself and sometimes need to recognise when a task has been completed well enough, that it’s time to move on,’ she said.    

7. Change is motivating

Scott says that’motivated change’ is one example of a general phrase that can mean little to nothing.

While he stated that change was an inevitable aspect of human life, it is not something many people can thrive on.

Scott stated that he has seen many people seek employment because of their experiences with change.

“Many of us, as human beings struggle with change and would rather have the security of routine, order, systems, or normality.”

You should be able to demonstrate that you enjoy constant change and the cutting edge of it.

8. Challenge

Scott advised that interviewers should be skeptical of candidates who claim they “love challenges”.

He said, “Rarely do people follow up with this explanation of what challenges they face or even examples from challenges they’ve faced, their reactions to that challenge, and their result,”

Scott suggests that you give exact examples of the things you loved about your previous roles, and what areas you would like to improve upon.