These were the most overused buzzwords on LinkedIn in 2016

When you’re trying to get the attention of potential employers, make your resume stand out by avoiding certain buzzwords. (Getty)

Are you a passionate worker? Are you an expert in your field? Would you describe yourself as focused, experienced and creative?

Then you’re probably getting your resume passed over by potential employers.

According to LinkedIn, there are some words that are used so often on resumes and profiles on the site that they end up losing their impact on the reader.

Here are the 10 most overused buzzwords by Canadians on the site in 2016:

1. Leadership

2. Specialized

3. Passionate

4. Strategic

5. Focused

6. Experienced

7. Expert

8. Excellent

9. Certified

10. Creative

If you were a student in Canada, you probably had at least a couple of these overused words in your profile, too:

1. Passionate

2. Leadership

3. Specialized

4. Hard-working

5. Focused

6. Excellent

7. Creative

8. Certified

9. Dedicated

10. Motivated

Many of the same words appear on the global list of overused buzzwords for 2016, too:

1. Specialized

2. Leadership

3. Passionate

4. Strategic

5. Experienced

6. Focused

7. Expert

8. Certified

9. Creative

10. Excellent

If you want your resume to stand out, you need to watch what you say, say it directly and showcase why you are the employee that can’t be passed up.

“Start with something punchy,” writes author Christopher Sandford in a press release from LinkedIn.

“You can do this through specific phrases, storytelling or even clever use of punctuation.”

Sandford also advises that when writing your resume, avoid the third person and any jargon. By taking a more direct and assertive tone, your reader will better understand what you’re trying to say and the achievements you’re trying to showcase.

It’s also key to describe your work experience using everyday language, as the average reader may not be familiar with specific terms, unless they’re relevant to your entire industry.

He also suggests including samples of your work when possible, to better illustrate the work you’ve done. Even something like a personal blog can be a valuable tool in showing a potential employer the kind of work you’re capable of — and far superior to just saying that you’re “excellent.”