Don't be 'dynamic' or 'innovative', be 'creative'!

BANGALORE, INDIA: Are you a result-oriented 'team player' with 'extensive experience'? Or perhaps you have a 'proven track record' and 'innovative' skill set... According to LinkedIn, you probably are....

The career-focused social network released the 10 most overused words and phrases in resumes among the company's 85 million profiles, demonstrating that job-seekers are not exactly being creative.

'Dynamic', 'innovative' and 'extensive experience' were the three most overused expressions, followed by 'team player' ,'motivated' and 'proactive'.

'Proven track record', 'value add ', 'skill set' and 'out-of- the-box' rounded out the list.

“We have the unique ability to uncover interesting workplace trends in our data given the high volume of people with profiles on LinkedIn,” said DJ Patil, LinkedIn's chief data scientist. “In this case, we wanted to reveal insights that help professionals make better choices about how to position themselves online whether they are reaching out to new clients or networking with peers.”

“Phrases like 'extensive experience' and 'proven track record' can appear empty to a potential employer and may do more harm than good when you include them in your profile or resume,” said Lindsey Pollak, a career and workplace expert.

“If you’re using any of these 10 terms, wipe them out. Instead, note that you have eight to ten years of experience or that you increased sales by 300 per cent. Include meaningful phrases that apply specifically to highlights that you’ve achieved in your career,” said Pollak.