Dubai: Many jobseekers 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 jobseekers 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 Gulf News.
“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 jobseekers 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.
