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<p>They won’t take it as “papering over a dullard’s record”…but a sign that the applicant doesn’t have much to offer beyond a strong work-ethic. </p>
<p>In some academic/workplace milieu’s I’ve been in…that’s also considered a bit meaningless as being a “hard worker” is EXPECTED/ASSUMED…not something to single out someone for praises/compliments. As such…it is often taken as “damning with faint praise”. </p>
<p>I’ve often had to advise young neighbors applying to colleges to never use the term “hard worker” for that reason. It is also superfluous if you follow the maxim to “show rather than tell”.</p>