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Connecting businesses and business professionals alike, LinkedIn has outgrown its birthplace in co-founder Reid Hoffman’s living room. With that said, the networking site can feel a bit daunting to budding students still adding to their experiences. These tips will help you create and maintain your own LinkedIn profile.

 

1. A professional (and personable) profile picture 

Though that photo of you and your friends at Myrtle Beach might perfectly capture golden hour, it might not convince professionals to take a look at your resume. LinkedIn’s Content Marketer and Editor Lydia Abbot notes that your profile is 14 times more likely to gain views simply by having a profile picture. Since your picture basically serves as a virtual first impression, definitely choose photos that have soft lighting, sufficient resolution, and a simple background. Abbot suggests wearing what you’d wear to work — whether that’s business casual or a snappy suit. In either case, make sure your profile reflects you, your personal brand and your personality. 

 

2. Your summary, your story

Now that you have an effective profile picture, continue making that first impression with your summary. Just like your picture, use your summary to show your character and skills. Grammarly’s Senior Content Strategy Manager Celeste Mora sets up the formula for an enticing summary. Think of it like any type of college writing with distinct pieces that fit together to make a clear argument. You need a great opener to keep your reader reading. Start with a key takeaway employers should know about you. Then, make your pitch or argument. It might feel uncomfortable to brag about yourself, but this part shows a hiring team why you would fit into their open position. Try making it a bit personal, telling them why you decided to pursue this career or your professional goals. After that, make sure to close with a call to action, asking employers to email or message you with any questions or job opportunities. Mora also suggests having proof for your abilities — having a list of skills or linking some of your work shows employers that your summary isn’t just talk. 

 

3. Buzzwords = Buzzkill

Search engine optimization can get you found on a simple search, but overloading your profile with meaningless buzzwords makes them, well, meaningless. Rather than inundating your profile with a thousand iterations of “leadership” and “organization,” show that you actually possess those traits. In a classic case of “show, don’t tell,” you’ll need to display these buzzwords in action, rather than simply stating them. If you thrive in leadership positions, list your job as a summer camp counselor and explain your day-to-day. Or if you could earn medals for organization, write about that time you oversaw your team’s progress on a group project. Not only will you provide concrete examples, employers will get to know a bit more about you in the process. 

 

4. Ask for Recommendations

Students easily recognized the importance of recommendation letters in the college acceptance process. Similarly, your LinkedIn profile can feature recommendations from fellow professionals or even your professors. These written testimonials easily give employers examples of your past experiences from someone else’s perspective. Definitely take a look at whose recommendation you would benefit from, and make sure to cater each request to the person you’re asking. To request recommendations, click the dropdown menu of the person’s LinkedIn profile. You can also give recommendations to others and help them along their way to a successful career search. 

With these tips, you can confidently use your LinkedIn profile to create meaningful connections with employers and fellow job-seekers. 

 

Kaitlin Merlino ‘23

 

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