While many social media platforms are scorned as time-wasting rabbit holes that chew out your time, LinkedIn stands apart because it could well be the gateway to your next big opportunity!
It’s not only a great professional networking tool but it keeps you in the loop on possible job opportunities, connects you with like-minded students and professionals, is jam-packed full of interesting articles and insights into the real world of work - PLUS it gives you an opportunity to start building your own brand.
Jane Fleming, Digital Marketing Communications Manager at LinkedIn, says if you are seeking employment, then you should have a LinkedIn profile page.
This is the foundation for your professional and personal branding, and will boost your chances of developing your professional network, and job opportunities.
“Your profile picture is your calling card on LinkedIn.
It’s how people are introduced to you and (visual beings that we are) it governs their impressions from the start,” advises Fleming.
So make sure the picture is recent and looks like you. Make sure your face takes up around 60% of it (long-distance shots don’t stand out). Wear what you would like to wear to work. And smile with your eyes!”
Turn the LinkedIn summary into your story!
Jane recommends using your LinkedIn summary section to tell your story.
“The first thing to say about your LinkedIn summary is – make sure you have one! It’s amazing how many people still leave this field blank when creating their LinkedIn profile.
Your summary is your chance to tell your own story – so don’t just use it to list your skills or the job titles you’ve had,” she says.
“Try to bring to life why those skills matter – and the difference they can make to the people you work with. Don’t be afraid to invest some time, try a few drafts, and run your summary past people you know. This is your most personal piece of content marketing – so it’s worth the effort.”
Ditch buzzwords. (They don’t work.)
Jane also cautions against relying on buzzwords, such as 'specialised’, ‘leadership’, ‘focused’, ‘strategic’, ‘experienced’, ‘passionate’, ‘expert’, ‘creative’, ‘innovative’ and ‘certified’, because they are used so often that they become, essentially, meaningless and business jargon that won’t do you any favours or make you stand out in a candidate pool.
“I’m not saying you can’t describe yourself as these things – or that they don’t matter. However, just using these words won’t convince people that you have these qualities. You need to demonstrate them as well – both in the way you describe yourself, and in the way you use LinkedIn profile features to show what you’re about,” she says.
Experienced Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer Victoria Gordon says key word optimisation is crucial for an effective LinkedIn profile.
“It’s all about the key word optimisation!
You get out what you put in.
The value you get from LinkedIn is fuelled entirely by the quality of the content you put into each section of your profile.
I often hear people say they don’t see the point of LinkedIn and then you look at their profiles and realise why they’re not getting any value from the application.
Like all social media platforms, you get out what you put in.
You can’t expect opportunity to come knocking when you haven’t invested the time in building an effective, key word optimised profile,” she says.
Jane agrees, and says interacting on LinkedIn is a good way of connecting with people and keeping your profile active while gaining insights and learning from the input of others.
Jane suggests following relevant influencers for your industry and your interests.
“Following relevant influencers on LinkedIn helps to put a range of interesting content in your feed, which you can then share with others when you think it adds value. It also helps to give context to your LinkedIn profile, demonstrating your passion for what you do,” she says.
“The more you share and comment on content, the more you establish your expertise and thought-leadership credentials on LinkedIn.”