Get All Access for $5/mo

The 10 Most Overused Buzzwords on LinkedIn Do you describe yourself as 'creative'? The professional networking site says you might want to come up with a more original description.

By Jason Fell

Take a look at your profile on LinkedIn. If you've used the word "creative" to describe yourself and all your many talents, you might want to go with another adjective. The popular professional networking site has released its list of the most overused buzzwords of 2012. For the second year in a row the word "creative" tops the list.

To create the list, LinkedIn says it analyzed more than 187 million profiles of members from around the world. In the U.S., LinkedIn determined that the most overused buzzwords and phrases on the site were:

1. creative
2. organizational
3. effective
4. motivated
5. extensive experience
6. track record
7. innovative
8. responsible
9. analytical
10. problem solving

Related: 10 Mistakes Your Business Might Be Making on LinkedIn

"Your LinkedIn profile is an opportunity to define your professional identity," LinkedIn senior data scientist Simla Ceyhan wrote in a recent post. "Set yourself apart in the new year by wiping your profile clean of buzzwords."

Globally, the results varied slightly from the U.S. The most overused words worldwide are outlined in LinkedIn's graphic below:

The 10 Most Overused Buzzwords on LinkedIn

Related: Projecting a Professional Image on LinkedIn

Do you agree with all the words on this list? Let us know in the comments below.
Jason Fell

Entrepreneur Staff

Former Managing Editor

Jason Fell is the former managing editor of Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Most Popular

See all
Starting a Business

How to Connect With Buyers and Get Your Products on Store Shelves, According to the Founder of Daring and Cadence

Ross MacKay, founder and original CEO of the plant-based food company Daring Foods and co-founder of performance beverage brand Cadence, shares the strategies that have landed his products in over 40,000 stores nationwide.

By Dan Bova
Devices

Maintain Professional Boundaries with a Second Phone Number for $25

Keep your business and personal communications separate with Hushed—and save an extra $5 for a limited time.

By StackCommerce
Growing a Business

Entertainer and Entrepreneur Kevin Hart Talks His New Tequila Launch: 'We Put in the Blood, Sweat, Tears and Energy'

The comedian's tequila company Gran Coramino just launched a new Reposado

By Robert Tuchman
Growing a Business

Being a Good Manager Isn't Enough — Here Are 5 Leadership Skills That Will Keep Your Employees Around

The article outlines five key leadership skills — engagement culture, effective staffing strategies, AI utilization, shared team reality, and work-life balance — that can improve team performance and reduce turnover, fostering sustainable growth and innovation.

By Pedro A. Barboglio Murra
Starting a Business

How to Find the Right Programmers: A Brief Guideline for Startup Founders

For startup founders under a plethora of challenges like timing, investors and changing market demand, it is extremely hard to hire programmers who can deliver.

By Vasily Voropaev
Starting a Business

'Wait, I Have to Pay to Donate to You?' How Nonprofits Are Flipping the Script With 'For Profit' Strategies to 10X Their Impact

Spiraling donations and outdated dogmas around fundraising and operating costs have left many charities struggling to stay afloat. Some are trying new strategies to make money.

By Liz Brody