I just finished reading several blog posts referencing LinkedIn’s recent post about the top 10 overused buzzwords on LinkedIn profiles. Everyone makes good points about why words like creative, organized, and motivated don’t make compelling profile content or prove the impact a candidate has had on past employers or how they can solve a prospective employer’s problems. And everyone agrees that these references to personal attributes should be banned from profiles whenever possible in favor of tangible, accomplishment-focused, metrics-driven proof of professional performance.

But have you ever stopped to think why job seekers include these words on their profile? Because if you look at 99% of the job postings out there, the job descriptions are filled with useless references to personal attributes. So job seekers have little information to go on and they opt for matching their resumes and profiles to the lousy descriptions they see in the job postings.

I recently did a random search of job postings in three different fields at three different professional levels. None of the descriptions conveyed much of anything about the type of person the company was seeking past the difficult to measure, subjective personal attributes. In other words, all the job descriptions sucked. Let’s take a closer look.

For a sales position:

The ideal candidate is an aggressive go-getter and results driven with excellent communication and presentation skills; capable of multi-tasking; dependable, flexible, organized, friendly, and professional; and willing to travel (40% overnight). Three or more years of sales experience is preferred and previous sales experience in medical or software sales is a plus.

For a business analyst

Effective Communication Skills.
Ability to communicate with all areas of the company, deliver information to executives, and work with Applications, Program Management and Operations team members to define user requirements.
Possesses excellent time management, prioritization and organizational skills.
Ability to execute project management and work plan development activities.
Has a passion for manufacturing.

For a CEO

excellent verbal communication skills which allow clear articulation of mission, purpose, direction and results
poise and comfort in public communication addressing and presenting to clients and employees alike
possess a competitive results oriented nature
strategic thinker
a self managed individual
creative in identifying and using resources
possess a high work ethic and energy level with the ability to sustain heavy work loads and deal with the pressure and stress created in dynamic healthcare environments
high personal integrity

I rest my case…It’s amazing to me that employers frequently complain that they can’t find quality candidates when few take the time required to articulate their business needs in a concrete, measurable way. So what they get instead are a bunch of applicants that added words like creative problem solver to their profile because that’s what the employer said they needed.

It’s time for employers to invest in the resources necessary to create clear job postings with specific and measurable expectations of applicants. And maybe once that is achieved, the cycle of overused buzzwords will dissipate, fewer people will have LinkedIn profiles (and resumes) that suck, and employers will start to uncover quality candidates for their open positions.