Tips for Your LinkedIn Profile

Before beginning my position as a technical recruiter, I was blind to just how frequently LinkedIn is used when looking for job candidates in top industries worldwide. Although some think that simply adjusting their settings on LinkedIn is enough to get noticed, the process goes much deeper. Once you’ve established the basics in your profile, make sure you’re following these easy tips to secure your chances of getting an interview with anyone who comes across your profile!

1. Yes, your grammar should be perfect- I’m sure many people who read this will roll their eyes at the simplicity of this tip, but I cannot tell you how many people I come across with basic mistakes in their profiles. Nothing turns away potential employers faster than mindless and avoidable mistakes! Write full sentences, use spell check, and follow the basic rules of capitalization. These simple steps not only take almost no time to complete, but they make profile visitors want to actually read your credentials.

2. Pick the perfect professional picture- Another simple step that makes a world of difference! Profiles with pictures get up to 21 times more views than those without, according to an article from Time. You don’t need to have professional head shots taken to set your profile apart- in fact, you’d probably be surprised at the casual settings in which many LinkedIn pictures are taken. Simply find a photo of yourself in business clothing with an appropriate background. If you don’t have one on hand, ask someone to take your picture one day before work or an interview when you’re already dressed in your business best!

3. Keep your information up to date- Did you start a new job? Receive a promotion? Change your phone number? Make sure all of these changes are reflected on your profile! At the same time, be sure that updates you’re making to the content on your profile are relevant to your career goals. If you want to make a small change in your career, consider changing your skills and uploading examples of prior work that show you will adopt this new specialty with ease.

4. Choose your words wisely- In many job fields, more than one title may be used for the same position. Consider using a thesaurus to find alternate job titles or descriptions and putting them in another section of your profile. You will also likely want to be cautious of the wording in your profile when you’re searching for a new job but aren’t yet comfortable sharing your need for a move with your boss. Mashable cited Jenny Foss for suggesting the addition of a subtle line at the end of your summary inviting professionals to reach out without overtly stating that you’re on the hunt for a new job.

5. Stay active- Far too often, professionals create a LinkedIn account and ignore it until they are searching for a new job. Don’t make this mistake! Log on and find new connections, answer your messages, and even post articles you find interesting or updates about your career. With the LinkedIn app, staying active is simple and free- and you never know who you’ll connect with or what you’ll learn!