​It's no doubt that LinkedIn is one of the key tools that many job seekers use when looking for a job. With over 460 million users, it is also no secret that recruiters and employers trawl LinkedIn when looking for candidates.

Your first impression

With a recent study showing that most people make a decision about a LinkedIn profile in five to 10 seconds, it is more important than ever to make sure that your profile stands out. This means in order to get noticed, you must differentiate yourself from your peers. Part of this process involves eliminating or minimising the use of common buzzwords that can make your profile look generic.

What buzzwords should I avoid?

LinkedIn has recently identified the 10 most overused buzzwords for 2017. Have a go at eliminating these from your profile, and replace them with words that are more unique to your skillset:

• Specialised

• Leadership

• Passionate

• Experienced

• Strategic

• Focused

• Expert

• Creative

• Successful

• Excellent

What LinkedIn says

In a recent article by the Huffington Post, LinkedIn Head of Communications Australia and New Zealand Shiva Kumar said: “People get into the habit of using generic words instead of creating a profile that reflects who you are. You might not be able to avoid all the buzzwords, especially given we live in a world of buzzwords but if you are using one or two, then make sure you add some evidence to back up that particular word. If you say you're passionate about app development, then show an article you've written about the topic, or the projects you've done. This makes your profile a bit more credible, otherwise you become one of the crowd rather than standing out.”

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