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Why is it bad to use personal pronouns in a CV?
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6
down vote
favorite
I am applying for a new job, and I am rubbish at writing CVs, so I often have a look at the examples and templates on-line, and it says that you should use not use personal pronouns in these examples.
For example
Instead of:
I Solved an IT issue
You should use:
Solved an IT issue
Why is it frowned upon or bad to use personal pronouns in a CV/Resume?
EDIT: Is it acceptable to use I once or twice, or would you advise against it completely?
resume hiring-process new-job
edited Apr 15 '14 at 18:30
yoozer8
4,10442955
asked Apr 14 '14 at 20:02
George
2113416
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I am applying for a new job, and I am rubbish at writing CVs, so I often have a look at the examples and templates on-line, and it says that you should use not use personal pronouns in these examples.
For example
Instead of:
I Solved an IT issue
You should use:
Solved an IT issue
Why is it frowned upon or bad to use personal pronouns in a CV/Resume?
EDIT: Is it acceptable to use I once or twice, or would you advise against it completely?
resume hiring-process new-job
edited Apr 15 '14 at 18:30
yoozer8
4,10442955
asked Apr 14 '14 at 20:02
George
2113416
This is a very helpful article relating to this question: online.wsj.com/news/articles/…
– Meredith Poor
Apr 15 '14 at 6:36
2
My top priority is clarity. I have never hesitated to use "I" when the alternative is a convoluted sentence structure and a turgid narrative.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 15 '14 at 8:07
Just a footnote: In these days of electronic applications, avoiding "I" may simplify extracting quotes from the resume when the applicant is being discussed.
– keshlam
Apr 15 '14 at 23:13
related: Should I write my biography in the first or third person?
– gnat
Dec 12 '14 at 8:22
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I am applying for a new job, and I am rubbish at writing CVs, so I often have a look at the examples and templates on-line, and it says that you should use not use personal pronouns in these examples.
For example
Instead of:
I Solved an IT issue
You should use:
Solved an IT issue
Why is it frowned upon or bad to use personal pronouns in a CV/Resume?
EDIT: Is it acceptable to use I once or twice, or would you advise against it completely?
resume hiring-process new-job
edited Apr 15 '14 at 18:30
yoozer8
4,10442955
asked Apr 14 '14 at 20:02
George
2113416
I am applying for a new job, and I am rubbish at writing CVs, so I often have a look at the examples and templates on-line, and it says that you should use not use personal pronouns in these examples.
For example
Instead of:
I Solved an IT issue
You should use:
Solved an IT issue
Why is it frowned upon or bad to use personal pronouns in a CV/Resume?
EDIT: Is it acceptable to use I once or twice, or would you advise against it completely?
resume hiring-process new-job
edited Apr 15 '14 at 18:30
yoozer8
4,10442955
asked Apr 14 '14 at 20:02
George
2113416
edited Apr 15 '14 at 18:30
yoozer8
4,10442955
edited Apr 15 '14 at 18:30
yoozer8
4,10442955
edited Apr 15 '14 at 18:30
yoozer8
4,10442955
4,10442955
asked Apr 14 '14 at 20:02
George
2113416
asked Apr 14 '14 at 20:02
George
2113416
asked Apr 14 '14 at 20:02
George
2113416
2113416
This is a very helpful article relating to this question: online.wsj.com/news/articles/…
– Meredith Poor
Apr 15 '14 at 6:36
2
My top priority is clarity. I have never hesitated to use "I" when the alternative is a convoluted sentence structure and a turgid narrative.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 15 '14 at 8:07
Just a footnote: In these days of electronic applications, avoiding "I" may simplify extracting quotes from the resume when the applicant is being discussed.
– keshlam
Apr 15 '14 at 23:13
related: Should I write my biography in the first or third person?
– gnat
Dec 12 '14 at 8:22
add a comment |Â
This is a very helpful article relating to this question: online.wsj.com/news/articles/…
– Meredith Poor
Apr 15 '14 at 6:36
2
My top priority is clarity. I have never hesitated to use "I" when the alternative is a convoluted sentence structure and a turgid narrative.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 15 '14 at 8:07
Just a footnote: In these days of electronic applications, avoiding "I" may simplify extracting quotes from the resume when the applicant is being discussed.
– keshlam
Apr 15 '14 at 23:13
related: Should I write my biography in the first or third person?
– gnat
Dec 12 '14 at 8:22
This is a very helpful article relating to this question: online.wsj.com/news/articles/…
– Meredith Poor
Apr 15 '14 at 6:36
This is a very helpful article relating to this question: online.wsj.com/news/articles/…
– Meredith Poor
Apr 15 '14 at 6:36
2
2
My top priority is clarity. I have never hesitated to use "I" when the alternative is a convoluted sentence structure and a turgid narrative.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 15 '14 at 8:07
My top priority is clarity. I have never hesitated to use "I" when the alternative is a convoluted sentence structure and a turgid narrative.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 15 '14 at 8:07
Just a footnote: In these days of electronic applications, avoiding "I" may simplify extracting quotes from the resume when the applicant is being discussed.
– keshlam
Apr 15 '14 at 23:13
Just a footnote: In these days of electronic applications, avoiding "I" may simplify extracting quotes from the resume when the applicant is being discussed.
– keshlam
Apr 15 '14 at 23:13
related: Should I write my biography in the first or third person?
– gnat
Dec 12 '14 at 8:22
related: Should I write my biography in the first or third person?
– gnat
Dec 12 '14 at 8:22
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
Because it makes the readers go to sleep after the 567th repetition of I. And because it saves space which is helpful when you have 30 years experience and only 2 pages to put it on. And since it is a CV, the reader will assume it was you and no-one else who did the task.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:11
HLGEM
133k25227489
I Love the answer, it made me smile! +1 to you :)
– George
Apr 15 '14 at 21:46
add a comment |Â
up vote
14
down vote
You put your name at the top. It is implied that everything on your CV would pertain to you, so there is only a need to include other people (team members) where appropriate.
It gets a little repetitive
- I did this.
- I did that
- I did something else.
This is great if you really want to hammer the point home that "I did ..." but again, it's your CV so it is implied.
Thanks for the answer. Do you think its acceptable to use it once or twice in a CV, just to hammer the point home.
– George
Apr 14 '14 at 20:15
1
@georgeh I agree with JeffO's answer overall, but I also think that the occasional "I" is fine - I find stilted and awkward grammar for the sake of avoiding "I" can sometimes be irritating. So yeah, some "I" usage is fine, but that's just my feelings. Others may differ.
– yochannah
Apr 14 '14 at 20:35
@GeorgeH: Include "I" in narratives only. During portions of the CV where you're bullet-pointing things the repetition is off-putting. But in a narrative, write it as if you were telling someone a story. (+1 to this answer btw)
– Joel Etherton
Apr 15 '14 at 20:21
repetition is a poor argument against personal pronouns: if you're just writing a list of short sentences that all start with i did you've done something wrong. and even impersonal resumes can fall into a repetitious tone.
– mendota
Jun 25 '14 at 21:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Because a CV is supposed to be a factual and impersonal description about you, not by you. Yes, usually, you do actually write your own CV, but that's not something you're supposed to emphasize.
Basically, write your CV as if you were someone else describing yourself in third person.
Ps. Caveat: Rules are meant to be broken. Sometimes, writing your CV in an unconventional style might make it stand out and cause a prospective employer to pay more attention to it. Of course, sometimes it might also just get it sorted into the circular file that much quicker. It's up to you whether you feel that's a risk worth taking.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:26
Ilmari Karonen
363211
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
While it’s okay to talk directly about yourself in your cover letter, “Me, Myself and I†should be avoided at all costs in your resume. You resume should be concise, neat, and easy for an employer to read. Using pronouns is how we normally structure sentences, but since your resume is a document about your person, using these pronouns is actually redundant.
answered Apr 15 '14 at 8:59
Michael Grubey
4,20432252
add a comment |Â
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
Because it makes the readers go to sleep after the 567th repetition of I. And because it saves space which is helpful when you have 30 years experience and only 2 pages to put it on. And since it is a CV, the reader will assume it was you and no-one else who did the task.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:11
HLGEM
133k25227489
I Love the answer, it made me smile! +1 to you :)
– George
Apr 15 '14 at 21:46
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
Because it makes the readers go to sleep after the 567th repetition of I. And because it saves space which is helpful when you have 30 years experience and only 2 pages to put it on. And since it is a CV, the reader will assume it was you and no-one else who did the task.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:11
HLGEM
133k25227489
I Love the answer, it made me smile! +1 to you :)
– George
Apr 15 '14 at 21:46
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
up vote
9
down vote
accepted
Because it makes the readers go to sleep after the 567th repetition of I. And because it saves space which is helpful when you have 30 years experience and only 2 pages to put it on. And since it is a CV, the reader will assume it was you and no-one else who did the task.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:11
HLGEM
133k25227489
Because it makes the readers go to sleep after the 567th repetition of I. And because it saves space which is helpful when you have 30 years experience and only 2 pages to put it on. And since it is a CV, the reader will assume it was you and no-one else who did the task.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:11
HLGEM
133k25227489
edited Dec 3 '14 at 21:05
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:11
HLGEM
133k25227489
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:11
HLGEM
133k25227489
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:11
HLGEM
133k25227489
133k25227489
I Love the answer, it made me smile! +1 to you :)
– George
Apr 15 '14 at 21:46
add a comment |Â
I Love the answer, it made me smile! +1 to you :)
– George
Apr 15 '14 at 21:46
I Love the answer, it made me smile! +1 to you :)
– George
Apr 15 '14 at 21:46
I Love the answer, it made me smile! +1 to you :)
– George
Apr 15 '14 at 21:46
add a comment |Â
up vote
14
down vote
You put your name at the top. It is implied that everything on your CV would pertain to you, so there is only a need to include other people (team members) where appropriate.
It gets a little repetitive
- I did this.
- I did that
- I did something else.
This is great if you really want to hammer the point home that "I did ..." but again, it's your CV so it is implied.
Thanks for the answer. Do you think its acceptable to use it once or twice in a CV, just to hammer the point home.
– George
Apr 14 '14 at 20:15
1
@georgeh I agree with JeffO's answer overall, but I also think that the occasional "I" is fine - I find stilted and awkward grammar for the sake of avoiding "I" can sometimes be irritating. So yeah, some "I" usage is fine, but that's just my feelings. Others may differ.
– yochannah
Apr 14 '14 at 20:35
@GeorgeH: Include "I" in narratives only. During portions of the CV where you're bullet-pointing things the repetition is off-putting. But in a narrative, write it as if you were telling someone a story. (+1 to this answer btw)
– Joel Etherton
Apr 15 '14 at 20:21
repetition is a poor argument against personal pronouns: if you're just writing a list of short sentences that all start with i did you've done something wrong. and even impersonal resumes can fall into a repetitious tone.
– mendota
Jun 25 '14 at 21:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
14
down vote
You put your name at the top. It is implied that everything on your CV would pertain to you, so there is only a need to include other people (team members) where appropriate.
It gets a little repetitive
- I did this.
- I did that
- I did something else.
This is great if you really want to hammer the point home that "I did ..." but again, it's your CV so it is implied.
Thanks for the answer. Do you think its acceptable to use it once or twice in a CV, just to hammer the point home.
– George
Apr 14 '14 at 20:15
1
@georgeh I agree with JeffO's answer overall, but I also think that the occasional "I" is fine - I find stilted and awkward grammar for the sake of avoiding "I" can sometimes be irritating. So yeah, some "I" usage is fine, but that's just my feelings. Others may differ.
– yochannah
Apr 14 '14 at 20:35
@GeorgeH: Include "I" in narratives only. During portions of the CV where you're bullet-pointing things the repetition is off-putting. But in a narrative, write it as if you were telling someone a story. (+1 to this answer btw)
– Joel Etherton
Apr 15 '14 at 20:21
repetition is a poor argument against personal pronouns: if you're just writing a list of short sentences that all start with i did you've done something wrong. and even impersonal resumes can fall into a repetitious tone.
– mendota
Jun 25 '14 at 21:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
14
down vote
up vote
14
down vote
You put your name at the top. It is implied that everything on your CV would pertain to you, so there is only a need to include other people (team members) where appropriate.
It gets a little repetitive
- I did this.
- I did that
- I did something else.
This is great if you really want to hammer the point home that "I did ..." but again, it's your CV so it is implied.
You put your name at the top. It is implied that everything on your CV would pertain to you, so there is only a need to include other people (team members) where appropriate.
It gets a little repetitive
- I did this.
- I did that
- I did something else.
This is great if you really want to hammer the point home that "I did ..." but again, it's your CV so it is implied.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:13
user8365
Thanks for the answer. Do you think its acceptable to use it once or twice in a CV, just to hammer the point home.
– George
Apr 14 '14 at 20:15
1
@georgeh I agree with JeffO's answer overall, but I also think that the occasional "I" is fine - I find stilted and awkward grammar for the sake of avoiding "I" can sometimes be irritating. So yeah, some "I" usage is fine, but that's just my feelings. Others may differ.
– yochannah
Apr 14 '14 at 20:35
@GeorgeH: Include "I" in narratives only. During portions of the CV where you're bullet-pointing things the repetition is off-putting. But in a narrative, write it as if you were telling someone a story. (+1 to this answer btw)
– Joel Etherton
Apr 15 '14 at 20:21
repetition is a poor argument against personal pronouns: if you're just writing a list of short sentences that all start with i did you've done something wrong. and even impersonal resumes can fall into a repetitious tone.
– mendota
Jun 25 '14 at 21:30
add a comment |Â
Thanks for the answer. Do you think its acceptable to use it once or twice in a CV, just to hammer the point home.
– George
Apr 14 '14 at 20:15
1
@georgeh I agree with JeffO's answer overall, but I also think that the occasional "I" is fine - I find stilted and awkward grammar for the sake of avoiding "I" can sometimes be irritating. So yeah, some "I" usage is fine, but that's just my feelings. Others may differ.
– yochannah
Apr 14 '14 at 20:35
@GeorgeH: Include "I" in narratives only. During portions of the CV where you're bullet-pointing things the repetition is off-putting. But in a narrative, write it as if you were telling someone a story. (+1 to this answer btw)
– Joel Etherton
Apr 15 '14 at 20:21
repetition is a poor argument against personal pronouns: if you're just writing a list of short sentences that all start with i did you've done something wrong. and even impersonal resumes can fall into a repetitious tone.
– mendota
Jun 25 '14 at 21:30
Thanks for the answer. Do you think its acceptable to use it once or twice in a CV, just to hammer the point home.
– George
Apr 14 '14 at 20:15
Thanks for the answer. Do you think its acceptable to use it once or twice in a CV, just to hammer the point home.
– George
Apr 14 '14 at 20:15
1
1
@georgeh I agree with JeffO's answer overall, but I also think that the occasional "I" is fine - I find stilted and awkward grammar for the sake of avoiding "I" can sometimes be irritating. So yeah, some "I" usage is fine, but that's just my feelings. Others may differ.
– yochannah
Apr 14 '14 at 20:35
@georgeh I agree with JeffO's answer overall, but I also think that the occasional "I" is fine - I find stilted and awkward grammar for the sake of avoiding "I" can sometimes be irritating. So yeah, some "I" usage is fine, but that's just my feelings. Others may differ.
– yochannah
Apr 14 '14 at 20:35
@GeorgeH: Include "I" in narratives only. During portions of the CV where you're bullet-pointing things the repetition is off-putting. But in a narrative, write it as if you were telling someone a story. (+1 to this answer btw)
– Joel Etherton
Apr 15 '14 at 20:21
@GeorgeH: Include "I" in narratives only. During portions of the CV where you're bullet-pointing things the repetition is off-putting. But in a narrative, write it as if you were telling someone a story. (+1 to this answer btw)
– Joel Etherton
Apr 15 '14 at 20:21
repetition is a poor argument against personal pronouns: if you're just writing a list of short sentences that all start with i did you've done something wrong. and even impersonal resumes can fall into a repetitious tone.
– mendota
Jun 25 '14 at 21:30
repetition is a poor argument against personal pronouns: if you're just writing a list of short sentences that all start with i did you've done something wrong. and even impersonal resumes can fall into a repetitious tone.
– mendota
Jun 25 '14 at 21:30
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Because a CV is supposed to be a factual and impersonal description about you, not by you. Yes, usually, you do actually write your own CV, but that's not something you're supposed to emphasize.
Basically, write your CV as if you were someone else describing yourself in third person.
Ps. Caveat: Rules are meant to be broken. Sometimes, writing your CV in an unconventional style might make it stand out and cause a prospective employer to pay more attention to it. Of course, sometimes it might also just get it sorted into the circular file that much quicker. It's up to you whether you feel that's a risk worth taking.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:26
Ilmari Karonen
363211
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Because a CV is supposed to be a factual and impersonal description about you, not by you. Yes, usually, you do actually write your own CV, but that's not something you're supposed to emphasize.
Basically, write your CV as if you were someone else describing yourself in third person.
Ps. Caveat: Rules are meant to be broken. Sometimes, writing your CV in an unconventional style might make it stand out and cause a prospective employer to pay more attention to it. Of course, sometimes it might also just get it sorted into the circular file that much quicker. It's up to you whether you feel that's a risk worth taking.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:26
Ilmari Karonen
363211
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Because a CV is supposed to be a factual and impersonal description about you, not by you. Yes, usually, you do actually write your own CV, but that's not something you're supposed to emphasize.
Basically, write your CV as if you were someone else describing yourself in third person.
Ps. Caveat: Rules are meant to be broken. Sometimes, writing your CV in an unconventional style might make it stand out and cause a prospective employer to pay more attention to it. Of course, sometimes it might also just get it sorted into the circular file that much quicker. It's up to you whether you feel that's a risk worth taking.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:26
Ilmari Karonen
363211
Because a CV is supposed to be a factual and impersonal description about you, not by you. Yes, usually, you do actually write your own CV, but that's not something you're supposed to emphasize.
Basically, write your CV as if you were someone else describing yourself in third person.
Ps. Caveat: Rules are meant to be broken. Sometimes, writing your CV in an unconventional style might make it stand out and cause a prospective employer to pay more attention to it. Of course, sometimes it might also just get it sorted into the circular file that much quicker. It's up to you whether you feel that's a risk worth taking.
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:26
Ilmari Karonen
363211
edited Apr 14 '14 at 20:38
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:26
Ilmari Karonen
363211
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:26
Ilmari Karonen
363211
answered Apr 14 '14 at 20:26
Ilmari Karonen
363211
363211
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
While it’s okay to talk directly about yourself in your cover letter, “Me, Myself and I†should be avoided at all costs in your resume. You resume should be concise, neat, and easy for an employer to read. Using pronouns is how we normally structure sentences, but since your resume is a document about your person, using these pronouns is actually redundant.
answered Apr 15 '14 at 8:59
Michael Grubey
4,20432252
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
While it’s okay to talk directly about yourself in your cover letter, “Me, Myself and I†should be avoided at all costs in your resume. You resume should be concise, neat, and easy for an employer to read. Using pronouns is how we normally structure sentences, but since your resume is a document about your person, using these pronouns is actually redundant.
answered Apr 15 '14 at 8:59
Michael Grubey
4,20432252
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
While it’s okay to talk directly about yourself in your cover letter, “Me, Myself and I†should be avoided at all costs in your resume. You resume should be concise, neat, and easy for an employer to read. Using pronouns is how we normally structure sentences, but since your resume is a document about your person, using these pronouns is actually redundant.
answered Apr 15 '14 at 8:59
Michael Grubey
4,20432252
While it’s okay to talk directly about yourself in your cover letter, “Me, Myself and I†should be avoided at all costs in your resume. You resume should be concise, neat, and easy for an employer to read. Using pronouns is how we normally structure sentences, but since your resume is a document about your person, using these pronouns is actually redundant.
answered Apr 15 '14 at 8:59
Michael Grubey
4,20432252
answered Apr 15 '14 at 8:59
Michael Grubey
4,20432252
answered Apr 15 '14 at 8:59
Michael Grubey
4,20432252
answered Apr 15 '14 at 8:59
Michael Grubey
4,20432252
4,20432252
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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This is a very helpful article relating to this question: online.wsj.com/news/articles/…
– Meredith Poor
Apr 15 '14 at 6:36
2
My top priority is clarity. I have never hesitated to use "I" when the alternative is a convoluted sentence structure and a turgid narrative.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Apr 15 '14 at 8:07
Just a footnote: In these days of electronic applications, avoiding "I" may simplify extracting quotes from the resume when the applicant is being discussed.
– keshlam
Apr 15 '14 at 23:13
related: Should I write my biography in the first or third person?
– gnat
Dec 12 '14 at 8:22