Do you want to attract recruiters and your next job opportunity with your LinkedIn profile? Make your LinkedIn profile awesome by going through the list below.
Follow these tips and create an awesome LinkedIn profile. It should tell your story and convince readers/recruiters you have skills and talents they need.
1. Headline
Your profile headline is the first thing someone sees after your name. Make it clear and memorable. It should help someone understand the role you want to do next and/or contain keywords important to your profession.
220 characters
See examples here: Fix Your LinkedIn Headline Today
2. Photo
Choose a professional, high-quality headshot for your photograph. A profile with a photo receives up to 21x more profile views and 9x more connection requests according to LinkedIn.
- Smile
- Look at the camera
- Simple background
3. Email
List at least two email addresses you use (work and personal). 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. Contact/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. Change the label to a short, descriptive title like “Personal Website” or “Marketing Portfolio.”
6. Featured
Showcase articles, pdfs, documents and video links in your LinkedIn profile immediately below your About section.
Have you been mentioned in an article, did you post something you want everyone to remember, did you create a video? Feature the good news!
Read more about what to put in your featured section here.
7. About (formerly Summary)
Consider this section a mini-bio or the answer to “tell me about yourself.” 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 even want to include your email address to make it easy for people to reach you who are not connected.
2,600 characters
To get more ideas and see examples of About sections, What To Put In Your LinkedIn Summary (About) Section.
8. Work Experience
Include all the significant work history and include strong, keyword-rich descriptions and accomplishments under each position. Your work experience should be the same as listed on your resume. You may choose to include more or less detail for each job.
The job title you use is very important. Be descriptive when you list your title. It will help you get found in search results.
100 characters per title
2,000 characters to list achievements and responsibilities.
Are you unemployed? Read 3 Options To Update Your LinkedIn Job Title and Employer When Unemployed
9. Embed Media
Add media (documents, video, images, audio) to your profile to make it an online portfolio. You can embed these links in your experience and education sections. Get ideas here. Make Your LinkedIn Profile Media Rich
10. Skills and Expertise
List all the skills (up to 50) which are most important to your profession. Keep in mind work processes and procedures and other keywords companies ask for in job descriptions. LinkedIn users with 5+ skills listed are contacted (messaged) up to 33x more & receive up to 17x more profile views (according to LinkedIn).
Pin the top 3 important skills.
11. 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.
12. Certifications, Test Scores, Courses
These sections are particularly helpful for new graduates. List the most relevant and important information.
13. Projects
You can reference class projects, special work assignments and side gigs as a project. This is another way to showcase skills and experience.
14. Recommendations
Ask for recommendations from colleagues, managers or even clients who know your work. Learn more here: The 9 Best LinkedIn Recommendation Examples & Templates
15. Honors & Awards, Publications, Patents
Complete these sections with as much detail as necessary to highlight why it is important.
16. 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.
17. Personal Details
Your birth date and marital status are the least important details. You may choose not to include this information on your profile.
18. Activity Section
LinkedIn users can see your activity. It’s sometimes an indication of whether or not you use LinkedIn. Post regularly 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.
See 25 ideas on what to post here.
19. Groups
Join college alumni groups, professional associations, and any industry-related groups. Participate by answering questions, sharing links to interesting articles and engaging in conversation with other like-minded professionals.
20. Make it Complete
Don’t leave information blank or overlook details that may help set you apart such as: Languages, Honors & Awards, Patents, Courses, Test Scores, Certifications, Volunteering & Causes, Organizations, and Interests. To achieve All-Star profile status, you’ll need these:
- A profile photo
- Your industry and location
- A current position (with a description)
- 2 past positions
- Your skills (at least 3)
- Your education
- At least 50 connections
21. Make It Public
By default, LinkedIn sets your profile to be viewable to the public. For active job seekers this is the best option.
BONUS:
If you are openly seeking a new job, turn on “open to new opportunities” so that recruiters using LinkedIn’s recruiting tools can see this. Learn how this works by reading: How LinkedIn’s Open Candidate Can Save You Time
Improve Your Visibility
If you’ve ever asked “How can I get in front of more hiring managers?” you’re not alone. This is a common challenge for job seekers. Use the tips above to convert your LinkedIn profile into one that is interesting, keyword-rich and shows your abilities. Most importantly, being active on LinkedIn will help you stand out!
This is your chance! Show off your super, awesome, amazing LinkedIn profile!
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
