Many people seem to get a bit lost with LinkedIn because they’re not sure how or why they should use it. Sometimes people will only create a partial profile then leave it for months or years on end.
LinkedIn is becoming an increasingly powerful network-building tool because it’s your professional profile online. Think about it for a second. Would you want a dodgy dating profile if you were trying to attract the next love of your life? Of course not.
Your profile will allow employers who’ve never met you to gain a feel for your experience and expertise. I’ve had numerous friends and clients tell me they’ve been head-hunted by someone who saw their LinkedIn profile.
So you can see it’s important.
Here are my top five tips for LinkedIn.
- A strong summary. A strong summary of your skills and expertise is vital for your LinkedIn profile. This is the section where you can really grab someone’s attention so make sure you include details about what you’re passionate about. For example, if you’re committed to creating a world where environmentally sustainable practices are implemented across the XXXX industry, then make sure you include that information. These types of details will help employers see that your personal passions are aligned with those of the company.
- Brief but powerful role descriptions. Make sure you include the position name, organisation and dates for each place of employment. Also provide two-three sentences (maximum) that summarise your responsibilities in each role. Remember, do not simply copy and paste the contents of your position description here. You need to provide a more personal perspective about what you contributed.
- Highlight a few key achievements for each role. Include your key achievements for each role and ensure these highlight your specific contributions rather than those of your team. It’s helpful to focus on key actions and outcomes in this section. Three-five points are adequate.
- Connect, connect, connect. Make it a habit to connect with the people you talk to meetings and other professional situations. This will expand your network and enable your new connections to learn more about you and your skill-set (they will invariably peruse your profile).
- Comment. LinkedIn is a place to get to know the employers and people you’d like to work with in the future. It’s also the place to let people know what you’re interested in. So log on once a week (at least!) and comment, like or share the posts about the issues you’re interested in. This activity will raise your profile and help you keep up-to-date with trending issues, new research and emerging practices.
If you found this information helpful, don’t forget to check out this week’s post by Bec Smith, Personal Stylist on creating the perfectly styled photograph for your LinkedIn profile. It’s part of our weekly Monday series called Revamp your Career.
If you need help with your resume or styling for the workplace, Bec and I are offering 10% off Resume Revamp and Styling Packages until 30 September 2016. We’d love to hear from you.