LinkedIn Says Most Overused Buzzwords Are...

I love how the first sentence after the list, the quote from LinkedIn's Chief Data Scientist, is also 100% Buzzword Compliant: LinkedIn has a <i>unique ability</i> that <i>reveal insights</i> that <i>help professionals</i> and much more.<p>If this is your kind of thing, check out Buzz Whack: <a href="http://buzzwhack.com/" rel="nofollow">http://buzzwhack.com/</a> .

There is nothing in the article that indicates anything about these phrases being "overused" - they are simply commonplace. If there was actual data connecting the use of these words with not being hired, we could say that these words should be avoided, but as it is, the whole page is pushing the unsupported assertion that popular words = overused.<p>That's like saying that the word 'the' is an overused buzzword in the English language and should be avoided in order to make yourself stand out from the crowd.<p>It looks like research design skills haven't quite caught up to the size of our data sets.

I don't know what they're talking about... My CV currently:<p>I am an entrepreneurial team player that has a proven track record being an innovative problem-solver. I have extensive experience operating in dynamic and fast-paced environments where I am results-orientated and extremely motivated.

These 'findings' are as obviously vacuous as the words they bemoan. I really hope this was just an off-handed observation by Patil and not a serious attempt at inquiry.<p>From LinkedIn:<p><i>DJ Patil’s Summary:<p>Diverse experiences in a wide range of domains. Strong experience in working in ambiguity to solve complex problems. Focus on strategy, development , operations, and defining unique solutions. Experience in developing unique solutions via broad partnerships. Always looking to innovate by bringing smart people together.<p>Excellent track record of innovating using data &#38; machine learning to develop revenue generating products.</i>

My favorite is "problem solver", the ones who use it carelessly in their resumes are usually "problem creators" instead.

PR Linkbait to get people to update their profiles - drives attention for LinkedIn, drives activity for their advertising. Buzzword problems with C.V's are not new at all. They needed all their data to figure out this?

I always found buzzwords to be both purposeful and innocuous at the same time. The effect seems to be to present the speaker as dynamic but at the same time not saying anything too controversial or that can easily be refuted in normal conversation.<p>I am sure there is a genuine motivation behind this form of speech - any linguists or psychologists care to shed any light on this ?

It seems everyone is "Entrepreneurial" nowadays.

I am shocked that "value" or "value add" didn't appear on this list. Everyday, I hear someone talk about how they "added value" or the need to be "value add" and each time I hear this I throw up in my mouth a little bit. It has gotten so out of hand that, for fun, I keep a sticky note on my desk and keep tally of how many buzzwords get used by my colleagues each day. Some fun facts from the sticky note:<p>Newest addition: "arrow in our quiver"<p>Most frequent sports analogy: "utility infielder"<p>Second most frequent sports analogy: to "tee up"

The same concept applies when applying for jobs.<p>Besides overusing cliche buzzwords (which is hard not to do), the biggest problem I see is that applicants send the same template response to all jobs postings. They ignore specific requests and details of the posting and simply apply in masse:<p><a href="http://www.customsoftwarebypreston.com/job-boards-resume-blasts" rel="nofollow">http://www.customsoftwarebypreston.com/job-boards-resume-bla...</a>

I was fully expecting 'passionate' to be no.1<p>I pretty much stop taking people seriously after they drop the P-bomb

the most I hate is "Visionary Entrepreneur"