As someone who has spent a significant amount of time on LinkedIn over the years and reviewed thousands of profiles, I've seen the good, the bad, and everything in between. So, when I was recently asked for some pointers on how to make a profile stand out, it didn't take long to come up with a list of simple dos and don'ts.
Before I get into that, let's establish that you don't have to have a LinkedIn account. If you've chosen not to have one, I respect that decision (unless, perhaps, you've chosen a career in social media). But for those who do have one, know that when applying for a job, most hiring managers will review it, whether you provide it or not. So why not take a few minutes to make sure what you have is helping you rather than having the opposite effect?
Here’s what I recommend:
DO: Make sure the information on your profile is consistent with your resume. For example, having a job on your profile that's not listed on your resume, or having different dates between the two, can be a red flag.
DON'T: Have more than one account. It sounds simple, but it's surprising how many people maintain multiple profiles. If this is you, pick one and delete the others.
DO: Add a photo. If you do everything else and leave this off, your profile simply looks incomplete. It doesn't have to be a professional headshot, but it should be appropriate and relevant to your profession.
DON'T: Forget to link employer information. Unless a company is no longer in business, it most likely has a presence on LinkedIn. Take a few seconds to select the company so its logo appears on your profile. If I'm not familiar with the organization, I may view it to learn more, which could even influence my decision to contact you.
DO: Use the #OpenToWork ribbon. I'm not entirely sure why this is controversial. If you're looking for work, it notifies others that you're open to opportunities and may be the difference between being contacted about a role or not.
DON'T: List only the employer without providing any duties, responsibilities, or accomplishments. You can, but don't have to, include all the details from your resume. At a minimum, provide a summary of your time there.
DO: Fill in the blanks. Create a headline, complete the About section, and add skills, licenses, certifications, and other relevant information. Keywords in these areas can help recruiters find you and may lead to new opportunities.
DON'T: Forget that LinkedIn is still social media. It's easy to get drawn into conversations that may be more appropriate for other platforms. Remember that your current employer, future employer, and professional network may see your posts and comments.
DO: Keep it relevant. Listing the retail job you held in college makes sense if you're a recent graduate. However, if you've been working in your profession for 10+ years, leaving it on your profile probably isn't adding much value.
DON'T: Forget to spell-check.
DO: Build meaningful connections. Think former colleagues, clients, business partners, and peers. If we share common connections, those are often the first people I'll reach out to for feedback about your work history, not the carefully curated list of references you're likely to provide. And here’s a hot take – unless you're in Talent Acquisition yourself, I may become a bit hesitant if most of your connections are recruiters.
DON'T: Neglect your profile. Keep your contact information current, and if you've applied for a job, check your messages regularly. That may be how a potential employer reaches out to you.
DO: Keep it simple and keep it current. "Just enough" is often exactly enough.
There's an old saying: "Your resume doesn't get you the job, your experience does." The same can be said for your LinkedIn profile. Follow some, or all of these tips and let your profile reflect your unique experience.
Or don't.
But if you choose to maintain a LinkedIn profile with some of these easily fixable issues, just know that I may not call you right away... or maybe even at all.
