In essence, people who overuse corporate cliches and jargon become what are disparagingly referred to as “corporate clones.” A corporate clone is someone who simply imitates others he or she believes represent “professionalism,” “leadership” or other vague and essentially meaningless buzzwords.
University Admission Essays – Avoid Cliches
About 30% of application essays from the financial industry make this mistake: It involves using the cliche, "thinking outside the box." The first time anybody ever referred to "thinking outside the box," it was an original and brilliant metaphor. Ever since then, however, it has been tired, worn-out imitation – a cliche.
Asians who are non-native speakers of English often use this cliche when writing university admissions essays, perhaps to prove they aren’t two-dimensional followers of rules and are capable of thinking creatively.
The problem is that, by describing themselves as capable of "outside-the-box-thinking," rather than simply saying they can be creative, they immediately disprove the thing they are trying to prove. To further explain, by using this worn-out metaphor (or any other common corporate jargon), they offer evidence of their own lack of ability to "think outside the box.”
If admissions candidates want to demonstrate their ability to “think outside the box,” they need to stop using tired, worn-out cliches like, “think outside the box.”
Don’t Imitate Writing Style of University Marketing Material or Admissions Essay Questions
“But everyone in my office uses these words all the time. These words are all over our corporate documents!” exclaims the candidate. “I even read these words in the business news!” – And that is exactly why the successful candidate won't use them. Providing evidence of leadership is not about demonstrating ability to imitate others.
Even the admissions committees who write the mba essay questions often fall into this trap. Certainly the university marketing writers do. But don’t be fooled – Imitating the marketing literature or even the admissions committee's own writing still amounts to imitating others. The point is: Don’t imitate anyone. Successful candidates find their own real voice.
Common University Application Essay Offenders
Some common buzzwords and corporate jargon to avoid:
Leverage (as a verb): From a strict grammatical standpoint, “leverage” is always a noun and never a verb. However, this buzzword is common enough in corporate jargon that it kind of makes its own grammar. “Leverage” can often be found sprinkled throughout every one of the candidate’s essays, as if the candidate seemed to think it was some kind of secret password that, repeated enough times, would gain them admission into an elite business school or university program. It won’t.
Using this word more than once will draw attention to it’s use, making the candidate seem as if he or she is trying too hard to impress. Such attempts to impress (without real credentials) hint at insecurity and immaturity. Better to avoid “leverage” altogether. Use words like, “use,” “utilize” or “exploit,” but mix them. Phrases like “take advantage of” can also work.
Key (as an adjective): This adjective is used so often, it screams imitation – avoid “key” as an adjective. Use “vital,” “important,” “crucial,” etc., but mix them.
Tool set: This is useful for fixing things around the house, but it’s also handy if the candidate wants to look like every other candidate. Say “skills.”
Value-added (as an adjectival phrase): It adds absolutely no value. Get rid of it.
Obtain: A high-sounding word for "get," with no value added.
Professionalism: What does this word even mean? Does it mean imitating others? Don’t use it!
Leadership: Don’t write the word but do show it through concrete examples. Tell stories that display leadership, but don’t use the word. "Leadership" is meaningless without concrete examples and unnecessary with them. (Hint: It’s not about imitating others.)
Successful University Admission Candidates are not Corporate Clones
Second-language speakers of English should be somewhat forgiven for these gaffs – but that doesn’t mean the admission committee will forgive them. The term, “corporate clone” properly refers to native speakers of English who imitate the cliches and corporate jargon of others. To everyone around themselves they give the impression of being uncreative and a little dumb. Their speech patterns reflect their thinking patterns – completely unoriginal, absolutely not “outside-the-box” imitations of others – more akin to follower-ship than genuine leadership. Successful admissions candidates don't sound like them.
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