What better way to drastically improve your LinkedIn profile than with insider tips from LinkedIn?
Most professionals are on LinkedIn, treating it as an online CV or a record of their professional achievements.
We’ve all heard many stories about people making connections, networking and even being headhunted for better jobs based on their LinkedIn profile.
So, why hasn’t that happened to you yet?
Wendy Murphy, senior HR director at LinkedIn EMEA, said she has come across plenty of LinkedIn profiles that could use work, even when recruiting for LinkedIn itself. “During the interview process, we coach [candidates] on how to make their profile better.”
Plenty of media
Murphy said a good, professional photograph is one of the most important things you should have on your LinkedIn profile. Think of your profile picture as the very first impression you make on a potential employer.
“Second of all, in your tagline at the top, most people will have their name and the title of their job. They don’t need to have the title of their job because it’s already going to be down below in their profile,” she said.
“Use that tagline to make yourself stand out. Say something different.”
Following her own advice, Murphy’s official job title may be senior HR director, but her tagline says: ‘Inspiring and enabling talent at LinkedIn to transform themselves, the organisation and the world!’
Rich media is the next thing your LinkedIn profile needs. “If you have any PowerPoints, articles, posts – put them up there.”
Be honest and sociable
Murphy said when it comes to the text content, being authentic and honest really shows. “Try and make it a real reflection of your professional career,” she said. “This is your digital brand, so invest a bit of time into getting it right.”
Murphy said she has often found profiles that simply have a list of bullet points that look like they were copied from someone else’s profile or from their own CV.
“A recruiter is probably going to spend anything between 60 seconds and 180 seconds reading your profile. It has to flow like a story, and what does that story say about you?”
It’s also important to use LinkedIn as the social media platform that it is, instead of treating it like a static, online CV.
Joining LinkedIn groups is a great way to interact with people in your industry and gain new connections. You can build vital contacts and also keep up to date with the latest news.
List your skills, but avoid buzzwords
For recruiters who are skimming your profile, your list of skills will prove to them at a glance that you’re the perfect candidate.
Use that rich media, such as presentations, articles and projects, to back up your skills and visually show off your work. Mix in both high-level and niche skills to make sure you show up in the right search results when recruiters come looking.
“Stay away from buzzwords,” said Murphy, equating it to every poor hopeful on The X Factor attempting the same Mariah Carey song over and over again. “Just be yourself, tell your own story.”
LinkedIn. Image: I AM NIKOM/Shutterstock
