LinkedIn is the world’s biggest network of professionals and employers. Thus, having an impressive LinkedIn profile can help you take your career to new heights.
If you have been pondering about revamping your existing account on the platform or creating a fresh one, then you are on the right page. Read on to learn about the keys to creating a compelling LinkedIn profile.
Tips for an Attractive LinkedIn Profile
Pick the Right Profile Picture
The profile picture is an opportunity to make a great first impression. Make sure you use a recent snap in which your face takes up around half of the total area. Casual and long-distance pictures often fail to impress or leave a lasting mark. Do not forget to smile!
Also, ensure that you use a high-resolution picture as low quality can sour the experience.
Add an Apt Background Photo
Many professionals fail to pay enough attention to the background photo on their LinkedIn profile. However, it can go a long way in setting the context and personalizing your profile. Think about what defines you, can draw attention and will help your page stand out from the crowd.
Write a Captivating Headline
The headline is your chance to let your personality shine through. It also gives readers an insight into what you do and why you do it. The headline should be short and succinct to get your message without consuming much time.
Turn your Summary into a Story
Summary is the perfect place to let your storytelling skills loose. Think of it as a longer version of your headline. You want to highlight your accomplishments in a way that is engaging for the reader. Jot down what sets you apart from other professionals in your field.
Summary is also an excellent opportunity to dive deep into your expertise, experience and personality. You may talk about your journey as a professional, emphasize specialization, share accomplishments, and/or mention your additional skills.
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Pain-Stakingly Develop your Experience Section
An elaborate experience section does not always translate into an effective one. Past projects or employment mentioned in the experience section ought to be in sync with your current career goals. Thus, you may leave out any irrelevant past job that adds little to no value to your present role or ambition.
Remember to include key responsibilities and achievements for each previous role. Experience holds cardinal importance in any LinkedIn profile. So, pay your utmost attention to designing it.
Show Off in the Featured Section
Is there some project that you are particularly proud of? Why not share it with recruiters, so they get a better idea about your skillfulness. You can add the Featured section to your page with a compilation of the work you would like recruiters to see.
You may also share links to external web pages with your portfolio in the summary or experience section.
List your Interests
Interest can give a personal touch to your page. If you have any interests that are in line with your role, then even better. But whatever the case may be, do not leave the interests section vacant.
Make a Keyword-Rich Profile
Keywords make your LinkedIn profile discoverable for recruiters.
For instance, if you are a digital marketing expert, then you might want to add phrases like content marketing, Facebook ads, Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, Google Ads, etc., in your headline, summary, experience and skills. For HR professionals, keywords like Payroll Management, Recruitment and Onboarding, and Employee Engagement are vital.
This will help the LinkedIn algorithm to share your profile with recruiters seeking professionals with these skills.
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Limit the use of Buzzwords
Expert, focused, passionate, creative, innovative and other such words are overly employed to highlight skills and talents on the platform. While we do not ask you to completely refrain from utilizing these words in your LinkedIn profile, one should limit the use of such words as they seldom add any value to the content.
Avoid using too many buzzwords, especially where you have a very restrictive word limit.
Build your Network
Networking on Linkedin is not a one-and-done job. It’s a process. Once you have created an impactful LinkedIn page, make the most of it by growing your network.
Create connections with people in your organization, industry and field, proactively initiate conversations, share relevant content on your feed, and comment on others’ posts.
Share Love by Endorsing/Recommending
Recommendations can take you one step closer to your dream job. While you can ask your peers for endorsements or recommendations, the best way is to recommend/endorse them, so they give the love back. Think about whose recommendation will add value to your LinkedIn profile, and reach out to them to ask if they’d be interested in recommending you.
Customize your URL
The default profile URL includes your name and some numbers that don’t make much sense. A name-only URL can be clearer and easier to remember.
Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
One misplaced comma or a misspelling can prove to be a dark spot on an otherwise perfect profile. Therefore, invest time and effort in omitting any errors from the content.
Why is a LinkedIn Profile Important?
LinkedIn is a network of hundreds of millions of professionals from across the globe. Almost every organization worth working for also has a page on the platform. So, the career opportunities are seemingly infinite.
A thoughtfully-prepared page account can play a pivotal role in establishing credibility and trust. It also shows potential recruiters about your seriousness regarding your career.
You may also share your knowledge with experts in your field and learn from them. Moreover, LinkedIn is a great place to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in your line of work and industry.
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Conclusion
A gamut of benefits makes a LinkedIn profile a must for every professional. With the above-mentioned tips in mind, you can easily create a page that showcases your skills and talents, elaborates on your experience, delves into your personality, and impresses recruiters.