6 Tips To Create A Standout LinkedIn Profile
Publié le 14 August 2023
Grow your professional network and connect with peers in your industry with 6 tips to create a standout LinkedIn profile.
Whether you’re actively searching for a new job or just building up your online resume, you need to have a standout LinkedIn profile to get noticed. With recruiters and hiring managers increasingly turning to LinkedIn to find potential candidates, it’s crucial to make a strong first impression.
Here are 6 tips to create a standout LinkedIn profile:
1. Include a Good Headline and a Professional Profile Picture
Your professional headline is one of the first things people see when they visit your profile. It’s an opportunity to showcase your expertise and make a strong impression right away.
In just a few words, you need to communicate your professional identity and value proposition, i.e. what you bring to the job.
Instead of simply stating your job title, use this to highlight your unique skills, relevant accomplishments, and industry niche. Keep it under 25 works to make it easy to read. By crafting a compelling headline, you instantly differentiate yourself from the sea of professionals vying for attention.
Equally important is your profile photo, which provides a visual representation of your personal brand. Choose a professional headshot that portrays you in a professional light. Dress appropriately for your industry, exuding confidence and approachability.
You can use the green #opentowork frame like one shown above if you’re an active job seeker. It can make it easier for recruiters to reach out to you. Please be aware, though, that this also means that coworkers at your current company can see you’re actively looking for a job.
Make sure you also create a digital business card and include a link to your LinkedIn profile. You can easily share this electronic business card with people you meet and avoid the hassles of carrying a physical card when you visit offline events like job fairs and conferences. This way, you don’t just get the attention of companies online but offline, too. You can then increase your chances of getting job offers.
2. Write Engaging Summary / About Section
The LinkedIn Summary, also referred to as the LinkedIn About section, is a few paragraphs of text to showcase your personality, expertise, and professional story. You can write up to 2,000 words, but remember that visitors will only see the first three/four lines before clicking ‘See More.’
In this section, you can go beyond the standard resume format to connect with your audience on a more personal level. By crafting an engaging and compelling summary, you can captivate the attention of visitors to your profile.
Your summary is like an elevator pitch that concisely communicates who you are and what you bring to the table. It’s your chance to highlight your unique value proposition and stand out from the competition. Keep your summary concise and to the point, using relevant keywords to your industry. Pose thought-provoking questions that capture the reader’s attention and provide answers that showcase your expertise and passion for your field.
Include these in your summary:
- Years of experience in your current field
- Your most relevant skills
- Your current job title
- What you’ve excelled at
- What you’re passionate about
- What kind of job you’re looking for, if you’re openly searching
When crafting your engaging summary, put yourself in the shoes of your target audience. What would they find interesting or valuable? By addressing this question and infusing your personal flair into these sections, you can create a compelling narrative that captures the attention of potential employers, collaborators, or clients.
3. Ensure Detailed Work Experience and Accomplishments
Your work experience and accomplishments section is where you have the opportunity to showcase the depth and breadth of your professional journey. You should provide concrete evidence of your skills, expertise, and the value you bring to the table.
Here’s an example of a detailed work experience section, presented by a user who currently provides SaaS content production services in digital marketing:
But when it comes to showcasing your work experience, you want to go beyond job descriptions. Highlight your significant achievements and quantify your impact wherever possible. Don’t just tell prospective employers “you increased X company’s sales” when you were there. Employers value concrete results, so provide specific examples of how you contributed to the success of projects or teams.
As you describe your work experience, be sure to use action verbs and keep your sentences concise and focused. Aim to provide a clear and succinct description of your responsibilities and achievements. This not only makes your profile easier to read but also ensures that the most important information stands out.
Additionally, consider the relevance of your work and volunteer experience to the position you are targeting. Tailor your descriptions to emphasize key skills and experiences that align with the job requirements. This helps recruiters and hiring managers quickly identify how your past experiences make you a strong fit for the role.
By highlighting relevant accomplishments and demonstrating your ability to deliver results, you can significantly enhance your credibility and attract the attention of potential employers.
4. Specify Skills and Seek Endorsements for Them
LinkedIn allows you to list your valuable skills to showcase your expertise and areas of proficiency. Be strategic in selecting skills that are relevant to your industry and desired job roles. Many recruiters apply filters or use Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to source the most qualified job candidates for available posts. If your skills don’t match their list, they won’t even get to see your standout LinkedIn profile.
When choosing which skills to include, consider the specific job roles and industries you are targeting. Identify the core skills that are most valuable and in demand within your field. Be selective and choose hard and soft skills that align with your expertise and strengths. LinkedIn allows you to list up to 50 skills, but it’s important to prioritize quality over quantity.
To enhance the credibility of your skills, seek endorsements from colleagues, supervisors, and industry peers. Reach out to your connections and politely request endorsements that align with your strengths.
Similarly, return the favor by endorsing others for their skills, fostering a mutually beneficial professional network.
5. Showcase Work Samples and Get Recommendations
You have the option to attach work samples to your LinkedIn profile, such as presentations, articles, or design portfolios. This feature allows you to demonstrate your abilities and provide tangible evidence of your skills. When uploading work samples, ensure they are relevant to your industry and showcase your best work.
Another powerful element of your profile is the Recommendations section. Recommendations serve as social proof from individuals who have worked closely with you.
Note that recommendations are different from endorsements. Endorsements validate your specific skills and can be given by your colleagues with just a click of a button. Recommendations, on the other hand, confirm the quality of your work and overall attitude in the workplace, among other things. Your colleagues would need to write at least one paragraph for the recommendation.
Reach out to people you’ve worked closely with and ask them to write that recommendation for you. Offer to reciprocate the gesture, creating a culture of support and endorsement within your network.
6. Network with Others
A LinkedIn profile with many network connections stands out more than one that doesn’t have any connection at all. Your profile might even look suspicious.
So, build relationships with like-minded professionals. Besides, networking can open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and industry insights for you.
Start by building your network strategically. Connect with colleagues, classmates, industry peers, potential mentors and professionals you have met in real life. Be bold in reaching out to peers who share similar interests or work in companies or industries that align with your career goals.
When sending connection requests to people, ensure you write a personalized message and highlight a common interest or reason for connecting. This personalized approach demonstrates genuine interest and increases the likelihood of building meaningful professional connections.
Here’s an example:
Once you have built a solid network and start getting more profile visits, engage with your connections and the broader LinkedIn community. Engaging with others via social media involves actively participating in discussions, sharing valuable types of content, and providing insightful comments on posts and articles.
By sharing your expertise, thoughts, and perspectives, you position yourself as a knowledgeable and an engaged professional within your industry. Your LinkedIn profile will also stand out from your competition.
In Closing
Among all social media channels, LinkedIn has the best potential to connect you with exciting opportunities and propel your career forward. No matter what stage of the job-search process you’re in, you need an online presence that supports your next career move. Now you know 6 tips to create a standout LinkedIn profile, you can boost your chances of connecting with recruiters and hiring managers.
Start by choosing a custom URL and optimizing your professional headline and profile photo. Follow by creating an engaging summary and about sections. Detail your work experience and accomplishments, plus highlight your skills and endorsements. Finally, showcasing work samples and recommendations, as well as actively networking and engaging with others will help you get the attention of others and set you apart from the competition.
Take the time to polish your profile sections and make them work for you. Start implementing these tips today and maximize the impact of your LinkedIn profile.
