Sentence on a CV, (WTF?) is it me?

[bogwoppit]

Zad said:

An honours Degree is usually 4 years rather than 3, with some of that spent in industrial placement.

Maybe it used to be, but these days most degrees are honours degrees. You would not be awarded an honours degree (but might get an "ordinary" degree instead) if you completed the course but either failed to achieve the standard of a 3rd class honours degree or only did so through re-taking some components.

But yeah, the guy is only writing these things because he has seen them written down somewhere else and thinks it must look better. Basically, the way he chooses what to put on his CV is based on what he thinks makes him look clever, rather than what the words mean. He is not alone.

Stuff like this really bugs me. If you're going to try to sound clever, you had really better be. Otherwise it just makes you look even dumber, and a bit of a cock to boot. It's getting really bad in business emails, more and more people seem to be using overly formal language that they don't understand the meaning of because they think it looks more professional, but really it is just sounds like they are stupid, rude, or both. It's perfectly possible to be polite, professional and clear by using the normal range of vocabulary that an educated person might use in conversation, but this seemingly goes out the window for some people.

The one thing I'm not sure about is if perhaps these people actually do think they understand the meaning of all the things they say. If it were me I'd definitely be interviewing this chap just so I could ask him what "adulteration" means. Succeeding success I would probably give him a break on, he clearly means "achieving success" and we're all susceptible to those sorts of mistakes .

[Engineer1]

fesuvious said:

hhhmmm

even after a link to this thread; The lady in the agency replied saying sorry - 'we missed the spelling mistake'

Reply sent suggesting they may have missed more than just a spelling mistake! Now, I'm worried, if the people who proof read the CV's can't spot this one, what hope do we have?

I fear for the future of our country.

Devils advocate, there isn't a spelling mistake, there is an incorrect out of context word but I bet if you put the document through an F7 spell check in word it won't be red underlined, it may be green underlined but a lot of reasonably well worded constructions come out green underlined.

[Eric Mc]

Yes, it's not a failure of grammar or spelling. It's a failure of language and understanding. It's a 21-25 year old trying to use grown up words, but hampered by a 6 year old's brain.

[Condi]

Warwick students. Can spot them a mile off. Probably not english as a first language, tried to use fancy words which have come through a translator. Over ambitious in the first instance and trying to talk up their degree.

Hmm. We're not all like that.

Oh, and honours doesnt mean you passed every module. I have an honours degree and didnt!

[Hoofy]

Eric Mc said:

Gargamel said:

Here is one from my latest batch of applications

may u please send me post in ..i am vry interested
in working at ur organisation i am a graduate wth tourism,domestic
fairs and ticketing,drivers licence..and i am willing to
learn,cooperate,work as a team.my contacts no.

I don't believe the "willing to learn" bit. There's no sign that he/she has learned much yet.

That is pretty st and the reason why the Spelling Police must carry on their good work. People think it's normal and acceptable to write formal documents like they are a sufferer of cretinism.

PS OPer... please look up the difference between semi-colon and colon.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

fesuvious said:

Currently studying Business Management

On this part alone he isn't worth a second glance IMO!