I’ve been editing and mock interviewing up a storm recently, and I want to offer a tip: Avoid words like “various,” “numerous,” and “several.”
“I’ve been involved in various community service projects” can imply a lack of true substance or even an attempt at obfuscation. (Is it just two afternoon health fairs you’re talking about?) Worse still, your strong accomplishments are overlooked when you lack specificity. It may feel redundant to showcase an activity you highlighted in your application materials, but – as you’ve heard me say before – your reader/interviewer is likely reviewing scores of candidacies. Yours won’t stand out if you don’t make it.
