Almost every professional today knows about LinkedIn and has created a profile page. Hopefully you can count yourself among them. If not, take a look at the following ways to create and/or enhance your LinkedIn profile.
1. Connect with at least 50 people. You don’t need to shoot for 500. 50 has been proven as an effective number of contacts at which you develop an effective number of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree contacts.
2. Add a picture. For two reasons – 1) you want to make yourself appear friendly, personable, and likeable, and 2) it’s been proven that profiles with pictures are more likely to be opened when they appear in search results.
3. Add skills to your summary section. One of the sections you can include under Summary is “Skills.” (From the “Profile” tab in the main navigation toolbar, click “Edit Profile.” Under the main box is a small section that says “Add sections to reflect achievements and experiences on your profile.”) This is a great way to include more keywords in your profile. Also consider listing your proficiency level and years of experience.
4. Maximize your summary. After the headline, the most-often read section of your profile is the Summary. LinkedIn allows you up to 2,000 characters in your summary. Use them wisely — and use them all! One popular format for Summary is the “Who/What/Goals” structure. Using this format, you outline Who you are, What you have to offer or add (what is unique about you or your experience), and what are your Goals for being on LinkedIn or your career.
5. Be unique. According to LinkedIn, these are the 10 most overused words/phrases on the site. Avoid using them in your headline and summary! Extensive Experience – Innovative – Motivated – Results-Oriented – Dynamic – Proven Track Record – Team Player – Fast-Paced – Problem Solver – Entrepreneurial.
6. Customize your summary section. Utilize and maximize the recently added optional sections that are available for your summary, including: Certifications – Courses – Honors and Awards – Languages – Organizations – Projects – Patents – Publications.
7. Post updates to keep your name top of mind. What kind of information should you post in your updates? The content that you share doesn’t necessarily have to be yours 100% of the time. It’s a great idea to share links to content from others in your industry, along with your thoughts on how this work will affect your industry.
Some additional ideas to enrich your LI profile include: sharing current and upcoming trends in your industry; offering insights from projects you’re working on, events and seminars you’ve attended or training courses you’re taking; linking to articles/blogs within the industry; or sharing an inspirational quote. Take advantage of this opportunity to create a free online presence.
A LinkedIn profile is important today whether you are employed or unemployed. Recruiters and hiring managers are using LinkedIn heavily as a resource to search potential candidates. If you need a professional service to help you create a strong LinkedIn profile, please contact us for more information.
I have a LinkedIn profile but I don’t have very much written on my profile… and I don’t have a picture. I have a few changes to make to my resume, like not using the word team player and motivated to describe my skill set. Great information!!!
Amber – yes, it’s important to add detail to your LinkedIn profile so that your name will come up in more search results — and I encourage all my clients to include a professional headshot.
Linked in is such a great venue to get your talents and expertise recognized, this is a great article! I feel the same, as far as, not having much written on my profile and not having an updated picture…this is going to change! Thank you for sharing.