Are you looking for a term to show you were challenged by something but found it rewarding?
Perhaps you’re concerned that simply writing “challenging but rewarding” is insincere or informal.
Don’t worry, though! That’s why we’re here.
This article will teach you how to say “challenging but rewarding” when you need to mix things up.
Is It Professional to Say “Challenging But Rewarding”?
It is professional to say “challenging but rewarding.” It’s a positive way to describe something you found initially challenging, but you were glad to get through it and reap the rewards.
For the most part, it’s something you might include in a resume. After all, it could be a good way for you to talk about something you went through that helped you to grow as an employee.
Check out this resume sample to learn more about it:
This course was challenging but rewarding. Therefore, I’m very glad I took part in it and got the qualification.
Pros
- It’s a positive way to show how well you handle a challenge.
- It’s direct and clear.
Cons
- It can seem a bit too insincere in some cases.
- It’s a bit generic and doesn’t inspire the reader’s imagination.
So, “challenging but rewarding” is great to use in your writing. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only usable phrase! In fact, there are plenty more out there.
Keep reading to learn how to say “challenging but rewarding” in a positive way. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best phrases to help you branch out.
What to Say Instead of “Challenging But Rewarding”
- Demanding yet fulfilling
- Rigorous but gratifying
- Testing but satisfying
- Taxing yet enriching
- More than worth the effort
- Formidable but worthwhile
- Difficult yet fruitful
- Proud to have completed
- Intense but beneficial
1. Demanding Yet Fulfilling
You can use “demanding yet fulfilling” instead of “challenging but rewarding.”
The key with phrases like this is to always introduce a positive spin. Therefore, while “demanding” looks negative, “fulfilling” shows that it was worth you doing whatever it was.
So, you can use this to describe qualifications you’ve achieved in your career.
It’s usually a good way to gratify your work and show recruiters what you’ve done. This could help your prospects with most job applications, so it’s always worth a go.
Check out these resume samples to learn a bit more about it:
This qualification was demanding yet fulfilling. It’s perhaps one of my proudest achievements, and I hope to use it more.
It was demanding yet fulfilling, and I look forward to seeing how this course will affect my daily workload.
2. Rigorous but Gratifying
Next, you can write “rigorous but gratifying” as another way to say “challenging but rewarding.”
When you’re trying to figure out another way to show that something is difficult but rewarding, it’s worth mixing up the adjectives chosen.
After all, “rigorous” isn’t as commonly seen as “challenging.” Therefore, it’ll help your resume and cover letters to stand out.
The same goes for “gratifying.” It’s a solid synonym, but it’s not something people often use. So, including it in your writing will help you to set yourself above the rest of the crowd.
Feel free to review these examples if you still need help understanding it:
It’s quite rigorous but gratifying work. But I’m ready for something that’s going to challenge me even further.
The workload has always been rigorous but gratifying. So, I’m no stranger to a challenge when I need one.
3. Testing but Satisfying
Another word for “challenging but rewarding” would be “testing but satisfying.”
This is a fantastic choice that shows just how good something is to achieve. It shows that you “tested” yourself, but you were “satisfied” with the overall outcome.
For the most part, this works wonders when impressing an employer.
After all, it shows them that you’re willing to put yourself through uncomfortable situations to develop your professional skills.
And we all know that the better you work under pressure or during challenges, the better you become as an employee! Employers will always look for phrases like this.
So, check out these examples to learn a little bit more:
It has been very testing but satisfying work. I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved, and I look forward to developing further.
This course was testing but satisfying. I’m now able to teach it to others if you’d like me to bring it with me.
4. Taxing Yet Enriching
When something is challenging yet rewarding, you could say it’s “taxing yet enriching.”
Again, it’s a simple one-for-one swap that works well to stand out from the crowd.
“Taxing” replaces “challenging,” and “enriching” replaces “rewarding.”
Therefore, this is an excellent way to showcase your skills or achievements. Basically, if you think you put a lot of work into achieving something, this phrase works well.
It’ll help you to stand out from other applicants, and recruiters will often remember that you’ve used a phrase like this.
Here are some CV samples that will also show you how it works:
It was one of the most taxing yet enriching times of my life. I learned a lot, and I am where I am today because of it.
It’s all very taxing yet enriching work. Every day is a new challenge, and I’m excited to see what awaits me.
5. More Than Worth the Effort
Now, let’s move on to email situations. After all, “challenging but rewarding” can also work quite well in emails.
So, you can write “more than worth the effort” to describe a challenging but rewarding experience.
It’s exciting and clear, letting the recipient know how much you got out of something.
Therefore, use this when writing to your boss. If they’re checking in to ask about a recent project you completed, a phrase like this will help them understand what you thought of it.
It’s also friendly, so it works best when you already have a good relationship with them.
Feel free to review this email sample to learn more:
Dear Miss Scott,
The project was more than worth the effort, and I hope I can do something similar again.
Please let me know when you have more for me to complete.
All the best,
Sam Rogers
6. Formidable but Worthwhile
You can also write “formidable but worthwhile” when writing a formal email.
It’s a good chance for you to express your opinion on a course your employer might have gotten you to take.
It shows that you were challenged or pushed to your limits. However, if you found the outcome “worthwhile,” it’s good to use something like this to highlight your positivity.
For the most part, this phrase keeps things positive and sincere. That’s why it works quite well when expressing a challenging experience.
Check out the following sample email if you still need help:
Dear Ms. Firth,
The course was formidable but worthwhile overall.
I’ll happily do something like that again if it allows me to advance myself further.
All the best,
Joey Worcester
7. Difficult Yet Fruitful
You may also write “difficult yet fruitful” instead of “challenging but rewarding.”
This could be a good choice when emailing a coworker. If you’ve both been tasked to work on the same project, something like this could be used to let them know how worthwhile it’ll be.
It’s quite a friendly option to include. It’s not quite as intense or formal as the others, making it a better choice when you have a good relationship with the recipient.
Here’s a helpful sample email to show you a bit more:
Dear Adrian,
I know it’ll be quite difficult yet fruitful.
That’s what our boss said about it, so I think it’ll be worth us looking into this.
Yours,
Hillary Cliffe
8. Proud to Have Completed
It’s also good to write “proud to have completed” instead of “challenging but rewarding.”
The idea here is that you’re proud you managed to get through something. This suggests it was quite taxing, but you’re happy with the positive result.
The phrase itself is formal and respectful. So, you can use it when writing to a teacher after completing an assignment you found quite tricky.
Also, it’s worth reviewing this example to learn more:
Dear Mr. Blackburn,
Let’s just say I am proud to have completed the assignment.
It was quite a challenge, but I’m certain I’ll be a better student from it.
Kind regards,
Morris Dark
9. Intense but Beneficial
Finally, we recommend using “intense but beneficial.” You can use this to describe a professional qualification you may have received.
Generally, it’s a good choice when writing to a recruiter. You can include something like this in an application letter or email to show them what you think of a qualification you have.
Overall, it’s quite formal and sincere. It’s also a powerful way to show how much work went into achieving something you found challenging.
This sample will help you understand it better if you’re still confused:
Dear Ms. Hart,
The qualification course itself was intense but beneficial.
I’m so glad I took the time to get it sorted before applying for more roles.
All the best,
Joe Sutton