Linked to LinkedIn

As you create a resume that makes you stand out as a worthy job candidate, there are certain words that are used to describe your unique characteristics or abilities.  The new thinking is to stay away from overused words. The five most “tired” words used on LinkedIn in the United States are “creative,” “organized,” “effective,” “motivated,” and “experienced”.

Some of these words can actually make recruiters who scour LinkedIn for new talent take a sharp turn and look elsewhere. According to LinkedIn’s annual study of the most overused words and phrases, the word “creative” was actually used by 187 million members of the professional social network.

If you are anticipating that a worthwhile job opportunity will surface, you must find a way to make your LinkedIn profile stand out. One thing you can do is describe projects you have worked on that make you truly unique and identify experience without using the adjective “experienced”, itself.

Other overused words and phrases are “track record”, “innovative,” “analytical,” and “problem solver”. Interestingly enough, these words change when viewing job candidates on a multinational level. Steer clear from the unimaginative way of thinking when identifying qualities for social media.

How do you proceed with your profile and eliminate the use of “tired words”? Check out the profiles of others in your Zip code with the same job title.  Look at people who are your peers and colleagues. You can identify what you like or don’t like about each of them. Get your network of connections to endorse your specific job skills. “You can add up to 50 relevant skills and areas of expertise (like ballet, iPhone and global business development) to your profile.”

Write a headline that is original. By default, your professional headline is based on the title you entered for your most recent position, but it does allow editing and revision.  Be “creative” with your headline.  It should be compelling.

The potential for LinkedIn and other social networking sites to play a major role in your employee recruiting strategy increases as millions of potential employees profile themselves on these sites each year. Employers are spammed with hundreds of resumes from unqualified applicants when they post on the big boards. It is no longer enough to use “Monster.com” or “CareerBuilder.com”.  Social media like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, is at the pinnacle of the job search arena in 2012.

The world of recruiting is changing. More and more the online focus rests on social networking sites and smaller, specialized job boards.

Source: “Tech Chronicles.” Tech Chronicles. Web. 04 Dec. 2012.

 

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