LinkedIn buzzwords: Which words are SG marketers overusing?

The most used buzzword by Singapore marketers in 2017 was “specialise”, which shot up from third place in 2016, said LinkedIn, in its recent survey. Taking the second spot is “passionate” which went up two places from 2016, while third place went to “experienced”, which took sixth place in 2016.“Leadership” continued to stay in the ranking dropping from second place in 2017 to sixth place in 2017. “Strategic” dropped from the top spot in 2016 to fifth spot in 2017.Here are the top buzzwords used by Singapore marketers in 2017:1. Specialise2. Passionate3. Experienced4. Creative5. Strategic6. Leadership7. Skilled8. Expert9. Innovative10. Driven(Read also: Words marketers are most guilty of using to describe themselves on LinkedIn)Top 10 most overused words on LinkedIn in 2017 across all sectors. Meanwhile, across all sectors in Singapore, the most used word across “experienced”, which shot up five places from 2016. The second most used buzzword was “specialise” followed by “passionate” which took third place. Last year, both terms took the third and fourth place respectively. Overall, it was found that professionals in Singapore highlighted work experience more prominently than official certifications last year.Words such as “leadership” which took top spot in 2016 fell to fifth place in 2017, while “strategic” which was third place in 2016, fell to seventh place in 2017. Words such as “skilled” were new to the 2017 ranking.1. Experienced2. Specialise3. Passionate4. Skilled5. Leadership6. Expert7. Strategic8. Motivated9. Responsible10. CreativeThe LinkedIn report added that the shift in preference from generic terms to words showcasing specific expertise is consistent with changes in the job environment, which demand greater mastery of skills.“In Singapore, there is a strong emphasis on upskilling our workforce and encouraging our workforce to adopt a continuous learning mindset. Hence, it’s not a surprise when professionals here are keen to highlight their skills through experience, passion and even creativity,” Linda Lee, LinkedIn’s head of communications for Southeast Asia and North Asia, said.For marketers looking to improve on their online profiles, here are five tips to take note of for the year ahead.Take pride in your online appearance – Help your ideal employer find you by ensuring your LinkedIn profile is complete and sells you in the best possible way. This can start with the right profile picture, which makes your profile 21 times more likely to be viewed than others. If you consider yourself a “specialist”, you should tailor your profile accordingly by listing relevant skills which have been built up through your work experience.Show character – While the words you choose say a lot about you, it is also important to strike a professional tone – by being assertive and direct when talking about your achievements. In addition, you should not shy away from adding some personality to your language as it is a great way to show your character.Words don’t need to do all the talking – instead of saying you are “creative”, show recruiters that you are by including presentations, video, design work and projects you take pride in. This is important in standing out as you only have five to 10 seconds to impress a potential employer in a sea of potential candidates.Be active – Proactivity is also key when it comes to networking. As such, you should follow organisations that inspire you, or that you’d love to work for on LinkedIn. You should make new connections, join groups and participate in discussions. This keeps your profile active and shows recruiters that you’re plugged in to what’s happening in your industry.Voice your opinion – If you are an “expert” on a given topic, you should consider telling the world by publishing a post on LinkedIn. By offering your opinions on industry matters, it demonstrates that you are knowledgeable and well informed.(Photo courtesy: 123RF)