{"id":916,"date":"2018-08-13T21:58:37","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T21:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/?p=916"},"modified":"2019-08-01T22:12:03","modified_gmt":"2019-08-01T22:12:03","slug":"4-examples-of-fluff-in-linkedin-profiles-and-how-to-fix-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/?p=916","title":{"rendered":"4 examples of fluff in LinkedIn profiles and how to fix it"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- header start --><\/p>\n<div class=\"firma1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"firma1-img\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/fit\/c\/60\/60\/1*YdIGf329G8dVPy9diApfFw.jpeg\" \/>\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@MrGheller?source=post_header_lockup\" target=\"_blank\">Jacobo Gheller<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@MrGheller\" target=\"_blank\"><button>Follow<\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"tags\">Digital Marketing | Brand Strategy | Obsessed with Learning | Bilingual | Public Speaker |<br \/>\nInstagram:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mrgheller\/\" target=\"_blank\">MrGheller<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- Top Banner start --><\/p>\n<div class=\"topImgBnnr\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressiveMedia-image js-progressiveMedia-image\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/800\/1*iEdDyLeUFuhYGjZpMPKVmQ.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/800\/1*iEdDyLeUFuhYGjZpMPKVmQ.jpeg\" \/><\/div>\n<p><!-- article start --><\/p>\n<div class=\"topImgBnnr\">\n<section class=\"section section--body section--first\">\n<div class=\"section-content\">\n<div class=\"section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn\">\n<p id=\"8c5e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--h3\">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 \u201cthe extra mile.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"385e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"e00e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Let\u2019s understand why certain expressions don\u2019t add any real value to the reader and others do. Here\u2019s a short list with a few examples that have caught my eye:<\/p>\n<p id=\"310a\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\"><strong>1) \u201cSuccessful business manager\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"36a4\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">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 \u201cnot being unsuccessful\u201d is not the reason why you should write \u201csuccessful manager.\u201d How about, \u201cI sold X number of millions in Y number of years while I was a business manager at Z company.\u201d Ok, wow, you were truly successful. Can you see the difference?<\/p>\n<p id=\"ccbf\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">The same applies to \u201cbest manager\u201d or \u201cbest salesman.\u201d 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, \u201crecipient of the Best Sales Rep award during X years at Y company.\u201d The object in focus is not \u201cbest\u201d but the award!<\/p>\n<p id=\"e9bf\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Other qualifying adjectives, in this same fashion, that convey little to nothing on LinkedIn profiles are talented, creative, accomplished, etc.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9166\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">The key here is to show how and why you consider yourself \u201ctalented,\u201d \u201ccreative,\u201d \u201caccomplished,\u201d \u201csuccessful,\u201d or \u201cbest.\u201d You don\u2019t have to show numbers always, but the more specific the better.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3abb\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\"><strong>2) \u201cTechnologist\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"1fea\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">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\u2019t make you a \u201ctechnologist.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"f6fb\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Here\u2019s the definition of technologist:<br \/>\n<a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/polytechnic.purdue.edu\/blog\/what-technologist\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-href=\"https:\/\/polytechnic.purdue.edu\/blog\/what-technologist\">https:\/\/polytechnic.purdue.edu\/blog\/what-technologist<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"587c\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Excerpts from the document:<\/p>\n<p id=\"a79a\" class=\"graf graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p\">\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"3d6b\" class=\"graf graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote graf-after--p\">\u201cThere is a clear distinction between a technician and a technologist. The technologist is a highly skilled professional that is positioned in the \u2018sweet spot&#8217; between the engineer and the technician and skilled craftsmen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"c2fd\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Hence, all those positions like \u201ccreative technologist\u201d and similar are usually a far-fetched play on words.<\/p>\n<p id=\"e563\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"495e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Same dynamic applies to \u201cstrategist.\u201d Being a \u201cstrategic strategist\u201d is not a real position or function. It\u2019s an overkill and deformation of the language.<\/p>\n<p id=\"755e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">The key here is to check what these concepts and ideas mean before combining words galore and fabricating frankensteins.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2b66\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">For a deeper dive into strategy, its definition, and the perils of misunderstanding the concept, read the article\u00a0<strong class=\"markup--strong markup--p-strong\">\u201c<\/strong><a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/swlh\/the-strategic-strategy-and-strategizing-strategically-942d3988e071\" target=\"_blank\" data-href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/swlh\/the-strategic-strategy-and-strategizing-strategically-942d3988e071\"><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--p-strong\">The strategic strategy and strategizing strategically<\/strong><\/a><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--p-strong\">.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"b519\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\"><strong>3) \u201cThought leader\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"eea4\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">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?<\/p>\n<p id=\"9e33\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">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\u2019s mind in your department or on the company building floor, you qualify as a \u201cthought leader.\u201d By that lax measure, I guess there are millions of \u201cSteve Jobs\u201d\u00a0out there. I wonder where are all the TED talks and viral YouTube videos\u200a\u2014\u200awith millions of views\u200a\u2014\u200aof all these \u201cthought leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"39cd\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Is it clear now? You are not a thought leader.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ef03\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"90be\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">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.<\/p>\n<p id=\"f57b\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\"><strong>4) \u201cMotivated professional\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"008d\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Not to be confused with\u00a0<em class=\"markup--em markup--p-em\">passionate about<\/em>. More on this below.<\/p>\n<p id=\"82e2\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Would you hire someone that is \u201cunmotivated\u201d or, heaven forbid, \u201cdepressed\u201d?<\/p>\n<p id=\"2401\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Right, I thought so. After all, everyone wants to work with people that want to work, obviously.<\/p>\n<p id=\"c70e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Saying \u201cmotivated engineer\u201d or \u201cmotivated\u00a0customer service rep\u201d implies something like \u201cI want to work,\u201d 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 \u201cI want to work,\u201d don\u2019t write \u201cmotivated\u201d anywhere either.<\/p>\n<p id=\"756e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">If what you feel is\u00a0<em class=\"markup--em markup--p-em\">passionate about<\/em>\u00a0a topic, say so. You could write for example: \u201cmarketing manager with 15 years of experience, 7 of those in digital, and a passion for web analytics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"b996\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Maybe by \u201cmotivated\u201d you are trying to say that you are available. Ready to\u00a0start\u00a0working\u00a0now. Again, if that is the case, there are more useful ways to say so to the reader.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2c4b\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">This could be one way of conveying the aforementioned: \u201cI am interested in machine learning projects using Python. For opportunities, please contact me at\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"2f7c\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p graf--trailing\">The key here is clarity. Many times we use adjectives that do not convey clearly what we want the reader to know.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"section section--body\">\n<div class=\"section-divider\">\n<hr class=\"section-divider\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section-content\">\n<div class=\"section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn\">\n<p id=\"74e3\" class=\"graf graf--p graf--leading\">If you found that you are using some variation of these words and expressions, maybe now you have a new perspective to analyze whether they actually convey useful value or the opposite.<\/p>\n<p id=\"4971\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">If you liked this article, please click on the recommendation button and share it with others who can benefit as well.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1089\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p graf--trailing\"><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--p-strong\">Jacobo Gheller on\u00a0<\/strong><a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/mrgheller\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/mrgheller\"><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--p-strong\">Instagram<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"section section--body section--last\">\n<div class=\"section-divider\">\n<hr class=\"section-divider\" \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section-content\">\n<div class=\"section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn\">\n<figure id=\"e34b\" class=\"graf graf--figure graf--leading\">\n<div class=\"aspectRatioPlaceholder is-locked\">\n<div class=\"aspectRatioPlaceholder-fill\"><\/div>\n<p><a class=\"graf-imageAnchor\" href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/swlh\" data-href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/swlh\" data-action=\"image-link\" data-action-observe-only=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"graf-image\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/800\/1*YqDjlKFwScoQYQ62DWEdig.png\" data-image-id=\"1*YqDjlKFwScoQYQ62DWEdig.png\" data-width=\"2000\" data-height=\"100\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"48f8\" class=\"graf graf--h4 graf-after--figure\">This story is published in\u00a0<a class=\"markup--anchor markup--h4-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/swlh\" target=\"_blank\" data-href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/swlh\">The Startup<\/a>, Medium\u2019s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by 351,974+\u00a0people.<\/p>\n<p id=\"24b8\" class=\"graf graf--h4 graf-after--h4\">Subscribe to receive\u00a0<a class=\"markup--anchor markup--h4-anchor\" href=\"http:\/\/growthsupply.com\/the-startup-newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow noopener nofollow 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stories\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- article start --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0\u00a0Jacobo Gheller.\u00a0 \u00a0Follow Digital Marketing | Brand Strategy | Obsessed with Learning | Bilingual | Public Speaker | Instagram:\u00a0MrGheller &nbsp; 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 \u201cthe extra mile.\u201d These profiles are commonly used&hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/?p=916\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101013,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,7,8],"tags":[56,95,96,98,97],"class_list":["post-916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-creative","category-social","category-technology","tag-business","tag-linkedin","tag-resume","tag-work","tag-writing","xfolkentry","clearfix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/101013"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=916"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1204,"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916\/revisions\/1204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.latinmedios.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}