LinkedIn lists overused business buzzwords

You certainly may be motivated, dynamic, results-oriented and entrepreneurial, but please don't use those terms on your LinkedIn profile.

They're among the top 10 overused buzzwords on the site, according to DJ Patil, chief data scientist at LinkedIn.com, who oversaw an analysis of more than 85 million user profiles.

The goal, he said in a statement this week, was 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." Other words and terms on the list that users might want to purge or improve with the help of a thesaurus: innovative, team player, fast-paced, problem solver, extensive experience, proven track record.

Cheryl Pagliuca, recruitment and marketing specialist at Lloyd Staffing in Melville, said she and colleagues had just been bemoaning the use of unimaginative language, especially for jobs in creative areas. Just how creative does it sound to use a worn-out term such as "out-of-the-box thinker," she says.

Pagliuca and her colleagues review an average of 100 to 300 profiles a week - that's per person, said Nancy Schuman, vice president of marketing. On those recruiters' own list of overused terms: guru, visionary, people-oriented, czar and driven. Pagliuca also suggests steering clear of: multitasker, ROI and "anything with synergy."

Lindsey Pollak, a Manhattan-based career and workplace expert, said such terms can "appear empty to a potential employer and may do more harm than good." Using such corporate-speak in this less-formal social media world can also make you look dated.

Two tips from Pollak, who is also a LinkedIn spokeswoman:

Show, don't tell: Instead of citing a "proven track record," give examples, such as "increased sales by 300 percent."

Ask friends and colleagues to describe you. When people talk, they seldom use terms like, "proactive" and "outcome driven."