Wow, talk about tough questions! What sprang to mind were all the phrases that people should avoid like the plague, so I had to do some fast thinking to come up with one that I loved. After mentally narrowing down my options, I settled on one: 'talented people'.

When used correctly, this has an 80% chance of success. Here's how to use it: in the interview, when asked why you want to work at XYZ corporation, you reply, "I would love to work at XYZ because I really want to work with a group of talented people, and your reputation in the field is incredible." This implies that you, Joe Jobseeker, are brighter than the average job seeker and either possess talent as well or strive to be in that realm of talent so as to challenge yourself. It also implies that you want to work with the best of the best, in a dynamic atmosphere, where ideas flow and the energy is high. You get the idea! This phrase compliments the company, states something about your character, and lets the hiring manager know that you not only have researched the reputation of the company but also know something of the corporate dynamic, and perhaps even the personalities of the people that already work there. Whew! That's pretty powerful!

When NOT to use this phrase? If you are applying for a job that is known to be repetitious or you would be working solo. In either of those cases, it probably wouldn't be the best idea to work the 'talented people' phrase into the interview, and may make you seem as if you didn't know anything about the company or the job for which you were applying.

So, for all of those 'talented people' out there, good luck, and don't forget to use this phrase!