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Subscribe to RSSIf you’re looking for a job, chances are you have a LinkedIn account.
And chances are, that LinkedIn profile says that you have extensive experience in your field, are innovative, motivated and results-oriented.
You probably even have a proven track record.
Don’t be embarrassed. Everyone else on LinkedIn is saying the same things about themselves.
The job networking site released a list Tuesday of the most overused buzzwords on its U.S. members’ LinkedIn profiles. The company said the list is based on an analysis of the site’s more than 85 million profiles worldwide.
Here’s the full list:
- Extensive experience
- Innovative
- Motivated
- Results-oriented
- Dynamic
- Proven track record
- Team player
- Fast-paced
- Problem solver
- Entrepreneurial
LinkedIn said it released the list to help its members find better, more unique ways of describing themselves. For example, instead of saying you have “extensive experience,” the company recommends describing how many years of experience you have and what you accomplished in that time.
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The reality is that we have no control over getting people to hire us. We've been given the illusion that we do, but no more. The most important asset someone has is to do the best job in a position, and make more of yourself while in it. That's it.
It's as it's always been; it's not what you know, but who you know that really matters.
If you know someone who's hiring and they know/like you and/or your work, the application, vacancy announcement and all manner of other things can be tailored toward your getting the job.
And that's how "civil service" works!
I've never met a LinkedIn(vitatation) I couldn't ignore.
Real networking (people to people) works. Cyber networking is a shadow of true human contact and conversation.
I agree with you. Also, networking has seemed to me to become a lost art. Most kids coming out of college don't know how to do it. I just graduated with a Master's. I have some connections, but past that building my network has seemed daunting due to my lack of skill. I'm working hard to build my skill set, but I know I'm not the only one in this boat. It is difficult to genuinely meet people, build a relationship that is mutually beneficial, in just enough to get them to offer you their resources. My next step in networking is to start volunteering with my local professional organization, I'm hoping that'll lead to more solid relationships in my field.
LinkedIn is not going to help you get a job. It is only going to help you further lose your privacy. That is why for YEARS they would not allow you to delete emails - so they could profile you more completely. In this day and age you better be careful about what info you put out there for the world to view about you.
I don't think that not allowing you to delete emails has anything to do with profiling. After all if that was their sole concern, they could simply have opted to hide from sight any emails that you wanted 'deleted', without hindering their data-mining operations at all.
Help me out here -- What were the other valid reason(s) for not allowing you the ability to delete emails again Robert?
Robert,
Allow me to explain the "big enough to drive a truck through" hole in your logic, (while I wait for your "good reason for keeping emails that you don't intend to use", and oh, by the way, spend lots of money on drive space to store these emails you aren't using and backup time, media and effort on those same emails...)
If LinkedIn were to do as you suggest, they would either have to disclose this on their privacy policy, which surely would be noticed by a sharp individual and an embarrassing (to LinkedIn) discussion would surely result. This would not be a viable approach.
If LinkedIn chose not to disclose this, but mined the data as you suggest, thereby violating their privacy policy, they would subject themselves to significant legal exposure. This would not be a viable approach.
The approach they chose to take was to disable the functionality to delete emails. Since it was not a possibility for you to delete emails, then you could have no expectation that that information would be treated any other way than information you posted in your profile.
There was discussion of this exact Privacy Concern on the Internet months ago, which is the likely reason that the functionality was finally enabled. They are a multi-million dollar endeavor and very technically sophisticated.
This wasn't just something that was overlooked...
@John. Alternatively it was just shoddy design. Which is very possible considering many of the other shortcomings of the early LinkedIn site.
Remember Hanlon's Razor:
Really?
They were able to pull off EVERY other aspect of this massive project so capably as to become a "darling of the tech world", but simultaneously were "too stupid" to know how to provide the functionality for users to delete emails?
Sorry, this explanation simply doesn't hold any water at all...
Priority then?
The whole reason that they are the darling of the tech world looks to be more marketing based than anything else. That fact that your updates weren't filled with auto-play music or game-updates probably helped as well.
Most people are only on linked in because other people are on linked in. Also it was one of the few sited that actually did allow you to post your resume and recommendations online.
We will have to "agree to disagree" on their motivations.
Perhaps I have worked in Corporate America a bit too long, where very little like this is any type of an accident at all. Rather it is usually the direct result of an "overriding philosophy regarding how People Deserve to be Treated vs. The Companies Interests," that is in place and shapes all policies, procedures and priorities...
You seem like a very good fellow. I hope that one of those phone calls to you is an awesome job offer for you! Have a nice Holiday Season!
@John. Agreed. Perhaps it's that I worked mainly in corporate The Netherlands. :)
Best of luck to you, and a wonderful collection of December feasts too. May you get many job offers. ^.^
Those who underestimate LinkedIn's power when you are in Job Search are missing the boat.
Half of the manager's that I speak with are using it in their sorting process (way too many resumes). A powerful profile will drive the reader to one conclusion, "It's going to be the best business decision that I make today, if I hire this individual."
I'm a featured speaker, on LinkedIn and many other Job Search topics for The New York Public Library's JOB SEARCH CENTRAL.
You can see my full LinkedIn Lecture for NYPL at
http://www.nypl.org/audiovideo/building-your-professional-network-linkedin-and-how-use-it-your-job-search
John Crant
Author, Career Coach & Speaker
on Job Search and Career Management
Featured Speaker for
The New York Public Library's JOB SEARCH CENTRAL
See "What Others Are Saying" at:
http://www.selfrecruiter.com/recommendations
john@selfrecruiter.com
Direct: 212-372-9878
View my LinkedIn Profile at:
www.linkedin.com/in/johncrant
Those who underestimate LinkedIn's power when you are in Job Search are missing the boat.
Half of the manager's that I speak with are using it in their sorting process (way too many resumes). A powerful profile will drive the reader to one conclusion, "It's going to be the best business decision that I make today, if I hire this individual."
I'm a featured speaker, on LinkedIn and many other Job Search topics for The New York Public Library's JOB SEARCH CENTRAL.
You can see my full LinkedIn Lecture for NYPL at
http://www.nypl.org/audiovideo/building-your-professional-network-linkedin-and-how-use-it-your-job-search
John Crant
Author, Career Coach & Speaker
on Job Search and Career Management
Featured Speaker for
The New York Public Library's JOB SEARCH CENTRAL
See "What Others Are Saying" at:
http://www.selfrecruiter.com/recommendations
john@selfrecruiter.com
Direct: 212-372-9878
View my LinkedIn Profile at:
www.linkedin.com/in/johncrant
 "more unique" How can you be "more unique"---you either are unique or you aren't. My dictionary defines "unique" as existing as the only one or sole example.
Sorry but I have been on both sides of the equation - looking for a job and helping staff up and NOBODY used LinkedIn or any other SNS (Monster and Careerbuilder dont count). Scan the wanteds, send in a resume, go to job fairs (IN PERSON), and interview. You can chat all day but until you find and apply for a job that is actually hiring, you are going to be unemployed. Goes ditto for those "groups" of unemployed folks that meet to commiserate. Yacking may make you feel better but wont get you a job.
It's kinda funny: When I was a kid, my parents used to always say: "You're not in school to socialize, you're in school to learn!". Now that I'm older, they say: "It's not what you know but WHO you know!".  Well, all that socializing paid off I guess! :)
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Heh. My father used to tell me "You can make it with who you know, and break it with what you don't".