Five tips for creating a better LinkedIn profile
Think your LinkedIn profile is no big deal. It is!
You have just left an amazing interview. You felt confident, looked the part and had great answers to every one of the questions you were asked. You know that job is yours.
There’s a pretty good chance that the people who interviewed you also checked out your LinkedIn profile. They probably looked at your work history, experience, education and photo.
A strong LinkedIn profile will show interviewers you are a professional with the relevant work history and experience they want. A weak profile could have the opposite effect.
Make the most of your online presence by building a better LinkedIn profile. It’s not difficult. Here are five simple tips to improve your profile:
- Use a professional photo
You might have great photos from your last vacation, but you are usually better off using a professional, business-appropriate photo for your LinkedIn profile. A good rule of thumb is to dress for the role you want.
- Make sure details are correct and up-to-date
It never looks good to have inaccurate or incomplete information on your profile or to change jobs without updating your status. Get into the habit of reviewing and updating your profile regularly, to keep it current and relevant.
- Keep your profile tight
A summary about who you are, what you’ve done and/or what you excel at can go a long way towards impressing a hiring manager. But avoid making your summary too long and risking that the hiring manager may get distracted.
- Publish interesting posts
If you read something that you think might interest potential employers, why not share it? These posts can give people an idea about the types of topics you’re interested in, as well as positioning you as engaged in areas that prospective employers may also value. Just remember to read the entire post you’re sharing to ensure it makes sense and reflects your views.
- Get recommendations
It’s good to have a number of recommendations from people you have worked with (and for). Testimonials that highlight your intelligence, character traits, knowledge, skills and work ethic are something a hiring manager notices.
A final word about following companies you hope to work for
Another good idea on LinkedIn is to follow the companies you’re interviewing with or are interested in. Many companies will likely have a page on LinkedIn. If they do, follow the company, read some of their posts and “like” the ones you agree with (and add a well-considered, insightful comment if you wish). Going the extra mile like that might get you noticed. And, don’t forget to send a request to connect (with a personal note) to the hiring manager who interviewed you!
Since many employers are on LinkedIn, you should be, too. The effort you put into your profile will go a long way to landing the job you want.
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