Are you a “creative” marketer? What about a “strategic” thinker? Or maybe you’re “driven,” “passionate” or “dedicated.”
At first glance, all these adjectives are useful. These qualities are what employers are looking for in new hires, but each of these words also carres the weight of over-use, rendering them nearly meaningless – at least according to LinkedIn.
The social network recently released its list of the top 10 overused buzzwords on LinkedIn profiles in Canada. The list serves as a warning: steer clear of these words if you want to stand out in the crowd.
Instead of over-used – and thus hollow – descriptors, LinkedIn recommends users fill their profiles with actual examples of business success. Instead of saying they have leadership skills, LinkedIn says users should show how they’ve been a leader, and provide the results to back up their claims.
Here’s the full list:
1. Leadership
2. Passionate
3. Motivated
4. Creative
5. Strategic
6. Dedicated
6. Extensive experience
8. Driven
9. Successful
10. Organizational
The company also released a slideshow presentation with tips for polishing up a profile and a series of comics by Marketoonist. Take a look.
