Résumé words · Traits and self-description
Another word for “Various”
What it is trying to claim: That there were several of something, without saying how many.
Why it underperforms
It is the word people use when the real number is not impressive, and readers know that, which means it actively signals the opposite of what it intends. "Various projects" reads as fewer and smaller than "three projects" even though three is a small number, because the vagueness is doing the work concealment usually does. It costs nothing to replace and it appears on an enormous proportion of résumés.
Stronger than "Various"
Not ranked. Each is right for one situation, and the situation is the column that matters.
| Word | Use it when |
|---|---|
| (give the count) | The actual number, whatever it is. |
| (name the biggest) | One named example outperforms an unnamed set. |
| (give the range) | If it genuinely varied, state the span. |
| (delete it) | Often the sentence reads better with the noun alone. |
A real bullet, fixed
Before
Supported various stakeholders across multiple departments.
After
Supported three departments, mostly finance, and produced the month-end pack for a committee of nine.
Three is not a big number and it still reads as stronger than "various", because it is a fact rather than a hedge.
When “Various” is the right word
Nowhere. If the count is genuinely large, say it. If it is genuinely small, saying it is still better than hiding it, because the specific number is credible and the vague word is not.
Common questions
- What can I say instead of "Various" on a résumé?
- Replace the phrase with evidence rather than another adjective. Three is not a big number and it still reads as stronger than "various", because it is a fact rather than a hedge.
- Is "Various" bad on a résumé?
- It is the word people use when the real number is not impressive, and readers know that, which means it actively signals the opposite of what it intends. "Various projects" reads as fewer and smaller than "three projects" even though three is a small number, because the vagueness is doing the work concealment usually does. It costs nothing to replace and it appears on an enormous proportion of résumés.
- When is it fine to use "Various"?
- Nowhere. If the count is genuinely large, say it. If it is genuinely small, saying it is still better than hiding it, because the specific number is credible and the vague word is not.
Fix these next
- Duties includedThat the following list was the scope of the role.
- Responsible forThat a named area of work was yours to own.
- Involved inThat you were part of something.
- Worked onThat you were part of a project worth naming.
- OrganizedThat you brought order to people, information, or an event.
All 125 words are on the résumé words index. For the verbs grouped by what they claim, read résumé power verbs.
After the résumé
Fixing the words is the easy half. The applying is the slow half.
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