LinkedIn is a social network, but make sure that you’re treating it differently from Facebook or Instagram! A professional networking website has a separate etiquette than other platforms, so make sure that you aren’t making these easy mistakes on your LinkedIn profile.
5. Waiting on Others to Connect
If you’re new to the LinkedIn game, make sure that you’re making meaningful connections! You should connect with your colleagues first to jump start your connections. Sitting around and waiting for others to connect with you first will just level out your productivity. You need to reach out to those in your immediate network, and then branch further—college friends, club members, etc. Doing so will open up new leads.
4. Oversharing
Your profile should have a personal touch, but you don’t want to breach on impropriety. Any personal information that doesn’t pertain to your professional life shouldn’t be on your profile. For example, it’s nice to post a casual update about returning to work from your honeymoon. On the other hand, your professional network on LinkedIn doesn’t care to see the hundreds of photos from your actual wedding day—save that for Facebook.
3. Spamming Your Network
A good motivational quote is enough to lift up someone’s mood. Ten of them a day will just annoy someone. You want to post and update your LinkedIn profile frequently, but if you have nothing better than constant motivational quotes, it’s best to avoid posting at all. Instead, perhaps share some articles that would interest you and your network.
2. Using LinkedIn For Anything Other Than Professional Endeavors
Your LinkedIn is a ticket to professional success, not a date. Besides being impractical, LinkedIn is the most inappropriate social media platform to use for dating purposes. It’s happened to many people in the past; if you receive an unsolicited offer for a date via your profile, make sure to block and report them.
1. Not Having A Profile Picture/Using the Wrong Photo
Profile pictures are essential for LinkedIn. Going without one makes your profile more suspicious and less approachable. People looking for you on LinkedIn will miss your profile. On the other hand, having the wrong picture says volumes about your professsionalim. No one wants to see a selfie, your pet, or your kids—use a professional headshot. Employment BOOST can help you figure out how to get your headshotperfect.
LinkedIn is so different from other platforms, and that’s a good thing. Using the platform can filter out exactly what you need to advance your career, and avoiding these five mistakes easily made on other platforms will make your profile shine.