HOW TO WRITE YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE?
During our Career development workshops and sessions, we always take time to talk about LinkedIn optimisation.
According to the latest numbers, LinkedIn has over 690 million users in more than 200 countries. It is a global professional network with unlimited opportunities and still, the majority of the students and professionals we work with at Ni-Cons, say they know the platform, have a profile, but do not use it regularly and have difficulties understanding its potential.
Why Is It Important? 3 Reasons.
Now more than ever before, online networking is a reality and quite the only option we have: LinkedIn is the perfect place to start.
The 3 main reason why is important to have an effective profile – no matter your current situation – are:
1. Visibility And Reputation Enhancement
On your profile – that is not a simple copy and paste from your CV – you have to write about your work experience, but you can add a lot more information:
2. Understanding Of Your Industry
You can join closed groups to discuss specific topics, you can learn more by regularly reading companies’ updates, follow hashtags, analyse job offers so that stay up to date with trends and become aware of your value on the market.
3. International Job Opportunities
As a career consultant expert in recruitment, I know the challenges of hiring somebody that is not based in the city/country where the job has to be executed (it might change drastically with WFH options!). Apart from logistics and visa-related challenges, there is a bit more concern than usual related to trusting a person you never really met. It is easier to go for the candidate that is already on-site and could start quickly.
Having an active, up to date and referenced LinkedIn profile, it definitely helps a recruiter to overcome this barrier. It’s all easier said than done.
What Are The 4 Elements Of A Great LinkedIn Profile?
There are 4 elements that you should keep in mind when writing your profile:
1. Profile Summary
It is the About section below your portrait picture. It is crucial to your visibility as it is the first section that recruiters will see. In this section, you have to describe in a few lines your professional profile and highlight your most important skills. Make sure you make keyword research before starting to write it as this could make a big difference!
2. Profile Picture
Please, please, please! Do not use personal pictures where you are wearing sunglasses, drinking a cocktail, having fun with family and friends. LinkedIn is a professional network: have a portrait picture where your face is clearly visible. No frills – unless you are an artist, a dancer, a singer etc…and it might be acceptable to go creative.
3. Skills
In the skills section, you can list up to 50 skills: personal, professional, language etc…Make sure you select them carefully as it would be crucial when you apply for a job through Linkedin to have a match between what your profile and what the company is looking for.
4. Recommendations
The recommendations are what make your profile real. When someone recommends you – it can be a colleague, a school peer, a client, a teacher etc – it enhances your credibility, your reputation. People that write a recommendation for you, do it publicly through their own profile and this has an incredible value for your professional image.
My last tip is to keep your profile up to date so that you won’t miss any new opportunity. Log into the platform regularly, make it part of your daily routine and – with time – it will bring great results.
Linkedin Profile Optimisation Service
If you feel you might support writing an effective LinkedIn profile, we can help you.
Learn more about our LinkedIn profile optimisation here
