Everybody Writes, 2nd Edition



85Writing Your LinkedIn Profile

Buzzwords Are Buzzkills

Does your LinkedIn profile say that you are a “strategic, creative, passionate expert skilled at leading innovative and effective programs driving impact across the organization”?

Please say no.

If that is you, you sound like a million other professionals (literally!) on LinkedIn: The world's largest professional network has more than 830 million members—about the same number of miles Saturn is from Earth.¹

We've talked about using words that best describe you, and not just words that could describe anyone else, in previous sections of this book. That includes being more intentional with the words we use in our social media bios—and especially our LinkedIn profiles.

LinkedIn sporadically releases a list of the top buzzwords and phrases culled from LinkedIn member profiles. The most recent U.S. list includes these gems: specialized, experienced, leadership, skilled, passionate, expert, motivated, creative, strategic, and successful.²

Don't sound like everyone else. Instead, let's seek out bold words that differentiate us from others. Let's then tie those attributes to tangible results.

“Differentiate yourself by uniquely describing what you have accomplished … and back it up with concrete examples of your work by adding photos, videos, and presentations to your LinkedIn Profile that demonstrate your best work,” writes career expert Nicole Williams, adding: “Providing concrete examples ...