LinkedIn has become one of the best resources for professionals to find new jobs, network with others in their industry and become experts in their field. This social site also serves as a virtual resume for those who use it, which makes finding a job a little bit easier in today’s ultra-competitive market. In today’s article, we will tell you what is best to include and feature in your LinkedIn profile.
Details, Details, Details
One of the most important things you need to do with your LinkedIn profile is provide as many details as possible. The more detailed your profile is, the more effective it will be in securing you more connections and possibly landing you a job. The best way to add details to your profile is by uploading your resume directly to the site, which will then put all of your information into the right place so you do not have to.
Professional Profile Picture
It is very important that you have a professional profile picture for LinkedIn. Do not pull a picture from your Facebook page or from Instagram. Instead, use a picture of yourself dressed in business attire from a recent conference and make sure you are the only person in the picture. The picture says a lot about you, so make sure it does not depict you drinking alcohol or dancing with friends at a club. It needs to be as professional as possible.
Recommendations
Reach out to some of your most trusted connections on LinkedIn and ask them to provide you with a recommendation on the site. They do not need to do anything special, just fill out the recommendation form and submit it. The recommendation will then show-up on your profile. It can be as short or as long as the person wants to make it, but it should be very positive and discuss one of your best professional traits.
Use a Strong Summary
Your LinkedIn profile must absolutely utilize the summary portion. It needs to be a strong summary that explains who you are and what it is you do for your career. Use keywords specific to your career so you can be found when employers search within LinkedIn. The summary needs to be at least 40 words in length to make an impact in the search engine.
Boast about Your Skills
Make sure your LinkedIn profile brags about your skills. You can add up to 50 different skills to your LinkedIn profile, so be sure you choose ones that best fit your educational and work experience.
LinkedIn has become the go-to social network for professionals when it comes to networking and building a personal brand on the web. If you build a strong LinkedIn profile, you should have no trouble finding a job within your industry.