Tips for Making Your LinkedIn Stand Out

LinkedIn is the hub for recruiters, employers, and employees to connect and expand their career network. It works like a social media network and a job database in one platform and could lead to new professional opportunities.

Networking and standing out online can seem overwhelming when you think about the vast world of the internet, but there are many ways you can boost your online presence and get your profile noticed.

Here are some ways to make your LinkedIn profile stand out.

Your headshot and headline

The first thing employers see when they search your profile is your headshot and headline underneath your photo. To keep employers and recruiters from scrolling past your profile, ensure that your headshot is a clear and high quality photo.

Headshots can be a little pricey sometimes if you want to use a professional photographer, but if you need something fast, you can take your own headshots right from your phone. All you need is a smartphone, a tripod, or help from a family member or friend. Stand in front of a plain or uncluttered background and if you’re working by yourself, set your phone on a tripod or table and set a timer for 5-10 seconds. For better quality photos, use your back camera rather than your front facing camera.

Underneath your headshot is your headline. This is where you can write a short blurb about who you are, what you do, or what you’re looking to do. Your headline doesn’t need to be a complete sentence, but short and easy to understand, for example, listing your current positions, or that you’re looking for a new role, or that you’re hiring.

Keep your summary brief but interesting

One of the most important parts of your profile is your professional summary. This is the place where you get to tell employers and recruiters a little about yourself before formally meeting with them.

When crafting your summary, you’re given 2,000 characters to work with, but you shouldn’t use all of them. Instead, focus on three important aspects of your professional self and your experience. You shouldn’t focus too much on your past work experience though, that’s what’s listed at the bottom of your profile, where you can talk about each individual experience.

Focus your summary on what you bring to the workplace and what makes you a valuable candidate. Show employers what you have to offer and highlight the qualities that you believe are your strengths.

Create a custom URL

LinkedIn gives you the option to create your own original URL for your page so why not make is unique? Auto-generated URLs can be long and confusing, making it harder for employers and recruiters to find you outside of LinkedIn.

Change your profile URL to something relevant and straightforward so you can place it on other sites like JobDiva, Monster, Indeed, or even your resume. Examples include your name, your company if it’s a professional page or your industry. To edit this feature, look at the right side of your profile page for a pencil. Once you click on the pencil, you have options to change different aspects of your profile, and as you scroll, you’ll find a textbox where you can enter your own URL.

Share your work

One of the best ways to get noticed on LinkedIn is by sharing what’s going on in the workplace or discussing professional topics. For example, are you working on a project you feel could benefit your professional career, then share it with your connections! In addition, you can share articles, photos, videos, success stories, etc., with your contacts. As more of your network sees and interacts with your posts, it can reach a larger audience and get you noticed on the platform. Just be sure to check your privacy settings beforehand.

While sharing your work is essential, it is just as important to share and interact with the work of your colleagues and friends. If you see something interesting in your feed, think about sharing it with your network. Perhaps you can add your own thoughts or advice to benefit others too.

Don’t forget about networking

The most important way to use LinkedIn is to network with others. Even if you don’t personally know someone, you can still connect with them and ask them questions. You never know who your connections know, and their connections could lead to new opportunities.

Wrap up

LinkedIn is a platform that allows you to be creative with your professional self. It enables employers and recruiters to see the person behind the resume and see how you interact in an online professional setting. Take a look at your LinkedIn profile to determine what opportunities there are to enhance your presence and build your network!

September 30, 2021