I have been asked many times how to improve your LinkedIn Profile especially by ones who are looking for new opportunities. You ignore your profile when you’re not looking for new opportunities. Sure, you respond to requests as they come in or add people you meet at networking events as contacts, but everything else? Eh, you’ll get to it when you need to.
While I definitely don’t recommend this approach (hey, the recruiter from your dream company finding you and offering you a job? It could happen), I get that there are times you need a total LinkedIn overhaul. And for those times? I’ve got you covered with my top 10 LinkedIn profile tips.
Here, I’ve compiled everything you need to know—from sculpting a stunning summary to showcasing your achievements, awards, and skills—at one place. Read on for ways to make your profile seriously shine—and start getting noticed by recruiters.
1. Completeness
Keeping it simple, complete your profile to better your chances for recruiters to find you in the first place. So, completeness is important from that perspective. Recruiter would also like to know, what your skills are, where you’ve worked, and what people think of you.So, start working on filling out every single section of your profile. The good part about this exercise is that LinkedIn will actually measure the “completeness” of your profile as you work and offer suggestions to improve it.
2. Great Photo
Things sell better if they look better. Your photo will do the same with your profile. Select a high resolution, pleasing and yet professional image. If you have doubts about it, browse through few profiles you want to target and you will get your answer. Your image can speak louder than your entire summary so do not take it lightly. It can go a long way to deliver the message like passion, energy, charisma, empathy, and other soft skills that are hard to write about.
3. 70% will not go Beyond your Headline
70% recruiters will not go beyond reading your headline, so make it count. Especially if you’re looking for jobs. Instead, use that space to briefly showcase your strength, expertise, value proposition, or your “x-factor”. More unique the better.
4. Be the Change you Want to see in Your Career
Go through the profiles and job descriptions of the positions you’re targeting, and use an online tool like ‘Wordle‘ to extract standing out keywords. Now these are the words what recruiters are looking for when they’re looking for people like you. Use those words and phrases throughout your summary and experience.
5. Summarize it Well
Many experts believe that summary should be around 3–5 short paragraphs long. I beg to differ here. My recommendation will be to break it in section bullets to keep focus on different aspects of your profile. I personally have highest education (one line) , experience (one line) , expertise (2-3 lines, mostly keywords) and achievements/awards if any. You may modify this as per your strengths and content you have.
6. Let the Numbers do the Talking
I believe numbers have a better recall than long verbose english sentences. Like the english part of your past experience, put some light on your past results in your profile. Whenever it is possible, add numbers and case studies that prove your strengths. Never underestimate the power of a few key stats to impress a recruiter.
7. Language My Friend
Be humble, warm and welcoming with your language and selection of words. Give your reader a little chance to get to know you. Create a friendly impression and just be there. Keep the brand message in line with all of your other professional marketing materials, but realize that LinkedIn is a platform designed for interaction.
8. Your Profile is Your Resume
Your LinkedIn Profile is not just the mundane list of your job duties. It is also a way to highlight your best accomplishments. Make sure your experience section is fleshed out with bullet points that describe what you did, how well you did it, and who it impacted. Use images, certificates or web link if required to create the impact.
9. Experiences is what you share
You can use the point 8 with your work experiences as well. It will help you to elaborate your work experiences in much better way. Add your company websites, projects you’ve worked on, articles you’ve drafted, or anything else that can provide a more multimedia look at your work.
10. Engage
At last, after doing all things right, you need to people to visit your profile. There are more likely chances that you will get noticed by a recruiter if your profile ranks higher. Engaging with others will make your job much simpler. Leave all touch points open so that someone interested in your profile reach out to you. Don’t forget to add your email address (or blog, or Twitter handle, or anywhere else you’d like to be found) to the contact information section of your resume. You’d be surprised how many people leave this off!
Please feel free to leave any other tips in the comments section, to help anyone who wants to find his/her next opportunity on LinkedIn.
They will thank you.
Ephemeral Storm 