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Whether the setting be a resume, cover letter or interview, there are certain words you should never use to describe yourself, though they might be great when used in a recommendation or other instance where people are describing you.

Inc’s Jeff Haden lists the top ten terms to strike from your self-description and what those in a hiring position really hear when you use these words.

1. Generous. Take it from Adam Grant, an expert on the subject of giving and taking. Generosity is in the eye of the beholder.

“Generosity is earned, not claimed,” he writes. “Leave it to other people to describe you as a giver–that’s the highest form of praise.”

The most generous people I know give without fanfare and without seeking accolades. Their giving is so far under the radar it’s subterranean. And they don’t consider themselves to be generous since they’re always thinking they could do more.

All of us can be more generous than we are. While relative to what others give you might be more generous than most, if that’s the case let other people describe you that way.

After all, true generosity is often found in people who are also…

2. Humble. I like to think I’m humble. (Maybe I am, at least compared to this guy…)

But I’m really not.

Case in point. Last week, I showed two different people, totally unprompted, a photo of me with Mark Cuban at GrowCo. (I took a photo of Mark with someone else that was actually worthy of comment.) Sure, meeting Mark was cool, but showing off the photo was definitely a d– move. (Yep, I’ve still got a lot of growing up to do.)

Truly humble people don’t call themselves humble, if only because they’re too humble to ever say it.

Full story at Inc.

The psychology behind what you’re really saying.

Graphics credit: Canva