As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Or, in more practical terms, your audience determines your message. To see if your LinkedIn profile has all the right stuff go through the list below.
Check List
You can download this list here: 20 Point Check List for an Awesome LinkedIn Profile
1. Headline
Your profile headline is the first thing someone sees after your name. Make it memorable. It should help someone understand the role you want to do next and/or contain key words important to your profession.
2. Photo
Choose a professional, high quality headshot for your photograph. Having a picture is recommended.
3. Email
List all your email addresses so they are associated with your LinkedIn profile. You can set the default email which will be viewable by your connections and the account that receives InMail and updates from LinkedIn.
4. Vanity URL
Your LinkedIn profile has a URL (an Internet address). You can and should edit this by adding your name (www.linkedin.com/in/yourname). This also looks more professional when you include it on your resume, business card, or email signature.
5. Other Web References
If you have a personal website, professional Twitter account, or links elsewhere on the web, you can add them to your profile within the “contact info” section at the top. You should change the label from “other” to a short, descriptive title.
6. Summary
Consider this section a mini bio. Highlight the best of your background, experience and skills. You could also provide insight into your leadership style, personality, values, longer term goals, or outside interests. Keep the reader’s attention by using short paragraphs. And make it more personal by writing in the first person by using “I”, “Me” or “My”. You may want to include your email address to make it easy for people who are not connected to contact you.
7. Work Experience
Include all the significant work history and include strong, key word rich descriptions and accomplishments under each position. Your work experience should be the same as listed on your resume. You may chose to include more or less detail for each job.
8. Embed Media
Add media (documents, video, images, audio) to your profile to make it an online portfolio. You can embed these links in your summary, work experience and education sections.
9. Skills and Expertise
List all the skills and areas of expertise which are most important to your profession and you want to highlight.
10. Education
Include all the institutions you attended. List your concentration, major, and/or minor. If you are a recent graduate, include clubs committees and groups you were active in.
11. Certifications, Test Scores, Courses
These sections are particularly helpful for new graduates. List the most relevant and important information.
12. Projects
You can reference class projects, special work assignments and side gigs as a project. This is another way to showcase skills and experience.
13. Recommendations
Ask for recommendations from colleagues, managers or even clients who know your work.
14. Honors & Awards, Publications, Patents
Complete these sections with as much detail as necessary to highlight why it is important.
15. Organizations, Volunteering & Causes
Provide details about your involvement in professional associations and the organizations you belong to or committees you serve on. You may also choose to list the volunteer work you do and causes you support. Use discretion when choosing to include any religious or political affiliations.
16. Personal Details
Your birth date and marital status are the least important details. You may choose not to include this information on your profile.
17. Status Update
Regularly update your status so your network can see what you are up to. A status update could include a link to an article, information about a presentation you are attending, or it might be a question you would like feedback from your contacts.
18. Groups
Join college alumni groups, professional associations, and any industry related groups. Share their badges on your profile and participate in discussions by answering questions, sharing links to interesting articles and engaging in conversation with other like-minded professionals.
19. Make it 100% Complete
Don’t leave information blank or overlook details which may help set you apart such as: Languages, Honors & Awards, Patents, Courses, Test Scores, Certifications, Volunteering & Causes, Organizations, and Interests.
20. Make It Public
By default, LinkedIn sets your profile to be viewable to the public. For active job seekers this is the best option.
Visibility
Have you every asked the question “How can I get in front of more hiring managers?” It is a common challenge for job seekers who know that in order to get hired they must be visible; either by networking or applying for jobs.
I want to help you gain exposure! All you have to do is add your LinkedIn profile and ask your friends to vote for your profile! I’ll take care of the rest. I’ll share this post and list with my network which includes recruiters, HR professionals, resume writers, career coaches as others. I’m going to ask them to vote for their favorite as well! We should all see some buzz (traffic, views, attention)!
So here is your chance! Show off your super, awesome, amazing LinkedIn profile!
How To Submit Your LinkedIn Profile
I am using a tool called Listly to capture and list your profiles.
All you have to do is click the pink “add to list” button and past the URL address for your LinkedIn profile.
If you need a little more help. Here are the four steps and important reminders.
Step 1: Click “Add to List” button
Step 2: Click on the blue bar “Item With Link”
Once you’ve clicked on the blue bar, you’ll be asked to fill in your link. This is the link to your profile. You’ll have to open up LinkedIn, click on the “profile” menu item and then go down under your profile picture and click on the link to view your public profile. Copy and past that link (from the navigation bar).
Step 3: Fill in important details
Once you have uploaded your profile URL, please be sure to edit the next area. Add your job title, your bio and keywords as I’ve shown you below. By doing this, you greatly increase your find-ability online!
Step 4: Share It!
As you can see, the next step prompts you to share your Listly submission. Go ahead, share it with your Facebook friends and Twitter peeps and ask them to vote you UP!
More Sharing Options
Once you’ve closed the box above you have other options to share your submitted profile link and ask for votes on LinkedIn, Google+ and even email.
This is where the fun begins.
Get your friends to vote! All they have to do is click on the first “up arrow.” When they do this they will see a box that says “vote up!” That’s all they need to do!
Terms & Conditions
I’ll be accepting submissions through the end of June! And only one profile per person! Just tell your friends to vote for your profile and on July 15 the winner will be announced. Just a reminder, I’ll be inviting my recruiter and career coach friends to assess and vote for their favorite LinkedIn profile too. And who knows, they may want to talk with you!
What does the winner get?
Fame, exposure and a one hour consultation with me- at no charge. We can talk strategy or tactics around your job search, career planning, or social media. You decide. But you have to win, so start by uploading your LinkedIn profile and get your friends to vote!
Disclaimer: As the owner of this list, I have the right to delete any spammy, bogus or otherwise inappropriate profiles submitted.
