I could drone on for hours about the importance of LinkedIn in a job search (or for building a business, generating leads, etc.). In addition to your resume, it’s one of the most powerful tools you can leverage. In many cases, it’s more powerful than your resume! First, though, you have to write a great resume, which is the foundation of your LinkedIn profile. With that, whether you’re new to the platform or an experienced LinkedIn user, achieving All-Star status is a smart goal, and you can do that easily with these LinkedIn profile tips.
Great Images Make a Great First Impression
Think of your LinkedIn profile as your own personal website. When people land on a website, they want to learn right away who you are and what you can do for them (within seconds, according to research). The same holds true for your LinkedIn profile. One way you can share the information quickly is with images.
You have two images on your profile that pop right away: your headshot and cover image.
Your headshot should be a nice, professional picture of you from the shoulders up. Wear business casual or professional, depending on your industry and the feeling you’d like to portray. Make sure you’re the only person in the picture, use a simple (read: plain) background, and smile.
For your background cover image, think again of a website. You have a couple of options here: a simple picture of scenery or something you enjoy or a branded image. For a branded image, Canva is a great option, even with the free account. Consider adding your keywords to your image to really stand out. These are the same keywords you’ll use in your headline.
Why this matters:
A professional-looking profile picture can lead to 14 times more profile views, giving you a better chance to be seen by potential employers. Plus, you’ll boost your professional brand, have better first impressions, and make it easier to network.
Your Headline Says Who You Are
LinkedIn will autopopulate your headline with your current title and company, but it really should be so much more! You have 220 characters (including spaces) to share who you are as well as highlight the value you can provide. Think of the keywords that will help your profile be found, such as your current or target job title. It’s a good idea to also include a description of how you do what you do:
Project Manager | Product Marketer: Manage the project from idea creation to rollout, incorporating creativity, drive, and a passion for excellence.
Why this matters:
Every time someone looks for you on LinkedIn, they’ll see your title below your name. Also, this is the major driver of the SEO behind LinkedIn when recruiters and hiring managers look for you. Without a stellar headline, you risk not being found for opportunities.
All “About” You!
While the summary on your resume is usually around 150 words, on LinkedIn, you have 2,600 characters to shine! That means you can lead with your professional persona, but this is the ideal location to infuse your personality and what makes you tick. Here’s a simple outline for this section:
- An introduction, or hook, is where you’ll grab attention and say who you are and what you do.
- Briefly overview what you bring to the table with a career summary. While similar to your resume summary, this should be more conversational and explain your passion or drive in your field.
- Include your areas of expertise that differentiate you. In most cases, we pull these right from your resume.
- Start to create relationships by adding something personal. This is what makes you “you.” It could be a hobby, interest, or anything big or small you want to share. Make it water-cooler friendly, which generally means avoiding sex, politics, or religion.
- Complete your about section with a succinct call to action, which can simply ask readers to send you a connection request or InMail
Why this matters:
A compelling About section lets recruiters understand not just what you do, but who you are as a professional. Plus, it’s the first step to building relationships and networking on the platform.
Experience Is the Crux of Your LinkedIn Profile
Your experience section should complement your resume, but you don’t need to copy and paste everything verbatim (although you can). While a resume is very straightforward and cut and dry (and yes, a little boring), your LinkedIn profile can be more conversational in tone. Sprinkle in some personal pronouns and give the backstory behind what you did and accomplished. You have 2,600 characters per position here, so be sure to include accomplishments as well.
You’ll need to add at least one current job to your profile to achieve All-Star status, so if you’re not currently employed, you can add a career break to fill that space or just leave it blank for now.
Why this matters:
Your experience shows how you can add value through what you’ve done and accomplished throughout your career. In short, it helps build credibility. The more specific and tailored your experience, the more likely it is that recruiters will reach out.
Skills Are the Keywords of LinkedIn
LinkedIn allows you to list up to 100 skills, but you can shoot for 50 to start. You can absolutely use the skills from your resume, but the best place to look for them is on job descriptions. Let me caution you to not add your own “write-in” skills; use the ones that are offered in the drop-down list. Skills are tied to jobs, especially those listed as “easy apply,” and job posters will be shown how many skills you have (in relationship to the ones they’re looking for) when you apply. It’s smart to update your skills as you submit those easy apply applications, which you can do directly from the job description itself.
While endorsements on your skills don’t have quite the weight they once had, they do show that others believe you possess those skills. Remember that you can move your skills around to put them in any order you choose. Only 2–3 show up on your profile (without clicking more), so highlight the most important.
As a side note, you can link skills to your experience and education. Instead of tying every single skill to a role, it’s better to highlight 3–6 that you focused on in those roles. Keep all your skills in the skill section and just tie the top ones to your jobs.
Why this matters:
Profiles with skills are more likely to be viewed, and they can help you show up in searches. Plus, as mentioned, they play an important role in easy apply applications.
Education Provides a Built-in Network
You absolutely want to showcase that you have a strong educational background (no dates, unless it’s within five years), but adding your education to your profile also makes it much easier to connect with alumni on LinkedIn. In addition to formal education, be sure to include certifications, licenses, or relevant courses. And follow your alma mater’s page as well.
Why this matters:
Recruiters often filter by education, so including your qualifications makes you more likely to appear in their searches.
Get on Your Way to Building Your Network
Another LinkedIn profile tip to create an All-Star profile is to gain at least 50 connections. Unless you’re just starting your profile (which you might be!), you likely have somewhere in the hundreds. If that’s the case, aim for 500+ connections.
The more connections you have, the broader your reach on the platform. Start by connecting with colleagues, former employers, and people in your industry. You can also send personalized connection requests after meeting people at events or conferences.
Why this matters:
A larger network increases your visibility on LinkedIn, making it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to find you. Plus, once you reach 500 connections, the number on your profile will change to 500+, meaning no one has to know how big or small your network is.
Recommendations Boost Your Credibility
LinkedIn recommendations from current and past colleagues, supervisors, and clients can enhance your profile by adding social proof to your value proposition. Aim for at least two or three recommendations, focusing on those who can speak to your professional strengths and achievements. Be sure to offer to write a recommendation for others, as it’s a great way to build professional goodwill.
Why this matters:
Recommendations help demonstrate your credibility and experience from the perspective of others. It’s a built-in testimonial! Bonus: You can add recommendation snippets to your resume as well.
A Custom URL Makes Your Profile Easy to Share
A custom LinkedIn URL (for example, linkedin.com/in/yourname) not only looks cleaner but also makes it easier to share your profile with others. To create your custom URL, go to your profile and click on the pencil next to “public profile & URL,” located in the upper righthand corner of the page. That will open a new page, and you’ll click on the pencil next to “edit your custom URL” in the same location. Then change the gobbledygook to just your name. If that’s not available, try adding a middle initial, flipping last to first, or adding “meet” or “iam” at the beginning of your name. Avoid numbers that will give away your age.
Why this matters:
A custom URL is easier to remember and share, making your profile more accessible to others. It also looks much more professional. Add it to your email address, business cards, etc.!
The Benefits of an All-Star LinkedIn Profile
If you’re just starting your LinkedIn journey, you have a way to go to make it work well for you, and achieving All-Star status will propel you in the right direction. By achieving these benchmarks and following these LinkedIn profile tips, you’ll significantly improve your chances of being found by recruiters. And isn’t that one of your main goals for being on LinkedIn?
Remember, LinkedIn is the top platform for professional networking, and recruiters are actively searching for candidates on the site every day. An optimized profile ensures that when they come looking for someone with your skills and expertise, you’re right there, front and center.
If you’re ready to elevate your LinkedIn profile, I can help. Through Your Career Advocate, I write resumes and LinkedIn profiles that get results. Let’s talk.