As LinkedIn continues to welcome more and more users, each candidate experiences greater pressure to stand out. Check out this list of five big mistakes to avoid in order to help you get noticed on LinkedIn.
-
Neglecting to consider how your profile is discovered
Hiring professionals search LinkedIn as a database, which means that your profile must be search engine optimized (SEO) to get noticed. To increase your profile’s SEO value, include keywords relevant to your target industry/position.
Your goal is to use key terms that a hiring professional would search on LinkedIn when looking for a candidate best suited for the job you’re seeking.
To identify these terms, search LinkedIn for individuals who have held positions similar to those that you’ve had, and that you’re going for. Also, review job descriptions online for the roles you’ll be applying for to pick up on important terms and phrases to include throughout your profile.
-
Sticking with LinkedIn’s auto-generated Headline
LinkedIn automatically sets your Headline as your most recent job title and company name. However, your Headline is key to improving your profile’s SEO value, as well as defining your professional brand.
Swap out your stock Headline for a list of about three keywords that best define you in regard to your industry/position.
-
Leaving the Summary section blank
The Summary is critical for communicating your professional brand. Use it to define yourself and what you’re capable of. The Summary should be powerful, but succinct – no more than three or four sentences – and highlight the best assets you bring to a company.
-
Copy/pasting from your resume without optimizing the content for online viewing
It’s perfectly acceptable to copy and paste content from your resume into your LinkedIn profile, but you have to make certain adjustments for the sake of scrolling efficiency.
For each position, use only three to five bullet points from your resume, while shortening any points lengthier than two lines of text.
Also, exclude quantifiable information; you want to “entice” the viewer to read more details on your resume. This can also be important for proprietary reasons.
-
Creating a top-notch profile…but stopping there
Creating your LinkedIn profile is only Step One. LinkedIn is a professional networking community, which means that you need to be an active contributor to draw attention to your profile.
Continuously expand your network by connecting with new people, companies, and groups, while also being sure to keep your profile up-to-date with your latest achievements.
Also, remind your network that you’re active in your industry by regularly posting content and engaging with others’ posts.