If, like me, you read dozens of job adverts every week, you will be familiar with the call for 'passionate' and 'enthusiastic' individuals to join 'friendly' and 'energetic' teams. To say there is a lack of creativity in job adverts is an understatement. There are more cliches than in a standard radio news bulletin and are all rather meaningless. The danger for candidates is that you fall into the trap of using these words yourself, because people tell you to use the same language that is in the specification or advert.
There is great temptation to describe yourself as "passionate" about your field because who wouldn’t want to hire someone brimming with enthusiasm? But here’s the catch: so does everyone else. In a sea of applications, "passion" has become one of the most overused and least effective words. So let me talk about The Passion Principle - where you show, not tell, as a way to stand out.
Being passionate is a good thing but just saying it doesn’t prove anything. Words like "passionate", "enthusiastic" and "motivated" are empty without evidence. What hiring managers want is proof of your drive and dedication.
It is what I call demonstrable skills. In media, but also in almost all sectors, it is critical to demonstrate what you have done well and what your skills are. The way to do this is through examples. You can't go into a job interview saying you are passionate about podcasting, unless you can show this. That means talking about what you listen to and why you like it, but also using examples of content you have created. Someone once told me they were passionate about radio, but at 20 years-old they had done nothing with audio. So not that passionate then?
Furthermore, you can use data to underline the passion. You can talk about creating a podcast and increasing its audience and explain how you did that. The numbers do not have to be huge for you to show you knew what you were doing.
One of the core ideas behind The Passion Principle is the power of specificity. Generic words like "passionate" are too vague, but specific details are persuasive. Think about the unique experiences that shaped your interest in your career. Did a particular project ignite your excitement? Did solving a challenging problem inspire you to learn more? Use these narratives to illustrate your enthusiasm in a way that no one else can replicate.
Your CV is your personal brand. To make it memorable, you need to be authentic and specific. Instead of leaning on overused buzzwords, use The Passion Principle to showcase real experiences, achievements, and growth. By doing this, you’ll not only communicate your enthusiasm but also your expertise and value.
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