LinkedIn is typically one of, if not the first piece of information a recruiter will see. Whether you are actively applying for jobs or casually searching for new opportunities or simply biding your time where you are, having an outstanding and optimized LinkedIn profile can seriously help you and your professional growth. There are a few simple but vital methods to optimize your LinkedIn profile. Read this article to learn what they are.
What Does Your Headline Say?
When recruiters see your LinkedIn profile, what’s the first thing they see? Your name, obviously! But beyond that, the line below your name, your headline, is the first indication of what you can bring to the table. As such, you need to make sure your headline is spot on and optimized.
As basic headline including a job title and employer used to be the standard on LinkedIn. “Engineer at XYZ Company” was the typical line. But in the last few years, the new standard is to include what you bring to the table in your headline. Tell the reader about what you do: are you a systems engineer looking to streamline processes? Well then, tell the world! Move away from the “job at company” model and tell the world about what you do in that job at that company. This will instantly level up your LinkedIn profile.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile “About” Section
Below your name, headline, and contact information, the next major section to address is the “About” section of your LinkedIn profile. While the headline was just a teaser for your capabilities, the “About” section offers a place to tell a career narrative. This is the place to bring everything together: your education, life experiences, and professional roles all can be featured. When you bring it all together, form a “mission statement” telling the reader exactly what you do, what you can do, and why you do it. This is your place to shine. The professional experience section is for your quantitative items. The “About” section is the qualitative, narrative portion of the resume or LinkedIn profile. While one can be useful, when used in conjunction, they are profound.
Use Your Network
Asking for recommendations and skill endorsements is another valuable way optimize your LinkedIn profile. While the world may not hire specifically because you have a recommendation or two or some skill endorsements, they can see that you have some evidence to back up your claims of being a great communicator, systems engineer, or photographer. Whatever it is that you do, having people vouch for you can be vital to future successful endeavors.
So, find your connections, reach out, and ask for a recommendation. Provide them a way to get out of it in case they aren’t comfortable with the request, but typically, people will be receptive. They can talk about hard or soft skills, your professional attitude, or personal experiences. Whatever the case, offer them a point or two to consider, but beyond that, feel free to use your network to get ahead.
The point is to use your LinkedIn profile to the best of its abilities. When you optimize your LinkedIn profile, opportunities will flock to you.
