When I first entered college I thought I was marketable with all the right resources I needed. There was the college’s first job fair of the semester a few weeks in and I felt prepared for it. I went in with my resume, business card and myself to market to these employers that I am the best fit for their company. What I remembered of that day was that I had a lot of great conversation with employers but they seemed to always have a confused face they had when they saw an overly ambitious applicant as me without a LinkedIn profile. They questioned why I did not have one and immediately the mood of the conversation changed.
A LinkedIn profile is how they choose to engage with us these days and we need to know how to best set up a profile for optimal performance. Here are some tips on created your very own LinkedIn profile:
Tip 1 - Your Picture is the heart of your Profile.
- Your profile picture is the first thing an employer or any visitor of your profile sees first. Find LinkedIn profiles within the company that you would like to work for. See how they carry themselves in terms of dress and professionalism in their photos and mimic that same look with your unique smile that shows that you’re friendly and charming.
Something to Consider: Use Adobe Lightroom to edit your photo. It’s free to download and the tools are easy to use so that you can add more value to your headshot.
Tip 2 - Show your creative side in your Summary.
Do not use your headline to display your job title. That’s not what it’s used for. It should be a one liner that showcases your specialty, what you most distinguishably offer to your market, or a quote that defines you. Make it just as unique as you are! Your summary is when you really get creative. Your LinkedIn is not your resume so write in first person and most importantly let it flow as if you’re having a conversation. Talk about your passions, what you do during your day, hobbies, interests and whatever you feel is important for people to know about you. You want people to know who you are as a person not only just in business.
Something to Consider: Use Quotes Generator to help you find and even help you create your own quotes based on what is important to you!
Tip 3 - Post on LinkedIn frequently BUT post professionally.
- Your LinkedIn is similar to your Facebook but used for business purposes so post just much as you do on that platform. Your connections would like to know what you found interesting or knowledgeable within the week. So post professionally, frequently (once a week), and share relevant content to your profile because your status defines you and your entire network is viewing.
Something to Consider: Read this blog from Hubspot about the best times to post on LinkedIn to maximize user engagements on your page.
Tip 4 - Social Media should be your Friend.
- Allow people to find you. Add your email, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Instagram, etc. handle on it so that people can go further into knowing you and have a better way to reach you. Also, keep all of those channels as professional as possible! Employers want someone that can well represent them at and outside of work.
LinkedIn is an innovative way to socialize with peers, business people, and others on a social media platform and you should have fun doing so! LinkedIn is professional, but it’s also about sharing all of who you are. You aren’t boring; you don’t just do this or that. You have a life that nobody has lived and have done things that others may have not which is what makes you unique. Share your exceptional self on LinkedIn and do not forget to smile while doing so!
For more weekly tips and tricks to help you navigate your job search, click the button below. Don't forget to check out Our First Job Search for other great information!
Happy job hunting!
