9 Tips For Making An Awesome LinkedIn Profile
These days, having a LinkedIn profile is imperative to connecting with business professionals and networking. Consider it your professional online resume. Here are some tips for creating a killer profile.
1. Use a professional profile picture - If you don’t have one, get one taken. It doesn’t need to be extra fancy, just decently professional. Just think of your LinkedIn profile is like your business card - use a business-appropriate photo of yourself.
2. Use a succinct title - if you can, make your title pertain to your profession. And definitely keep it short. It’s one of the few lines that everyone sees in your abbreviated LinkedIn contact card. It should summarize what you do.
3. Register a vanity URL - if you claim a URL name of your own, you can direct potential clients and friends to linkedin.com/in/YOURNAME. It’s an easy way to remember your online identity to share with others by word of mouth.
4. Write a summary - in the first area of your profile there’s a “Summary” section. This can be whatever you’d like it to be. I’d suggest writing a few sentences on an overview of your experience in your particular field, along with whatever other information you’d like others to know about you that wouldn’t fit on another part of your resume.
5. List your positions - you should mainly include jobs you’re holding now that are relevant to your current position. It’s up to you if you want to include that part time job you held in high school, but for the most part, I’d suggest only putting your most recent/pertinent positions in your profile. Tip: Make sure you link your position with the associated business’ LinkedIn company profile (if it exists). This way you’ll show up in the list of workers and your profile will be linked to that company.
6. List your Skills and Expertise - put key words or key phrases that pertain to skills in your profession. Another LinkedIn member can endorse you for a particular skill, boosting your credibility in your network. Tip: If you want endorsements, don’t simply ask for them. Endorse your connections for their skills, first! Usually the favor will be returned to you.
7. Embed pictures and other content - recently LinkedIn has given users the ability to upload images, documents and more to their profiles. Utilize this feature to show off your projects, a good photo of you at work, and more. Be creative!
8. Include where you went to school - if you attended college or a university, make sure to include where you went, and when. You can also add the courses you took if you think it would increase your credibility.
9. The rest is up to you - you can add projects in the Projects section, mention honors and awards you’ve received, as well as list organizations of which you are a part. Explore the options available to you, and think about how each feature might be beneficial to you.