The Top 10 Most Abused Buzz Words on LinkedIn

With over 85 million people, LinkedIn has its hands on a veritable treasure trove of data. And it's putting it to good use, uncovering the most over-used buzz words in LinkedIn profiles. The idea is to showcase what words and expressions are used so often they lose all their meaning and may end up driving a potential employer away.

Without further ado, here are the top ten most used buzz words in LinkedIn US profiles:

1. Extensive experience 2. Innovative 3. Motivated 4. Results-oriented 5. Dynamic

6. Proven track record 7. Team player 8. Fast-paced 9. Problem solver 10. Entrepreneurial

If you're using any of them, it may be a good idea to find something more original, or, better yet, dial down on the buzz words and start writing what you're actually good at and what you've achieved so far.

"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," Lindsey Pollak, a career and workplace expert, explained for LinkedIn.

"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 percent. Include meaningful phrases that apply specifically to highlights you’ve achieved in your career," she added.

Elsewhere in the world, the results are fairly similar. "Extensive experience" is the top used word in the US, Canada and Australia. But "Innovative" is even more abused, it's the top word in four different countries. "Dynamic" is the top word in Spain, India and Brazil.

Fortunately, LinkedIn has better suggestions for getting potential employers to notice your profile. And, as luck would have it, all have to do with spending more time on the site.

One suggestion is to include past work experience in your profile. LinkedIn says recruiters are 12 times more likely to review your profile if you have at least a few positions listed. Another is to connect with more people by importing more contacts from other online sources.