Think of LinkedIn as Facebook’s professional counterpart with over 414 million users worldwide. Creating a LinkedIn profile is free and it allows you to connect with or “friend” other professionals as well as find new opportunities for internships, full time positions etc.
These days branding is everything and the way you present yourself to potential employers and to other professionals is key. By having a LinkedIn profile you can showcase your credentials and work portfolio (if you have one) for the world to see, in other words, think of LinkedIn as a virtual networking event with thousands of opportunities.
Creating your LinkedIn profile might seem stressful but if you follow the 5 tips below you will have a winning LinkedIn Profile that will stand out from the pack and increase your likelihood of landing that dream job.
Include The Right Picture
LinkedIn is an online networking system, the key word here is networking. If you do not have a picture on your profile it’s the equivalent of attending a networking event with a paper bag on your face. According to Forbes, You’re seven times more likely to have your profile viewed if you have a picture.
Remember, LinkedIn is a professional network so not just any picture would suffice. Save your baby, dog, or any other cute picture for Facebook or Instagram. LinkedIn pictures should portray you in a professional manner so choose one where you are wearing what you would typically wear to work. To learn more about how to pick the perfect LinkedIn Profile Picture click here.
Write a Short and Informative Profile Headline
This is your professional description, think of it as the paragraph you would like a hiring manager to know about you. For example: “Accounting Student seeking entry level accounting position” We encourage you to get creative on this section but avoid clichés or unprofessional descriptions such as “Lord of Awesomeness”, “Accounting Guru” or anything along those lines.
Include ALL your Work Experience and Education
When you are first creating your LinkedIn profile, the system will ask you to include your education as well as your current and past work experience. Don’t be shy, just because you are not proud of that summer job back when you were a teenager it actually tells potential employers a lot about your character and sense of responsibility.
Don’t Be Shy
LinkedIn has thousands of groups where members can discuss common interests or relevant topics. These groups are a great opportunity to connect with other likeminded professionals as well as learn more about what you are interested in.
These groups are free to join and you can be a member of up to 100 groups. When you join a group don’t be shy and contribute by asking questions, posting articles or commenting on what other members have shared. In my experience the group feature is quite valuable when you have a particular question since there are hundreds of not thousands of members willing to help you.
At first LinkedIn might seem overwhelming but I recommend you devote a few hours to setting up your profile and start playing it. Who knows, maybe your next career is just a few clicks away.
The same goes for schooling, even if you graduated high school a few decades ago, be sure to include this and any other diplomas and certificates you might have on your LinkedIn profile. Remember the more information on your profile, the better it will rank when someone searches for you.
Share and Like LinkedIn Content
What is the point of attending a networking event if you are not going to talk to anyone? The same is true with LinkedIn. As you browse your timeline (similar to Facebook’s) you will see the updates and content your connections and the companies you follow share. If you find some of these pieces of content interesting feel free to share them, comment or like them. It only takes a few seconds and your activity can be seen by those people you are connected to.
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