Buzzword compliance is the process of ensuring that a product or a resume has all the trendy features or terms that are popular in the market to make it sound useful. This term is used when a product or a resume includes popular buzzwords, making it look good on the surface to non-technical individuals but may not necessarily be effective.
The Use of Buzzwords in Products
The use of buzzwords in products impacts the decision-making process of many who make decisions about purchasing technology, who may only be technically semi-literate. Products using buzzwords often sound like they are more useful and up-to-date than they actually are. Sometimes buzzword compliance is used sarcastically by technically literate people, to mean that the product has a focus on marketing and public relations rather than real technology.
The Use of Buzzwords in Resumes
Companies also use the term buzzword compliant when it comes to screening resumes, referring to a resume that uses a lot of trendy terms that may or may not be applicable to the actual job. By including buzzwords in a resume, job seekers can make a better impression on non-technical recruiters, but they may not necessarily have the skills to perform the job effectively.
Examples of Buzzwords
Over the years, there have been different buzzwords in different fields. Some buzzwords in the past have included client-server products in the early 1990s, CORBA and COM-based programmes in the mid-1990s, Java-based programmes in the late 1990s, protected memory and preemptive multitasking in the late 1990s, service-oriented architecture, Ajax or Web 2.0, cloud computing, NoSQL, big data, agile, and in-memory computing.
The Bottom Line
The use of buzzwords is a common marketing strategy in the tech industry, and it’s important to be aware of it when purchasing products or writing resumes. While having trendy features can be a selling point, it shouldn’t be the only factor in decision-making. Similarly, job seekers should focus on highlighting relevant skills and experiences in their resumes instead of just using trendy words.
FAQs
What is Buzzword Compliance?
Buzzword compliance is the use of trendy features or terms in products or resumes to make them look good on the surface, even if they may not necessarily be effective.
What are some examples of buzzwords?
Some buzzwords include client-server products, CORBA and COM-based programmes, Java-based programmes, protected memory and preemptive multitasking, service-oriented architecture, Ajax or Web 2.0, cloud computing, NoSQL, big data, agile, and in-memory computing.
Why is buzzword compliance important?
It is important to be aware of buzzword compliance when making purchasing decisions or writing resumes. While trendy features and terms can be a selling point, they shouldn’t be the only factor in decision-making.
