Buzzwords NOT to say if you want a promotion at work

Results of new survey shows that ‘obviously’ and ‘literally’ are the words most likely to rile your employers

Getting a promotion shouldn’t come down to the words you use, but a survey taken by CV-Library has revealed that this may well be the case.

It turns out that employers are fed up with hearing co-workers or candidates spouting annoying buzzwords – with ‘obviously’ (49.8 per cent) and ‘literally’ (45.9 per cent) found to be the most irritating.

The survey of 300 employers across the UK discovered that crutch words topped the leader board.

Other buzzwords which caused employers the most frustration are exposed below:

■ Obviously (49.8%)

■ Literally (45.9%)

■ Like (42.4%)

■ Just sayin’ (16.2%)

■ Banter (14.4%)

■ Totes (14%)

■ Amazeballs (11.4%)

■ My bad (10.5%)

■ Yolo (10%)

■ Me thinks (8.7%)

■ Sorry not sorry (8.3%)

■ On fleek (7.9%)

■ Epic fail (4.8%)

■ Cheeky (5.2%)

Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library comments on the findings: “We all have to adapt the way that we speak when we’re in the office, whether this means avoiding buzz words, swear words, or colloquialisms.

“The problem with buzzwords is that they come off as insincere, which can rile up your employer and colleagues.

“Be mindful that if you’re after a promotion, your employer won’t appreciate you saying a buzzword like ‘my bad’ to excuse yourself for making a mistake! To maintain your professional image, it’s best to use buzzwords sparingly.

“If you’re going after a promotion, I’d recommend finding more original ways of expressing yourself – your boss will appreciate you getting straight to the point.”

Are you guilty of overusing buzzwords? CV-Library sheds light on how these annoying phrases could be damaging your chances of securing a promotion:

■ You make communication difficult by not intently expressing what you mean

■ You frustrate your co-workers with the lack of substance behind what you’re saying

■ You make your colleagues cringe or isolate those who don’t understand the meaning of certain buzzwords

■ You appear less intelligent by not using language appropriate in the workplace

■ You aggravate delicate situations with unsuitable use of buzzwords.

“Be mindful that if you’re after a promotion, your employer won’t appreciate you saying a buzzword like ‘my bad’ to excuse yourself for making a mistake”

Lee Biggins CV-Library