LinkedIn Profile Phrases That Hurt Job Prospects

💼 Avoid These Overused Phrases on LinkedIn Profiles: 🚫 "Accomplished Professional" - Instead, highlight specific achievements: Closed 147% of quota as Sales Rep Managed multimillion-dollar outsourcing contracts as IT Director 🚫 "Results-Driven" - Provide evidence of your drive for results: Earned promotion in just six months Outperformed peers consistently 🚫 "Exceptional Communicator" - Demonstrate your writing skills: Convey complex concepts effectively Summarize major projects with clarity 🚫 "Proven Success" - Showcase measurable outcomes: Exceeded quotas for 7 out of past 8 years Achieved 87% market share for the company 🚫 "Experienced" - Quantify your industry tenure and emphasize achievements: 15 years of progressive sales experience Generated 23% average over-quota revenue 🚫 "Responsible For" - Skip the clutter and focus on relevant facts: Managed $500K budget Supervised a team of 10 🚫 "Microsoft Word skills" - Highlight specific skills required for target jobs: Research and include position-specific keywords ✨ Refresh your LinkedIn profile with specific details and achievements that others can relate to and use to hire you. Make it a compelling representation of your career highlights and unique value proposition. Feel free to copy and paste these bullet points to enhance your LinkedIn profile visually and effectively convey your professional brand! #linkedin

If I see ONE MORE RESUME that says..... "Responsible for..." or "detail-oriented..." I will scream. 😯 I know it can be hard to think of what to say. I've reviewed thousands of resumes and cover letters through the years and a few terms immediately come to mind when I think of cringe-worthy, repetitive phrases or words. Some words or phrases to avoid may be: 😳 "Detail-oriented, results-oriented, accomplishment-oriented, sales-oriented, numbers-oriented, people-oriented." -- We get it. One or two -oriented is OK. Every sentence with an -oriented word in it? NO. 😳 "Think outside the box". -- Instead, determine what your innovation is and back it up with projects or work you've done that proves it. 😳 "Excellent. Well-rounded. Team-player." These words are really your opinion. Add something more concrete that responds to what the position needs. 😳 "Responsible for, handled, managed, managed, managed". -- There are ways to show you led a team without repeating words or using outdated jargon. Try: led, directed, guided, headed, built, grew, spurred, championed, bootstrapped, or delivered to create interest and minimize repetitive verbs. 😳 "I, I, I, I, I." As hard as it may be, don't let every sentence of your cover letter start with "I". Start with keyword action phrases or an interesting work-related (brief) story. What words or phrases have you seen that can be retired? What would you rather see instead? #resumewriting #jobsearch #careers ////   🌺 My name is Erin and I'm an executive resume writer, LinkedIn profile writer, and career coach.   --> 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴? FOLLOW ME and/or ring my bell and you'll be notified when my next post hits.  *Comment and share this post!*   --> 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 or 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲?  𝗗𝗠 𝗺𝗲!📨

These 10 LinkedIn profile red flags could be quietly killing your chances of landing a project management role - or any role, for that matter. They’re not dramatic. They don’t get called out often. But they send subtle signals to recruiters and hiring managers that you're not active, not serious, or not ready. Let’s fix that 👇 1️⃣ Unprofessional or outdated profile photo No photo? Blurry selfie? Cropped group shot? It matters more than you think - you're 14x less likely to be viewed without one. 🛠️Fix: Use a clear, friendly, well-lit headshot with a neutral background. 2️⃣ Missing or weak About section If your summary just restates your job title or throws around buzzwords like “results-oriented leader,” it’s a missed opportunity. 🛠️Fix: Write in first person. Tell your story. Make it clear what you do and who you help. 3️⃣ Fewer than 500 connections It signals limited engagement - and reduces your chances of being found in recruiter searches. 🛠️Fix: Connect with peers, colleagues, and people in your target roles or industries. 4️⃣ Incomplete or generic work history If your experience is outdated or lacks context, people will assume you’re not keeping up. 🛠️Fix: Add detail, use role-specific keywords, and share accomplishments - not just duties. 5️⃣ No keywords in headline or summary “Open to work” isn’t enough. Without keywords, you won’t show up in searches. 🛠️Fix: Use a value-driven headline like “Experienced Project Manager | Agile Project Management Certified | Cross-Functional Team Lead” 6️⃣ No activity or engagement Zero posts, comments, or likes? It makes you look inactive — and LinkedIn’s algorithm notices. 🛠️Fix: Comment on posts, engage with your industry, and show up consistently. 7️⃣ Missing skills or endorsements Your Skills section improves search visibility and credibility. Leaving it empty is a lost SEO opportunity. 🛠️Fix: Add at least 50 relevant skills and ask trusted colleagues to endorse you. 8️⃣ No accomplishments, projects, or certifications If your profile is all job titles and no proof, it’s hard for hiring managers to see your value. 🛠️Fix: Add featured projects, certifications, volunteer roles, or anything that demonstrates momentum. 9️⃣ Writing in third person It feels outdated and overly formal. This isn’t your bio on a speaker panel. 🛠️ Fix: Always write in first person - especially if you're mid-career and pivoting. 🔟 Copy-pasting your resume into your summary This isn’t the place for bullet points. People want to know who you are - not just what you’ve done. 🛠️Fix: Use the About section to build trust, show personality, and tell your story. Your profile is your first impression. Treat it like your storefront. Which one of these do you need to fix next? Let’s talk in the comments.

People got upset that I posted NOT to use these words on a resume or LinkedIn profile & didn't say what words they should use instead 🤦♂️ The answer? ⭐ There are NO replacement FILLER WORDS that hold value ⭐ There is no way you could use ANY of these words on a resume and have the recruiter go... "Oh good...they said they are Skilled. ☑️ Move them to the short list." You have to SHOW US you are "skilled" through #quantified experience + accomplishments Meaning: Number of years doing that thing Specific problems you've solved doing that thing How you've used that thing to improve the organizations etc. #quinnsights 1 - Telling me you are a "Change Agent" does nothing Tell me what problems you've solved + impact by changing things 2 - Responsible for doesn't mean you did anything Tell me how much you did, saved, earned with the programs you were responsible for 3 - You would (hopefully) never call yourself a Strategic Leader in person to someone's face So don't put it on a resume or profile Instead talk about the strategic programs you led + impact/accomplishments #quinnsights And yes - some of these FILLER WORDS are going to be on job descriptions It's ok 😌 You have to learn what KEY WORDS are What specific tasks or experience are highlighted in the JD that specifically align to the role you will be accomplishing And speak to that No matter what your resume app tells you about percentage match Questions?

7 LinkedIn Headline Mistakes That Cost You Job Interviews: 1. Just Using Your Job Title "Senior Marketing Manager" tells an employer nothing unique about you. Every other marketing manager has the same headline. Instead, add your specialty: "Senior Marketing Manager | B2B SaaS Growth | $2M Pipeline Generated" That's a headline that gets clicks from recruiters and employers. 2. Writing "Seeking New Opportunities" This wastes valuable headline space. If you feel you need to add this, use the Open To Work banner. But in your headline? Replace it with your actual value: "Data Analyst | Python & SQL Expert | Using Data To Help eCommerce Shops Drive 27% More Revenue" Show what you bring to the table, not what you need. 3. Stuffing Keywords Without Any Context "Leader | Innovator | Strategic Thinker | Team Player" all mean nothing on their own. Anyone can add those things to a profile. Use keywords sparingly and tie them to specific achievements to differentiate yourself. Concrete results beat empty adjectives every time. 4. Forgetting Your Target Audience Your headline should speak to the people who can hire you. If you want a product management role, don't highlight your coding skills. Focus on what matters to hiring managers: "Product Manager | Launched 5 Products Driving $10M In Net New Revenue Over 5 Years" Make it crystal clear why they should message you. 5. Getting Cute With The Language "Salesforce Ninjas" and "Growth Hackers" don't convey any real value. If anything, they make it harder for your value to be seen. Recruiters spend 6 seconds scanning profiles. They need clarity first. Save the personality for your summary section. 6. Ignoring The Character Limit LinkedIn cuts off headlines at 120 characters on mobile. Put your most important information first. Bad: "Experienced Professional with 15 Years in Financial Services Industry Seeking..." Good: "VP, Private Equity | $500M Transactions | Ex-Goldman Sachs" 7. Not Including Measurable Impact "Experienced Sales Professional" could describe anyone. Numbers make you memorable and credible. Transform it to: "Enterprise Sales Director | I Help Enterprise SaaS Generate $15M In New Business" Noticing some themes in these examples? 😉 —— ➕ Follow Austin Belcak for more 🔵 Ready to land your dream job? Click here to learn more about how we help people land amazing jobs in ~3.5 months with a $44k raise: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

LinkedIn just exposed a disturbing trend: Your 'About' section is more viewed than your resume. Yet most profiles are making one fatal error that screams "amateur." Here's what's really costing you opportunities: 7 deadly LinkedIn "About" mistakes killing your chances: 1. The "Ghost Town" Effect Leaving it blank is like walking into a networking event with tape over your mouth. LinkedIn changed since 2003 - it's not just for job hunting anymore. 2. The Copy-Paste Crime Starting your About with "I'm a Marketing Director specializing in..." when it's already in your headline? That's like introducing yourself twice at a party. 3. The Resume Regurgitation Your Experience section already shows your work history. Your About needs to tell the story behind the bullet points. 4. The Buzzword Buffet "Results-driven professional with a proven track record..." Instead, share specific wins: "Launched a campaign that drove $2M in new revenue" hits harder than any buzzword. 5. The Clone Wars If your About could belong to anyone else in your industry, you're doing it wrong. "I'm passionate about innovation" - Said everyone ever. 6. The Corporate Robot All business, no personality makes Jack a dull connection. Add something human - what drives you beyond the paycheck? 7. The Dead End Your About should make people curious enough to: • Connect with you • Message you • Check out your work • Want to learn more The solution? Your About needs to answer these questions: • How did you get here? • Why do you do what you do? • What impact have you made? • What truly sets you apart? Think of your About as your digital handshake: Make it firm, memorable, and authentic. Pro tip: Those first 3 lines are critical. They're all people see before "...see more." Make them count. - Thanks for reading! I'm Baptiste Parravicini: • Tech entrepreneur & API visionary • Co-founder of APIdays, world's leading API conference • Passionate about AI integration & tech for the greater good Want more on becoming the future of tech? Check out the comments ⬇️

Veteran: Why aren't recruiters finding me on LinkedIn? Me: Because you are not using real job titles in your headline and your profile is not optimized. Stop using "SERVANT LEADER" and nothing else in your headlines; it does not tell recruiters or hiring managers what it is that you actually do. Over 68,000 people have servant leader on their headlines. How are you standing out from the rest? I get it, in the military it is ingrained in our heads that we are servant leaders, but once you are a job seeker in the civilian job market, you really need to sell yourself with corporate job titles. Below are some of the different variations of "servant leader" I found on people's LinkedIn headlines: Human | Servant Leader| Girl Dad Dynamic Servant Leader | Black Belt in Karate Servant Leader| Army (or Marine/Navy) Veteran Servant Leader | Lifelong Learner Servant Leader | Dog Lover Semi-retired Servant Leader Servant Leader | Quiet Professional Servant Leader | Husband | Dad | Christian Results Oriented Servant Leader Motivated Servant Leader Before some crybaby comes at me because the shoe fits and they got their feelings hurt, I'm not poking fun, I'm trying to HELP job seekers get found on LinkedIn because these are legit reasons why they are not being found by recruiters. When recruiters look for candidates on Linkedin they may use filters that can include keywords related to actual job titles, skills, industries, locations, years of experience, education, industry certifications, etc. This is why it is important for job seekers to optimize their profiles. Instead of servant leader, replace it with the job title of the roles you are seeking next and actually have the skills to do such as Project Manager, Data Analyst, Intelligence Analyst, Cybersecurity Analyst, Registered Nurse, etc. However, if you INSIST on having servant leader as part of your headline, at least start with a real job title first ex: Account Executive | Servant Leader Once you optimize your LinkedIn profile, make sure to engage in other people's post in a thoughtful manner. Just complaining constantly or leaving obnoxious comments on people's posts will not help you with your job search. How are you portraying yourself on social media to future employers? Remember, a future employer could be reading your profile and past comments so be mindful of how you engage others, but what do I know, do you boo. Good luck to all the job seekers this week! Maloney out! ✌

If your resume isn’t getting interviews, it might not be what’s missing, it might be what you’ve included. Here are 5 things I see all the time that add zero value (and might hurt your chances): 1️⃣ “Responsible for…” This is one of the most common resume mistakes. It tells me what was assigned to you, not what you accomplished. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Start with a strong action verb, follow with a clear result, and then tell how you achieved that result. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Reduced time-to-productivity by 35% by leading the onboarding of 120+ new hires via customized training plans and support resources. 2️⃣ “Hardworking, motivated, team player” These are generic soft skills that don’t mean anything without context. Everyone claims them, so they don't help you stand out. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Show how you worked collaboratively, solved problems, or went above expectations with real outcomes. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Increased user retention by 22% by collaborating with sales and engineering teams to launch a personalized dashboard. 3️⃣ Career objective statements Seeking a challenging opportunity to grow and contribute to an innovative team… No one’s hiring you based on what you want. They’re hiring based on what you can do for them. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Use a brief summary section that highlights your strengths and value proposition tailored to the role. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Operations leader with 10 years of experience streamlining manufacturing, logistics, and customer service functions. Skilled in leading teams of up to 75, implementing Lean Six Sigma, and reducing costs by up to 18%. Adept at scaling operations during rapid growth, negotiating vendor contracts, and building high-performance cultures in both startup and Fortune 500 settings. 4️⃣ Outdated or irrelevant jobs Listing everything you’ve ever done makes your resume feel unfocused. That call center job from 2007? It’s not helping your case for a senior marketing position. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Focus on the last 10–15 years of relevant experience. Show career progression and keep the narrative tight. 5️⃣ Long lists of tools and software You’re not impressing anyone by dropping 30 tech names in a row especially if you only used some of them once in 2018. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: Mention tools in the context of what you achieved with them. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Improved lead conversion by 18% by optimizing Salesforce tracking and engagement workflows for 1,000+ prospects. ----------- Bottom Line Your resume isn’t about proving how busy you were. It’s about showing how much you contributed—and why that matters to your next employer. -Cut the fluff. -Lead with results. -Show how you can help That’s how you get interviews. ----------- P.S. Need help with your resume so it stands out to recruiters and hiring managers? I offer both resume reviews and complete resume rewrites. Drop me a PM or send a Service Request via my profile.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿… 𝗢𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁. Too many PMs copy-paste their job description and think it’s “branding.” ❌ Managed schedules ❌ Facilitated standups ❌ Delivered reports That’s not visibility. That’s noise. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗠𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: ❌ “𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥-𝘶𝘱𝘴.” ✅ “𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘺 20%.” ❌ “𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴-𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴.” ✅ “𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 4 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵.” ❌ “𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱.” ✅ “𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘰𝘯𝘦-𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 $2𝘔 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.” See the difference? One tells people what you did. The other proves why it mattered. Strategic presence isn’t about shouting louder. It’s about being remembered when it counts. LinkedIn isn’t your resume. It’s your reputation in public view. The future belongs to PMs who don’t just 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴… They show leaders exactly why their work creates momentum, trust, and value. 👉 Does your LinkedIn make you look like a task manager… or a leader? __________ ♻️ Repost to help others build their career 🔔 Follow Elizabeth Dworkin for more on strategic visibility

I reviewed the LinkedIn profiles of 12 people who recently posted about needing to find a new opportunity quickly. Two things I noticed in every profile that were an immediate red flag 1. Every single profile had blocks of too much text. 2. The descriptions under each role they’ve held read like a job description. Why this could be hurting their job search… 1. Nobody is reading large blocks of text. 2. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see your achievements, not what you were responsible for. Quick fix….. Under each role, include 2-3 bullet points of things you actually accomplished. Include numbers, results, achievements, awards, ROI of a campaign, achievement to quota. Basically anything you can quantify. Why this works… Hiring teams want to see results and value in the quick scan they’ll do of your profile. Using this format will increase your chances of getting noticed. Best part - it’s a quick fix that could make a huge impact.