LinkedIn is a valuable tool for launching your professional identity and promoting your personal brand. But how do you compete to distinguish yourself from the other 400 million users. Following these tips can ensure your LinkedIn profile stands out from the rest.
The perfect ‘summary’
The most differentiated point of your LinkedIn profile is the ‘summary’, or bio. This is your opportunity to show potential employers why they should pick you, and not another LinkedIn user who has similar qualifications and experience.
Understand what you are aiming for by using LinkedIn
A LinkedIn profile that attracts attention from a recruiter, is one that is written for that particular recruiter. What this means is, that if you want to be success on LinkedIn, you must know who you want to read your summary. Then write your summary to meet this audience. If you are using the platform to attract a job in the field of science, write a summary that showcases your expertise, skills and education in the industry.
Write in first-person
You should write the summary in first person to keep it personal. After all, you are telling a story about yourself. First person will allow people to connect with you one-on-one and as an individual. You should, however, consider your audience. Consider who you want to read the summary, and what you want them to take away from it. This means that you should tell the story of “you” but keep it relevant to how you can help potential employers. Recruiters will be more interested in the fact that you “lead a marketing campaign that helped increase market share by 15%” than the fact that you “grew up in Melbourne and own four cats”.
Include your achievements
It is also important to include your greatest accomplishment in the summary. This could span from “increased sales for Coca-Cola Amatil by 45%”, to “increased sales of footwear by 2% at the local Myer store” . The summary is the point in which you show LinkedIn users that you can do something better than anyone else. Keep in mind that you are telling potential employers why you would add value to their business. Once again, you should try and make sure that these achievements are relevant to why you are using LinkedIn, and what you hope to achieve from the platform.
Convey your values
Include your values, interests and passions in your summary/bio. These help to tell the story of you, and how you will fit into a business. Employers always consider how potential employees will match their business’s culture and ethics. If you tell a business that you are guided by values that fit their business model, they may be more inclined to contact you. For example, Including a value, such as “being empathetic” in your summary will help to show your potential employer that you will be a supportive team member who works well with others.
Have the perfect profile picture
Having a picture for your LinkedIn profile attracts attention from other users, and potential employers. However, you must choose a clean, professional looking photo. Even if this means a work portrait. Steer clear from poorly cropped group shots, vacay pics, tinder profile pictures and of course – no selfies. A recent study found that those that have a picture attached to their LinkedIn are 7 times more likely to be found on the website.
Have a full profile
A full profile looks more attractive to recruiters. Firstly, it creates the image that you are experienced. In addition, it helps to show that you are a well-rounded individual. If you volunteered at a local charity, put it on your profile. If you have advanced computer skills, put it on your profile. If you graduated with first class honours, put it on your profile. If you are the runner up of the Miss Kentucky Beauty Pageant, maybe DON’T put it on your profile unless you’re using LinkedIn as an instrument to promote your modelling career. Why is this? Again, because you need to ensure that everything you write on your LinkedIn meets the purpose and audience.
Validate yourself
If you want to tell potential employer how great you are, you should have some testimonials from others that prove it. It’s important to showcase all your awards, and accolades to give some reliability to your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn allows you to request a recommendation from your connections on the platform. So you can use the site to reach out to former managers, or associates, who can ‘back you up’.
Publish
LinkedIn allows you to “share an update”. Using their publishing tool, you can share your thoughts on matters related to your industry. This will help demonstrate to recruiters that you have a genuine interest and focus on your industry, and what you do. It will also help you show potential employers that have current and updated knowledge on the field you work in.
Follow these tips, and you should have the perfect LinkedIn, and a line of suitors ready to hire you.
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