6 Important LinkedIn Profile and Resume-Writing Tips

6 Important LinkedIn Profile and Resume-Writing Tips6 Important LinkedIn Profile and Resume-Writing TipsThese 6 Things Are Killing Your Resume and LinkedIn ProfilePeople make common resume and LinkedIn mistakes all the time - heres how to avoid them.Looking for a job is much like buying a house. You convey your preferences, comfort zone, price range, and location.You also learn the real-estate lingo and how to avoid items described with filler. You know cozy is another word for small and needs a little work means to zulauf for the hills. Its these keywords that describe something or someone we cannot landsee for ourselves.Much like prospective homeowners, hiring managers and recruiters learn to sift through resumes and LinkedIn profiles. They know the filler language, and they search for candidates who meet their criteria without sounding ridiculous. They cringe at the sight of terms that are vague or too buzzword-y. This is a sign that the candidate doesnt know what theyre doing, but wants to look like they do. You, as a job seeker, need to learn what to put on a resume and LinkedIn profile and what not to.Padding your resume and LinkedIn profile is dangerous, lazy, and unprofessional. Just because youve run out of things to say doesnt give you permission to jam your profile with unnecessary descriptions and adjectives. Rather than fill the pages with disconnected filler, show what youre capable of achieving for the company. Try replacing these common mistakes with quantifiable results by implementing these important LinkedIn profile tips, plus other resume writing examples.1. Show them youre an achiever, not just a doerYes, most companies look for candidates who follow instructions, abide by industry standards, and use effective, proven methods. However, candidates shouldnt stop there this simply isnt enough. Show the company you can achieve higher results and take their brand to the next level.With this in mind, statements like responsible for and job du ties include dont cut it anymora and arent things to include on a resume. Hiring managers dont want to see regurgitated job descriptions from the human resources departement. Instead, they want to see what you really did to improve the company of your last job, so use strong descriptive verbs, not adjectives or adverbs, to describe your achievements. Here is an exampleWrong Responsible for maintaining strict inventory compliance.Right Reduced inventory waste by proactively monitoring all inventory requisitions and determining correct usage.2. If youre a problem solver, prove itSaying you have problem-solving skills doesnt tell the recruiter anything this could mean you played solitaire or crossword puzzles all day Hiring managers and recruiters want real examples to understand how you solved problems. For instance, did you rectify aged accounts receivable or reduce downtime by 50 percent? Consider your past five positions. Ask yourself What achievements did I accomplish? Did I leav e my mark on the company? How? Look for quantifiable information numbers, facts, figures, and data.Next, go through your last five positions and make a list. Come up with 10 notable contributions and problems solved. Once you determine your top contributions to your previous companies, reduce each list to the three most important contributions. Place numbers and results before strategies. Here is an exampleWrong Built new accounts management system that reduced aged account receivables by 30 percent.Right Reduced aged receivables 30 percent by designing a new accountability system.3. Be sure to eliminate mistakesWe all claim to be detailed-oriented its our perverse nature seeking to be recognized for accomplishments and contributions. Theres nothing wrong with this as long as it actually reflects your overall personality. Never claim to be detailed-oriented if you arent. Thats also not what to put on a resume. Instead, there are ways to convey this knowledge without actually sayin g it, like listing the achievements and problems solved from your past jobs.The best method by far is eliminating mistakes from your resume and LinkedIn profile. There are few mistakes that are sure to lose a job faster than spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. One typo and all your claims of being detailed-oriented fly straight out the window. Use Microsoft Word to type all LinkedIn information, or at the very least, install the freemium Grammarly extension on your browser to help catch stray typos.RelatedHow to Proofread Your Resume4. Remove the fluff from your wordsMany professional resume writers and recruiters usually see these two common mistakes on resumes and LinkedIn profiles not promoting yourself enough and over-promoting yourself. Either scenario is dangerous to a candidate, but the most dangerous is stuffing your content with fluff. Save the stuffing for the politicians. Here are two of the most common stuffersSelf-starter All candidates should be willing to do th eir job without the need for others to push them. Saying you are a self-starter sends the message you have no meaningful information to back it up or are underqualified for the job. The same sentiment goes for highly motivated and results-driven. Show real examples on your resume that prove youll go the extra mile.Team player Hiring managers cringe when they read these lines. As with self-starter, they expect all candidates to play well with others. It seems to them as though you couldnt come up with anything better to say. If you want to convey that you work well in groups, give specific examples from your past work experience.5. Did you say youre obsessive? Well get back to youNo matter how much you love your work and want to give it your best, obsessive is never positive and definitely not what to put on a resume or LinkedIn profile. This is like saying Im creepy or Please like me. Its weird, uncomfortable, and will probably get you escorted to the elevator.On the other hand, pa ssionate is never a bad thing to say. Use the career summary section to talk about your passion for the industry and give examples of the sector you love most and why. Show examples of past projects you were excited about, keeping the language professional and in the third person. Here are some examplesAlways Wrong Journalism is such a great field. Im obsessed with learning new things and writing about them for others to read.Wrong I love journalism. It gives me the opportunity to explore my passions.Right Professional journalist with experience delivering local news through diligent research and systematic interviews with a focus on truth and objectivity.6. Never talk money until its timeSalary negotiation is always is a tedious part of the employment process, but it has no place on a resume or LinkedIn profile. Never post your salary expectations online or say you expect a certain amount. Not only does this put you below candidates asking for less money, it gives the hiring manage r the upper hand at the negotiation table. Plus, its no ones business what you make or want to make. Let the recruiter or hiring manager approach you regarding this matter either during or after the interview.Saying your salary is negotiable is another big mistake. Consider this the same as above its no ones business what you want to earn until they interview you. Plus, it makes you come across as a little desperate. Instead of focusing on salary at this point, focus on your qualifications. Show the recruiters you are worth what they are willing to pay. A little research doesnt hurt either brush up on salary, benefits, and other perks of the role youre seeking using a site like Glassdoor.Avoiding these mistakes is important because they can either make or break your chances for opportunities. Keeping your LinkedIn account active and your resume updated is also important. Spend at least one hour each week posting news, updating your information, connecting with colleagues, and resea rching your industry on LinkedIn. For your resume, spend at least one to two hours hour each month looking at areas on your resume in need of improvement. For example, you may receive a reward or promotion, or your department may pay for a seminar at the local university. Just remember these Linkedin profile and resume tips when you update as well.Photo credit Alex Proimos/FlickrClick on the following link for more resume advice.Dont know if youre making these resume mistakes? Try a free resume review todayRecommended ReadingWords and Phrases to Remove From Your Resume Right AwayAsk Amanda How Can I Make My Resume Beat the ATS?Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writing How Different Should They Be?