At some point, we’ve all noticed that one word keeps popping up in our personal vocabularies too much for it to be a coincidence. And if you’re like me, you’ve probably headed over to Thesaurus.com or used a hard copy thesaurus to expand your vernacular. But this tool is a powerful one that may be the little nudge that turns your job application from a dud to the one that gets you hired.
If you use the same words too consistently, it will appear as if you don’t know how to present yourself and your ideas well enough, which is a major detriment in any professional setting. And if the job that you’re applying for is one that relies on communication skills, you’d be setting yourself up for failure without some good word choice.
By changing around the words that you use, you can change your tone and the impression that you give to others. Here’s an extreme example, using a classic TV theme song as it was originally written:
I whistled for a cab and when it came near / The license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror / If anything I can say this cab is rare / But I thought ‘Now forget it’ – ‘Yo homes to Bel Air’
Using synonyms and altering word choice and sentence structure, we have a completely different statement:
I grabbed the attention of the nearest carriage. As it approached me, I noticed its unique accouterments, including an identifying marker inscribed with the word “Fresh” and facsimile gambling instruments hanging from a viewing surface. If anything, I must concede that this jitney was most out of the ordinary. Pushing such thoughts aside, I directed the driver to my new abode.
Although this is taking it a step too far (and enters a level of snootiness that you wouldn’t want to convey), this example shows how restructuring words can deliver a completely different message while saying the same thing. Make sure to pick your words carefully to find the tone that you want.
You should take care to not appear too grandiloquent (using big words to sound important), as it can make you seem pretentious or like someone who is overcompensating. Instead, stick to replacements and five-dollar words when you need that extra punch in your application, or when a synonym illustrates your point more clearly. If you’re able to vary your word choice deftly, your written materials will be more appealing and give you a better chance of getting the job.
