The 10 most common words Brits use on their CVs – and which ones they are spelling wrong

A new study has revealed the most overused words on CVs, with ‘skilled’ appearing more than 3.1 million times.  

QR Code Generator compiled a list of 50 commonly used words and phrases on CVs, and then ran each of these through Indeed’s Resume Search, to find which featured the most across CVs updated in the past 6 months.  

‘Skilled’ was found to be the most frequently used word, featuring in 3,193,157 CVs updated over the last six months. It has a significantly high usage rate, appearing more frequently than any other word on the list, while also being the most-used word on CVs in 72 UK cities.   

The second most-common word was found to be ‘organised’ which featured in 1,696,706 CVs. A crucial skill employers seek in today’s dynamic job market, which reflects the need for individuals who can manage workload, deadlines, and resources effectively. 

Closely following in third is ‘responsible’ which featured in 1,632,929 CVs. Being responsible in a workplace helps to build trust with colleagues, and highlights growth potential in your role. 

 ‘Trained’ placed fourth being used 1,630,002 times. Being trained means that you understand your role and can handle the challenges that may arise. It can also be attractive to an employer if the jobseeker mentions that they have ‘trained’ other members of a team, as this demonstrates leadership and responsibility in their role. 

‘Motivated’ ranks fifth, featuring on 951,857 CVs. Motivation can drive you to perform to the best of your ability even in the face of challenges. Employers often look for this drive as it means you will be more likely to be committed to your role. 

The 10 most-overused words and phrases on CVs: 

As well as looking at which words are the most overused, the analysis also looked at the most misspelt words on CVs. 

‘Confident’ was the most commonly misspelt word, which was found to be spelt as ‘Confidant’ on 728,561 CVs within the past 6 months, with a number of job seekers incorrectly using an ‘a’ rather than an ‘e’. While ‘confidant’ is an actual word, it has likely been misused in the context of a CV. 

The second most misspelt word was ‘independent’, with 624,622 CVs using an ‘a’ rather than an ‘e’, spelling it as ‘independant’ instead. 

Following in third, was ‘refered’ rather than ‘referred’ which cropped up in 171,927 CVs and missed the second ‘r’ from the word. 

In fourth was the misspelling of ‘preferred’ as ‘prefered’ which misses out the double ‘r’ and featured in 112,062 CVs. 

The fifth most misspelt was the word ‘definitely’, where people often confused their vowels instead spelling it as ‘definitaly’ in 70,196 CVs. 

The 10 most commonly misspelt words and phrases on CVs 

Speaking on the findings, Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator who carried out the study, commented: “For those looking to advance their careers, improve work-life balance, or explore new roles, the language you choose on your CV is essential in catching an employer’s attention. Using the same tired buzzwords as everyone else makes it challenging to truly stand out. 

“Instead, job seekers should focus on providing concrete examples that illustrate their strengths, rather than simply listing traits like ‘skilled’ or ‘responsible.’ By doing this, you demonstrate to potential employers that you can substantiate these qualities with real experiences, setting yourself apart from candidates who may rely on generic descriptors.”