LinkedIn is the ultimate online networking website. It has also become one of the most widely utilized ways to find a job. Many headhunters go directly to LinkedIn to find prospective employees. If you are looking for a job LinkedIn has become a must have. Here are 3 tips on ways to improve your LinkedIn profile:
Write a Headline That Stands Out
Use this space to concisely communicate the core of who you are as a professional in a sentence or a few phrases. The more specific you can be about what sets you apart from the competition, the better. It’s important to highlight specific skills that you want to be known for- in essence your career identity. For example:
College professor specializing in hands-on learning with lesson plans that draw on 10 years working in portfolio management.
Profile Picture
Gone are the days of needing a professional headshot for your profile image. Now, your iPhone or Android has a high-enough resolution camera to ensure your picture is clear and crisp. But just because you don’t need an image taken by a professional, doesn’t mean your picture shouldn’t
be professional. You should be appropriately dressed. Don’t use any images where you have to crop other people out. Be sure to stand against a neutral backdrop using natural light. The picture should be from shoulder up.
Customize your LinkedIn URL
When you create a profile, LinkedIn automatically assigns you a string of alpha-numeric characters as a URL. But you can (and should) set a custom URL instead. Make sure your URL is easy for you to remember and share. Most commonly people will use their name and initials in some format, though you might need to get creative or add numbers if you have a more common name. You can also add key certifications like CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or PMP (Project Management Professional) to better optimize your visibility.
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