Linkedin is a social media platform meant to connect professionals all across the globe. It gives you an opportunity to find work, seek out mentorship and find opportunities you may not have found anywhere else. There are also tons of thought leaders on the platform that provide great advice on career, their specific industries, and how to work smarter in general. If you’re just entering the job market or if you’re looking to update your LinkedIn profile, keep reading for some valuable information on how to boost your Linkedin presence.
The Headshot
Your profile picture is the first thing people see when they click on your profile, it serves as a first impression and makes your profile more inviting. It’s important that your headshot looks how you currently look like but also shows of your personality. We should be able to read you, as a professional, when we take a look at your eyes. Avoid pictures with other people, and make sure the image is high quality so we can really see you. Natural lighting and a simple background are best for LinkedIn profiles.
Summary & Headline
The headline acts like a logline for a tv show. Let people know in a few words who you are and what you do. This doesn’t have to just be your job title, it could be some descriptive words of who you are as a worker. This summary part of your profile allows more of your personality to shine through. It’s a great place to let people know in your own words, what you do, what you’re passionate about, and what your approach looks like. If you’re a job seeker, let people know what you’re looking for! Feel free to get personal but connect everything you do back to your career. Show people who you are as a worker but also as a person.
Work History
When you get into the work history portion of your profile its important that you’re not just listing past positions and leaving it at that. Make sure you’re fleshing out everything you’ve done during your time at these organizations. Not only is it important to talk about the skills you’ve developed, things you’ve learned and the software you’ve used, it’s also important to brag a little. Did you start a new project or company initiative? Let your network know! We spend most of our time at work, so showing how you go the extra mile at work to bring in new and exciting things shows your network that you care.
Your LinkedIn Network
We can spruce up our profiles as much as we want but if you’re not actively trying to make connections on LinkedIn you won’t get too far. Connecting with people in your field, from companies you’d like to work and individuals you admire. Make sure you engage with the posts you see on your feed and create posts of your own. This is a great way to make your profile shine.
Do you have any more tips on how to utilize LinkedIn? Let us know in the comments.
