Most overused professional buzzwords in Canada

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1. Creative
2. Effective
3. Motivated
4. Extensive experience
5. Problem solving
6. Track record
7. Innovative
8. Communication skills
9. Dynamic
10. Interpersonal skills

“Competition for opportunities can be fierce, so craft your LinkedIn Profile and resume to stand out from the professional pack,” said Nicole Williams, LinkedIn’s Connection Director and best-selling author of the book, “Girl on Top.” “Even though this year’s list of overused terms differs from last year’s, your objectives remain the same: Banish buzzwords from your profile. Use language that illustrates your unique professional accomplishments and experiences. Give concrete examples of results you’ve achieved whenever possible and reference attributes that are specific to you.”

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In LinkedIn’s 2010 study, buzzwords like “extensive experience,” “dynamic,” “motivated,” and “innovative” ranked as the most overused buzzwords in various countries. Since LinkedIn’s global membership has grown from 85 million to more than 135 million members since the 2010 buzzwords analysis, that list has changed. Here are the 2011 number one buzzwords for countries that LinkedIn fielded the study in:

• Creative: Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States
• Multinational: Brazil
• Dynamic: France
• Effective: India
• Problem solving: Italy
• Motivated: Ireland
• Managerial: Spain
• Track record: Singapore

“As business winds down for the holidays, snag a few minutes to add some sparkle to your LinkedIn Profile and resume,” added Williams. “Make sure you’re putting your best foot forward to tackle your professional resolutions.” Here are some tips professionals can act on over the holidays to increase the number of people viewing their LinkedIn Profile:

Showcase your skills

LinkedIn tracks thousands of hot, up-and-coming professional skills on LinkedIn Skills. Add relevant LinkedIn Skills to your profile so that you come up in search results when other professionals need someone like you for a project, to get advice or for an open position that they have.

Come highly recommended

Recommendations on LinkedIn spread virally, and give those viewing your profile a sense of who you are as a professional. Request LinkedIn Recommendations from past managers and clients, and be sure hint at why you're asking for the recommendation (to get more clients, to find a new job, etc.) as well as the types of things the recommender can comment on. ("Brad, I'd really appreciate it if you could give me a recommendation regarding the ABC project that I worked on that resulted in us increasing sales by 120 percent.")

Accentuate your profile

Make sure your LinkedIn Profile is complete and includes all the roles you have had. You are 12 times more likely to be viewed for potential opportunities if you have more than one position listed on your profile. Also, add a profile photo – people never forget a face. If you’d like more information in regards to how LinkedIn uncovered these findings, please visit the LinkedIn Blog.

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