LinkedIn reveals most overused buzzwords

LinkedIn has shared the buzzwords you should avoid if you want to stand out from the crowd. Photo / 123RF

New data from LinkedIn has revealed the common buzzwords you should avoid at all costs if you want to stand out from the crowd.

According to the professional networking site, the most overused words on Australian profiles are experienced, specialise, passionate, skilled, leadership, motivated, expert, strategic, successful and creative.

"Specialise" and "passionate" were also in the top three in last year's list, while "excellent" and "focused" have completely disappeared this year in favour of "skilled" and "motivated".

Shiva Kumar, LinkedIn's head of brand and communications in Australia and New Zealand, said it was important to differentiate your profile from others.

"More and more we are seeing recruiters use keywords to identify the perfect candidates," he said.

"It is important that Australian professionals are using the right words in their profiles to

ensure they are standing out and putting their best foot forward to land the right job."

Kumar said the best ways to make your profile sing was to use professional photographs, show character and personality and back up adjectives with practical examples of how they applied to you.

"We've been doing this for seven years now and the reason why we do it is to tell members you're not really being different by using these words," he said.

"You need to make it tangible to make it count — everyone can be passionate and an expert, but to stand out you have to say something more substantial.

"When you say you're passionate about a specific area, what did you do that shows you went the extra mile? Demonstrate things you did rather than just using words."

Kumar urged LinkedIn users to always include a photo of themselves.

"Having a recent photo is a must. We have found that putting a face to a profile gets you 230 times more professional views so it's really important to build the trust factor with connections with a credible photo," he said.

"You don't need to have a photoshoot, you just need a professional-looking photo."

Another hot tip is to include your city, with profiles including a location 23 times more likely to turn heads.

Kumar said it was also important to be active on the site by sharing your opinions on relevant industry news to show you knew your stuff.

The 2017 global list of buzzwords reveals an increased use of "leadership" in recent years.

Professor Rodney Jones from the University of Reading attributes this to the notion that companies are becoming less hierarchical, with even junior members being expected to demonstrate leadership.