CV TIPS - 5 Secrets To A LinkedIn Profile
Posted 11th January 2023 • Written by Ashley Stahl on forbes.com • • • • •
5 steps to glam-up your LinkedIn profile
1. Structure your profile around your career goals
Here are a few questions you can help you define the career goals you have for the new year:
Where would you like to see yourself by the end of the year?
What skill set are you primarily using in your career this year– and what key words reflect those skills when used on your profile (remember! Recruiters search by key words)?
How would you like your brand to change over the next year?
Think of a dream company you’d love to work for. What impression would you want to give in a conversation with a recruiter?
What topics and skills would be beneficial for you to learn and develop?
2. Revamp the details
A sparse or crusty LinkedIn profile gives recruiters little faith someone will perform at a high standard in the workplace. It’s just a fact of life: aesthetics matter, and this is especially true in the job market. Take the time to make sure the details of your LinkedIn profile are all straightened out. Photo lighting, punctuation, job descriptions – these may seem like small things, but recruiters notice when they’re done sloppily.
Look at the content you already have on your page and see how it can be improved or updated:
Profile Picture
Use a photo that closely resembles your current appearance
Avoid using photos with poor lighting or additional people you need to cut out
Wear business-casual attire, take the photo from the chest up in front of a plain background
Headline
Avoid the default headline that shows your job title under your name
Instead, give a wide scope of who you are by including skills, certifications, future goals, and your own interpretation of what it means to do the work you do
Use your headline to explain where you want to go. If you’re in tech, transitioning into communications, lead with what you want to go into.
About info
Make sure your bio is written in the first person (use the words “I” and “my”)
Double check for grammatical mistakes and punctuation errors
Avoid casual language, fragmented sentences, and an excessive use of emojis
Background photo
Make your profile pop by adding a background photo in the space above your profile picture
Avoid personal photos and group photos
Consider using a subtle image related to your career
New accomplishments
Add the jobs, awards, or major achievements you’ve had since last updating your profile
Previous work experience
Treat this section of your LinkedIn Page like your resume by describing the work you did with a few bullets led by strong action verbs
Format text consistently across all job entries
3. Reassess your keywords
This is the part where strategy comes into play. You can create the most aesthetically pleasing profile LinkedIn has ever seen, but it won’t be seen by recruiters if you don’t leverage keywords correctly. Keywords are terminology commonly used in a specific industry. Recruiters hiring for job candidates through LinkedIn will often filter results by entering keywords that relate to the position or industry into the platform’s search feature.
But make sure you avoid using keywords that stretch the truth – you may think this gives you an edge over candidates, but it will only be a detriment to your credibility later on.
4. Expand your network with LinkedIn groups
You need to use LinkedIn to actively seek out professionals with valuable connections and opportunities in your field of work, and the finding right LinkedIn group is a total gem.
The easiest way to do this? Join more LinkedIn groups and take note of which one has like minded professionals and positive engagement. There’s a LinkedIn group related to just about every occupational field and professional development topic out there, including several for job seekers. You can read more about which ones I recommend here.
5. Become more active and explore creator mode
Your posts, comments, likes, and shares all play a role in shaping a hiring manager’s impression of you. In essence, they’re part of your personal brand. While some people may think it’s safer to avoid leaving a trail of activity, this path can be even more detrimental. A lack of engagement on LinkedIn reads as a lack of interest in professional development and few, if any, achievements in the workplace. Of course, this may very well also not be the case, but it doesn’t change the fact that a recruiter has no reasons to believe otherwise.
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