Many job seekers dress up their online profiles
and CVs with buzzwords in order to sound cool and hire-worthy. A quick browse through social networking
sites would reveal just how much oft-repeated terms are out there.
In a study conducted by LinkedIn, it was found
that UAE professionals love to use the words “experienced,” “skilled,” and
“specialize” in their profiles.
People in this market also have the propensity
to describe themselves as an “expert,” “motivated,” “excellent,” “responsible”
or “passionate.” The words “leadership” and “successful” are also a clear
favourite.
Some hiring experts have cautioned against the
use of so much verbiage, as padded CVs don’t get them in the door – they simply
bore employers and recruiters down.
“Most resumes are a thicket of deadwood words
and phrases – empty cliches, annoying jargon and recycled buzzwords,” according
to a report posted by Monster. “Recruiters, HR folks and hiring managers see
these terms over and over again, and it makes them sad.”
According to Nada Enan, senior manager for
marketing and public relations at LinkedIn Middle East and North Africa, it is
important for job seekers to carefully choose the words they put in their
profiles, to increase their chances of getting hired.
“We want to encourage them to think about the
words they are using on their profiles and consider which are the right ones
that can connect them to the next opportunity in their career,” Enan told.
“While words are the first step in helping to
demonstrate your personality, it’s also important to consider the other ways
you can stand out on LinkedIn and get noticed by employers.”
Enan said job seekers should include specific
examples of their work, “to bring” their “relevant experience to life.” “For
instance, instead of saying you’re ‘creative’, show people your creativity by
including presentations, design work and projects you take pride in.”
LinkedIn’s 2017 Top 10 UAE Buzzwords are:
- Experienced
- Skilled
- Specialize
- Expert
- Leadership
- Motivated
- Excellent
- Responsible
- Passionate
- Successful
LinkedIn has also noted a new trend based on
the commonly used buzzwords in user profiles in the UAE. While in the past the
word “successful” dominated people’s bios, it is now at the bottom of the list.
In contrast, “skilled” has entered the top ten for the first time.
What this means is that UAE jobseekers now want
to highlight specific skills and abilities.
“The
words from 2017 are an equal mix of performance related ‘hard skills’, as well
as mindset related ‘soft skills,’” noted Dr Saliha Afridi from The LightHouse
Center for Wellbeing.
“This region is developing at a rapid pace, and
governments and companies are looking for individuals who are not only
strategic, experienced, and skilled but also are motivated, responsible and
possess leadership qualities. This is not a mix of ‘nice to have ” qualities
but rather ‘critical must haves’ for businesses to succeed.”
How to make your LinkedIn profile stand out:
Summary: Don’t just replace one buzzword with
another buzzword. Instead, be specific. Cite some examples to illustrate how
motivated you are. A good practice is uploading samples of your work in your
summary.
Profile photo: Don’t leave this part empty. You
have more chances of getting your profile viewed if it has a photo, but make
sure what you upload reflects the image you want to portray or show your best
professional self.
Headline: To get yourself noticed, it is
necessary to write a strong headline. Remember that the first thing that
attracts a reader when browsing a news website is the headline itself. So make
sure you don’t skip this part.
How to make your CV stand out:
1.Limit job descriptions for up to the last
three positions held. Don’t overdo it by writing down every single position
you’ve held since you started your career.
2, Attach a formal photo.
3. Keep it simple and concise. Avoid using
coloured paper or fonts, or graphics.
4. Keep it professional. Avoid using sympathy
to get an employer to pick you. Lines like “I lost my job,” or “I’m the only
provider in the family,” won’t increase your chances of getting hired.
5. Ensure that texts are aligned or properly
formatted.
6. Be honest. Don’t mention foreign languages
if you only know a few words, or claim certain skills that you don’t have.
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