The Analytics team at LinkedIn recently had a look at the most common buzzwords on people’s LinkedIn profiles. What I found fascinating is that one buzzword was number one in quite a few countries, including the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and here in the United Kingdom. The word? ‘Creative’.
Why is everyone suddenly creative?
My two-pence analysis of this would be that tough times call for innovative solutions, for new ways of doing things out of necessity. What employers need are creative people in any job function nowadays. By creative I don’t mean artistic, this is about being creative with anything from structuring up a debt refinancing deal to organising a Christmas party on a shoestring budget.
Some of mankind’s most creative moments have been born out of necessity. Wars have historically been when countries have spent small fortunes on developing new ways of attacking or defending, oftentimes these inventions become very useful for everyone as soon as the war is over. Think radio, nylon, penicillin and the jet engine.
The world isn’t quite at war but we are in a recession and any advances that can save time, money or effort will be welcomed by businesses. See what social media is doing to the world of recruitment or what mp3 music has done to the record industry, it’s a game changer and one that only creative people could have come up with.
The trouble with putting the actual word ‘creative’ on your LinkedIn profile is that it doesn’t mean much. Being creative is about showing people what you do and not telling them. If I were thinking of adding more creative bits to my LinkedIn profile I would add applications such as SlideShare or a YouTube video of myself doing something unique – this will make you look a hundred times more creative than simply writing the word in your headline.
What do you reckon?
More ideas to stand out, creative or not, at 21 Ways to Brand Yourself on LinkedIn.
