4 examples of fluff in LinkedIn profiles and how to fix it

Everyone likes some degree of attention, but some make an effort to get more of it than others. Nevertheless, when it comes to LinkedIn profiles, people go “the extra mile.”

These profiles are commonly used to get attention from potential employers, partners, or maybe clients. I believe that all of them want to know who you are, what you have done, what you can do, and what makes you different or special. I can also tell you, without a speck of doubt, that the use of meaningless words and phrases will leave them in the dark and quite possibly push them away.

Let’s understand why certain expressions don’t add any real value to the reader and others do. Here’s a short list with a few examples that have caught my eye:

1) “Successful business manager”

As opposed to what? Unsuccessful business manager? If you are or were successful, then say how. For example, show how much revenue you brought or profit you generated in a specific span of time. No one says you were not successful, but “not being unsuccessful” is not the reason why you should write “successful manager.” How about, “I sold X number of millions in Y number of years while I was a business manager at Z company.” Ok, wow, you were truly successful. Can you see the difference?

The same applies to “best manager” or “best salesman.” If you were better than others, show exactly how. Clearly, if you received an award for being the best sales person, do mention something like, “recipient of the Best Sales Rep award during X years at Y company.” The object in focus is not “best” but the award!

Other qualifying adjectives, in this same fashion, that convey little to nothing on LinkedIn profiles are talented, creative, accomplished, etc.

The key here is to show how and why you consider yourself “talented,” “creative,” “accomplished,” “successful,” or “best.” You don’t have to show numbers always, but the more specific the better.

2) “Technologist”

This one is very popular now, unfortunately. If your work requires the use of computers all day, or your department has new technology, that doesn’t make you a “technologist.”

Here’s the definition of technologist:
https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/blog/what-technologist

Excerpts from the document:

“The essence of a technologist is the mastery of a whole field with a broad and deep understanding of the technology; the processes, systems, tools, and techniques necessary to construct, modify, operate, and maintain the engineering design.”

“There is a clear distinction between a technician and a technologist. The technologist is a highly skilled professional that is positioned in the ‘sweet spot’ between the engineer and the technician and skilled craftsmen.”

Hence, all those positions like “creative technologist” and similar are usually a far-fetched play on words.

Check the definition of the words you are using on your profile on one more site besides Wikipedia. Use them, but carefully. Avoid potential multiple interpretations.

Same dynamic applies to “strategist.” Being a “strategic strategist” is not a real position or function. It’s an overkill and deformation of the language.

The key here is to check what these concepts and ideas mean before combining words galore and fabricating frankensteins.

For a deeper dive into strategy, its definition, and the perils of misunderstanding the concept, read the article “The strategic strategy and strategizing strategically.”

3) “Thought leader”

Sure, you can be someone that influences large audiences, whole cohorts, and entire generations with your ideas and thoughts. I will venture to say here that Steve Jobs was one of them. Are you like him?

Granted, you can be a thought leader in a smaller measure. Are you at least influencing everyone in your state? Ok, how about the ones in your zip code? Still too much, I see. So basically you think that if you are able to change everyone’s mind in your department or on the company building floor, you qualify as a “thought leader.” By that lax measure, I guess there are millions of “Steve Jobs” out there. I wonder where are all the TED talks and viral YouTube videos — with millions of views — of all these “thought leaders.”

Is it clear now? You are not a thought leader.

No one is saying you are not an amazing communicator. If that is the case, it is very valuable to any company and you should show it.

The key here is to present your influencing skills in their true light. Do upload your talks and important presentations to your profile. Label the videos and presentations, not the skill.

4) “Motivated professional”

Not to be confused with passionate about. More on this below.

Would you hire someone that is “unmotivated” or, heaven forbid, “depressed”?

Right, I thought so. After all, everyone wants to work with people that want to work, obviously.

Saying “motivated engineer” or “motivated customer service rep” implies something like “I want to work,” and that is actually fine. That is the reason you wrote a LinkedIn profile in the first place, but just as there is no need to write on your PDF resume “I want to work,” don’t write “motivated” anywhere either.

If what you feel is passionate about a topic, say so. You could write for example: “marketing manager with 15 years of experience, 7 of those in digital, and a passion for web analytics.”

Maybe by “motivated” you are trying to say that you are available. Ready to start working now. Again, if that is the case, there are more useful ways to say so to the reader.

This could be one way of conveying the aforementioned: “I am interested in machine learning projects using Python. For opportunities, please contact me at…”

The key here is clarity. Many times we use adjectives that do not convey clearly what we want the reader to know.