Answer: Specialize

Here's the top 5 (from LInkedIn blog):

1. Specialize
2. Experienced
3. Skilled
4. Leadership 
5. Passionate

Questions:

• What words would you include in a job application if an employer asked you to describe yourself? (You can't use any of the top 5:)
• What is the danger of using one of these overused terms? 
• Can you come up with substitute words that are similar in meaning to the terms described above that might be more memorable? 
• How important do you think word choice is when it comes to online professional profiles?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (LInkedIn blog):

When we reviewed the Buzzwords from the last five years, one of the biggest changes was the shift towards highlighting skills and experiences over personal strengths. For example, professionals were less likely to describe themselves as ‘successful’ last year despite describing themselves as more ‘skilled’. In fact, the word ‘successful’ dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since 2015, while ‘skilled’ entered the ranks for the first time.

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Want to introduce LinkedIn to your students? Here's a popular NGPF Activity: CREATE Your Own LInkedIn Profile

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.