Tips To Boost Your LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is by far one of my favorite platforms; it allows you to create your professional brand which can help you build connections with other fellow users and companies. Making the most out of what LinkedIn has to offer, such as showcasing your resume, displaying your skill sets and achievements, or writing a summary statement about yourself, can be crucial to getting job offers or internships when applying.
Here are 9 tips on how you can boost your LinkedIn profile that have worked for me:
1.Upload an appropriate photo
Not everyone has a professional headshot to post as their profile picture, but it is extremely important to use a good quality picture of yourself that represents your brand. Using a picture of something abstract for your profile picture is a big no. It is better to leave any abstract photos or any art that you’ve done on your portfolio. So instead, upload your portfolio with those pieces included to the featured work section of your LinkedIn profile.
2. Appropriate banner photo
Your banner photo is as important as your profile picture because it is one of the first things employers see when clicking on to your profile. Spend some time picking a banner photo that represents you and your brand. It could be a design you’ve created in the past or you can get creative and make one. If you are part of a company with a clear professional brand, adding a heading that represents the brand you work for could also be a great option. For my banner, I chose a background with Skillsoft’s “Unleash Your Edge”. I chose this as my banner because not only did Skillsoft become part of my professional brand, but because their mission as a company coincided with my values and my personal brand.
3. Don’t cut corners on the summary statement
Summary statements are a great opportunity to show off who you are, what you do, and what your interests are profession-wise. To give you an idea of the most important information you should display on your summary, it would be best to include the following: your current position or what you are working on, where you are based in, your past experiences (if any), and what are your interests professionally. My advice is to write in the first-person point of view and to keep it short and simple with 1–3 paragraphs. Leave the least important information at the bottom.
4. Complete additional profile sections for career starters
In your additional profile sections, you should showcase your accomplishments, skills, background, and featured articles, posts or other media. For example, if you have a CPR certification, it might be beneficial for you to upload it in the accomplishments section. Be sure to include information that is relevant to what you are looking for professionally. Adding these details will help enhance your profile.
5. Build a strong network so it’s there when you need it
Connecting with your friends, family, professors, and advisors is a great way to build a strong network. You never know, they might need your help in future projects or vice-versa.
6. Claim your unique LinkedIn URL
Having a unique LinkedIn URL is a great way for employers to find you on the internet, and it is even more accessible when it has your name on it. With a simple Google search of your name, employers can find your LinkedIn profile and can easily look through it. It also shows your effort and attention to detail. You can set up your unique URL by selecting the “Edit public profile & URL” button on the top right of your main profile page.
7. Share your work
Sharing your resume, previous articles, artwork, and/or projects you’ve done helps build a strong profile that employers have the opportunity to see firsthand and determine your candidacy for the job based on what you’ve accomplished professionally and your skill sets.
8. Use keywords in adding skills you can be endorsed for
Using keywords for industry-related skills and attributes such as “communication”, “teamwork”, “leadership,” etc. can be used as a way for employers to see if your skill sets are a fit for them.
9. Get a few recommendations
Recommendations written about you by your advisors, co-workers or clients you’ve worked with allow for future employers to get a sense of your work ethic and ultimately, makes you a strong candidate. However, if you are just starting out, it might be best to wait until you have tangible experience and/or results from a specific project for a manager or colleague to reference.
Best of luck revamping your LinkedIn profile page. Hope these tips work for you!
