LinkedIn was already a major player in the networking space for professionals, but now that social distancing practices are in place, people are turning to the platform, even more, to seek support in the job search process. Your LinkedIn can work for you in many different ways. It can expose you to new employers, open up a new pool of job postings, and establish important connections. Experts say 70% of people get a job from someone they know. This will likely remain true as we continue through uncertain times. As such, you must actively expand your professional network. Grow and engage your online community by connecting with old coworkers, friends of friends, and colleagues you’ve met along the way.
Here are some tips to help you have a stellar LinkedIn profile.
- Include an engaging summary
LinkedIn is a special place where you can hold information usually on your resume, plus showcase your personality. Your summary is a great place to captivate people’s interest in who you are. Therefore, your summary should detail:
- Who you are – give your audience an idea of who you are in a compelling way.
- What you do for work – for jobseekers, this is a place to highlight your major accomplishments in previous roles.
- Why what you do matters – this is a place to highlight your passions and why you love the work you do (or used to do/seeking to do).
- The contribution and impact you want to make in the world
2. Use first person
Be friendly and welcoming on your LinkedIn Profile. When people speak in 3rd person, it adds a degree of separation and is overly formal.
3. Customize your LinkedIn URL
As a default, your LinkedIn URL is a combination of your first name, last name, numbers, dashes, and letters. Customize the URL to your first and last name. If you have a common name, you may need to get a bit creative. Instructions to customize your LinkedIn URL is here.
4. Edit your headline
This defaults to the job title of your current role. Edit your headline to reflect keywords hiring managers may search to find candidates for the role you want. For example, if you are an HR professional, your headline can include words such as Human Resources Manager, Recruiter, Employment Specialist, Employee Relations, Performance Management, and Talent Acquisition. This way, when recruiters are searching for potential candidates, they can quickly find you.
5. But do not overuse keywords
Do not include all 6 titles I just listed.
6. Post a great headshot
Your profile picture should include you and only you. Take your headshot in a place with great lighting and a simple background. Face the camera and smile!
7. Swap your background photo
Personalize your profile as much as possible. This includes the background photo. The default is a blue background as shown below.
Your background photo should mesh well with your headshot.
As an example, my headshot is with a green bush in the background.
I love nature and went for a background that would go well with my headshot. I tried a few different nature backgrounds including, beach waves, sunrises, and mountains, but felt like it was too cluttered and some colors did not compliment each other. Use your judgment.