If you are in the job market, odds are good that you already have a profile on Linkedin and know how important it is to have a strong social and professional network. But, there are some things you can do to give your Linkedin profile a edge. According to a report by the social networking site, there are some buzz words that many people use that don't actually have any meaning. The terms are so overused that they have lost their impact and should be avoided at all costs.
Here are some of the most common buzz words you should avoid:
1. Extensive experience
2. Innovative
3. Motivated
4. Results-oriented
5. Dynamic
6. Proven track record
7. Team player
8. Fast-paced
9. Problem solver
10. Entrepreneurial
These words should be avoided at all costs. They are basically empty words with no real, measurable results. So, how can you get rid of these words? Well, the best way is to replace them with words that actually measure your success. For example, “proven track record” could be replaced with “twenty years of success”. When employers come across these types of empty words, their eyes glaze over. They just don't mean anything and end up hurting your cause rather than bolstering it.
And while you are re-writing your Linkedin profile, here is the full list of the top 40 most commonly used words according to Linkedin:
1. Best-in-Breed
2. Best-in-Class
3. Bottom-Line Oriented
4. Client Focused
5. Creative Thinker
6. Cutting Edge
7. Detail Oriented
8. Driven Professional
9. Dynamic
10. Entrepreneurial
11. Evangelist
12. Extensive Experience
13. Fast Paced
14. Go-To Person
15. Goal Oriented
16. Guru
17. Highly Skilled
18. Innovative
19. Motivated
20. Multi-Tasker
21. Out-of-the-Box
22. Perfectionist
23. Proactive
24. Problem Solver
25. Proven Track Record
26. Quality Driven
27. Quick Learner
28. Results-Oriented
29. Road Warrior
30. Seasoned Professional
31. Self-Starter
32. Skill Set
33. Strategic Thinker
34. Strong Work Ethic
35. Team Player
36. Tiger Team
37. Trustworthy
38. Value Add (Added)
39. Works Well Under Pressure
40. Works Well With Others
If, when looking over this list, you find that you are guilty of using these words, try to come up with ways to say the same thing but in a way that can show your skills and talents in a measurable way. The problem is that when trying to write our own marketing campaign, it is easy to fall back on these well-used cliches, but most cliches often come with their own set of built-in stereotypes. For example , someone who describes themselves as a “seasoned professional” can be read as “older worker who is stuck in their ways” and a self described “multi-tasker” could be someone who lacks vision and direction and is good at doing many things but not able to excel at any specific task. And, of course, people who say they are “trustworthy”, rarely are. And other words are just meaningless. For example, what does “dynamic” mean, or “motivated” or “problem solver”? Most employees have different sides, and are motivated to get a job done, or at the least, they are motivated to get a paycheck. Even monkeys are problem solvers, so saying that you are a “problem solver” doesn't tell the employer anything real and concrete about you.
If you want to really stand out, look through your profile for these over-used words and cliches to find ways that you can tell a potential employer who you are in a way that is specific and easily understandable. So, a dynamic, motivated problem-solver can quickly become an enthusiastic employee who understands the challenges of identifying problems and finding quick, economical solutions and is determined to make each client happy.
So, take a look and see if your profile could use a little updating.
Are you looking for a job in Communications? Be sure to visit CommunicationsJobs.net.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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