Tip: Leave These Empty Words Out of Your Messaging. Please.
As one who has written scores of LinkedIn profiles, it never fails to disappoint when otherwise brilliant job candidates put “results driven” on their resumes.
It begs the sarcastic response: “Oh, you’re results driven? Sorry, we’re actually looking for slackers who aren’t interested in accomplishing anything. But thanks for applying.”
Instead of making the underwhelming claim you’re results driven, why not include some of the results you were driven to achieve?
It’s one of numerous inane phrases people see everyone else using so they reflexively use them too. Bad idea.
Like the word “purposeful.”
While there are instances where “purposeful” might have, well, purpose (she led a purposeful life), the way it’s used in business is often meaningless:
BUSINESS BLATHER: We had a purposeful meeting.
As opposed to what? Having one just for kicks? To shoot the breeze? Kill time?
BETTER: We had a productive meeting.
Another head-scratcher is “core competency.” A LinkedIn profile might read:
BUSINESS BLATHER: Communication is one of my core competencies.
Great, you can talk! Why don’t you also mention you’re toilet trained, able to find your way to the office, can tie your shoes, and other core competencies?
Being merely competent in something (Dictionary.com defines it as “adequate but not exceptional”) is a low bar to set for yourself…and assert to others. Adding “core,” meaning basic, lowers it even further.
Somewhere, someone once coined the term “core competency.” It sounded good so everyone jumped on it, not realizing it’s not a flattering attribute. Time to let it go:
BETTER: I excel at communication.
If you’re aware of other useless platitudes and bankrupt expressions that impress no one, please share them in the comments section, so we can all benefit.
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© 2024 Jerry McTigue
Jerry McTigue is an award-winning advertising copywriter, has written for major city newspapers and national magazines, is the author of seven books and a member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA).