CREATE A BRAND. BUILD A NETWORK. START A CAREER.
Whether you are fresh out of college or three years out of college, keeping your LinkedIn profile account up to date is becoming an major part of gaining connections in the growing workforce. The way you present yourself on social media is just as significant as in person. Therefore be cautious of the information displayed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. LinkedIn is a fast way for students, professors, and employers to connect with one another to filter jobs opening and pair your skills and experience with a job that suits you. If you aren't active on LinkedIn, you are losing valuable connections and missing the opportunity to brand and hopefully sell yourself through a digital resume. I have provided a few pointers on how to get started and continue to maintain LinkedIn profiles. I myself am new to the LinkedIn process so feel free to provide comments and tips of your own. It's a learning process as you develop more experience with it.
1. Customize your profile URL
A LinkedIn profile is quick and effective way to find information fast about an potential employee although searching an individual can become difficult when providing a URL with multiple numbers and underscores at the end. Make your profile easy to find with a custom URL using your name at the end.
2. Write Summaries
The Summary portion is the first part a viewer will read therefore make it unique to you. Provide a little background of college and job experience, involvement, passion, unique qualifications and aspirations. This portion is a deciding factor whether someone will continue reading your Experience and Education or move on so avoid buzzwords and get creative!
3. Expand on Experiences
Providing a list of all previous jobs shows you are responsible and capable of holding a long-term position with a company. Aside from listing the job experience, write a list of daily tasks or projects completed while working within this position. It gives the viewer an idea of the type of work you completed during your time.
4. Show Sample Work
LinkedIn allows you to add a variety of media such as videos, images, documents, links, and presentations to the Summary, Education, and Experience sections of your LinkedIn profile. This feature allows you to showcase projects and provide work you have done in the past. It will optimize and make your LinkedIn profile more interesting and interactive to viewers.
5. Add and Rearrange Skills
The Skills & Endorsement section is a brief list of the skills you have acquired in school and through job experiences. As an employer it gives a general idea of the tasks and skills you have to complete a job efficiently. A distinct feature within LinkedIn is getting endorsed by followers and people you connect with. It's a good check and proof method that others support the skills you have applied.
6. Get Recommendations
After working and completing a decent amount of time within a job, club, or organization I suggest getting a written recommendation from an employer or co-worker. The recommendation will be displayed at the bottom of the job description as a professional way to display what others thought of the hard work and dedication that was put into a job.
7. Digital to Printable PDF
Take your digital resume profile and turn it into a PDF file to print, email, and share. It keeps information organized, easily accessible to change, and able to print as needed.
8. Show your Achievements
Take the time to display any awards, honors, and recommendations received in previous jobs and experiences. This is another feature that will set you apart from other employees. Think accomplishments and moments in a job where you are featured or promoted to new projects.
9. Update your Status
A new feature I didn't know existed within LinkedIn. The feature is similar to Facebook but obviously more professionally geared. Share an interesting article you came across or one your wrote, share unique photos and words of wisdom you are interested in. Although colorful lunches are yummy, I don't recommend sharing your lunch pictures with LinkedIn followers.
10. Be Excited and Open
At first LinkedIn can seem terrifying because of the professionalism of the site and the people you connect with. You might feel your word choices don't sound professional enough or you don't have enough experience or projects to showcase but just like every new project you begin it's a learning experience. Start out small on LinkedIn and do your research. The words, projects, and experience will build on its own. So show your enthusiasm by participating in groups within your field of expertise, make your profile shine, and start getting noticed by leaders in your industry. #GetLinkedIn