The Top 10 Words Recruiters Use to Describe Themselves

As a recruiter, you’re constantly scanning resumes. And likely, your eyes start to glaze over when you see what feels like the millionth candidate use words like “strategic” and “driven” to describe themself on their LinkedIn profile. You want to know what makes them unique.

But, what’s easy to forget is that candidates are also looking at you. They're scanning your profile to see if you are someone they want to talk to. And, that means you want to make sure you stand out from other recruiters.

To help you understand the most popular terms talent pros are using to describe themselves, our data team analyzed millions of LinkedIn profiles worldwide for our annual LinkedIn buzzwords list. Below are the top words used by recruiters last year.

The top 10 buzzwords used by talent professionals globally in 2017

‘Specialized’ remained the #1 most used term, however ‘experienced’ moved up to #2—the spot that was held by “leadership” last year (see last year’s full list here).

‘Skilled,’ ‘motivated,’ and ‘responsible’ were the three newcomers to the list, while ‘focused’, ‘excellent’ and ‘generalist’—which featured in fourth, seventh and ninth place last year—dropped off. In addition, more people have begin to use the word “expert,” which moved from the #8 spot to #5.

With so many passionate and motivated experts who have been successful in being strategic in their leadership roles, truly consider the unique descriptors of your own professional journey and here are a few ways you can showcase them:

How to make your LinkedIn profile stand out

1. Make sure your profile picture makes a good impression

Our research shows that just having a picture makes your profile 21x more likely to be viewed by others. It’s one of the most important elements of your Linkedin profile and it’s your first chance to make a good impression.

So, don’t just use any old picture—use one that truly represents you. It doesn’t need to be super formal. The most important that it’s up-to-date and represents your professional style.

Having a photographer take your picture is always a great option, but it can also be expensive. If it’s not in your budget, check out our post: 5 Tips for Picking the Right LinkedIn Profile Picture.

2. Go beyond the basics with your profile headline

When writing a LinkedIn profile headline (the line of text that appears just below your name), many people simply list the facts: their company and/or job title. But, after your picture, this is the first thing people will see—it’s your own personal ad. And, if it’s good, it will get you noticed.

A creative headline can be the conversation starter that connects you with a candidate or with a colleague that can lead to your next hire or referral. Write what makes you unique and highlight your own personal brand when possible.

If you need some more inspiration, here are some great examples of recruiter’s whose headlines stand out.

3. Invest time in your LinkedIn profile summary, and write with candidates in mind

You’re busy. And, writing your LinkedIn profile summary might not sound like something you should prioritize. However, it’s essential. This is where you showcase your personal brand and really tell your story. It’s where candidates will get to know you and where you can be a brand ambassadors for your company. It's also influences whether or not a prospect will want to talk to you.

That said, consider your summary a strategic piece of content that can improve your effectiveness as a recruiter. And if you’re wondering what a great summary looks like, you’re in luck—we’ve highlighted seven LinkedIn summaries that stand out.

4. Write and share content that you are passionate about

If you are an expert or very passionate about a given topic, show that off by writing about it. You can easily write and publish long-form posts on LinkedIn or post a video, where candidates and everyone in your network will see. Offering your opinions on industry matters demonstrates that you are knowledgeable and well informed, which in turn builds your personal brand and credibility.

For example, Joe Burridge, a Senior Recruiter for Electronic Arts, publishes posts that cover recruiting tips for his peers, jobseekers, and also shares his own learnings from past and present roles.

If the idea of writing a post doesn't appeal to you, simply sharing interesting articles on the topic from reputable sources is also a great way to build your brand and can be a great conversation starter.

*Photo by Levi Saunders on Unsplash

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