According to a recent research, over 77% of recruiters used LinkedIn for their recruitment activities, including scouting and vetting. In 2020, Forbes verified that over 95% of recruiters were seeking for job applicants on LinkedIn. This figure has only increased by 2022! Having an active LinkedIn presence was optional less than five years ago. In-person interviews and background checks were the norm. This is not the case in the post-pandemic new normal. The significance of a solid LinkedIn profile is undeniable, with 86% of employers relocating their whole hiring process online. Do you want to know how to make your LinkedIn profile stand out? While the profile parts are fixed, there is plenty of potential for customization.
Top 10 Tips for Making Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out
1. Include a profile and cover photo.
While the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” is true, we are nonetheless drawn to books with appealing front covers. Have you ever wondered why?
According to research, this is how our brains are wired. A nice display image has the same impact. Humans have an inbuilt tendency to make inferences based on visuals and general look. A LinkedIn profile photo is the first step toward making a powerful visual first impression.
LinkedIn profile images do not have to be completely professional. You can select to upload a semi-professional photograph depending on the industry you’re in and the job responsibilities you’re looking for.
According to LinkedIn, profiles with good images receive 21x the number of profile views and 9x the number of connection requests. Don’t skip this step!
2. Include a Catchy Headline
What would you say in 220 characters to characterise your professional persona? The ideal LinkedIn headline would be the answer to this question.
The headline is an important aspect of the LinkedIn algorithm because it displays in all search results – both within the channel and on Google. It is also available to visitors to your profile, including first and second-degree networks, recruiters, hiring managers, and businesses.
A Simple Formula for Writing the Best LinkedIn Headline:
Your primary domain (Designation), for example, Product Marketer
What is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?
(Can include your most notable achievement, for example, 30 under 30) Global Innovative Marketer University (together with which cohort) MIT Sloan 2011 is an example.
Keywords associated with your niche, such as Market Analysis | Customer Segmentation
Personal touch, such as a Red Cross Volunteer
3. Create an eloquent summary (often known as a ‘About’ section).
The summary or about section is where most LinkedIn members disclose career highlights. You could also include your career goal, objective, ideology, and biggest learnings to make yourself stand out. You have 2,600 words to describe your whole professional career.
The following are the top six things to include in your LinkedIn About section:
What is your area of expertise?
Where have you previously studied and worked?
What distinguishes your professional path?
Was your learning curve smooth?
When and why did you change careers?
What are your areas of interest (personal or professional)?
4. Emphasize your skills, education, and work experience.
Working Knowledge:
This section, unlike a resume, has a character limit. Profile visitors have a short attention span. Though this area has a word restriction of 2000 words per experience, big, chunky paragraphs are discouraged.
It is strongly advised to add a 3-4 line description of the role. Aside from that, 8-10 bullet points highlighting accomplishments can be included. Remember to provide the appropriate metrics and outcomes. Here’s an easy formula to remember:
Action Verb + Core Task + Measurable Result + When
For example, in April 2020, I established (action verb) a Grassroot Teaching Program (core work) that increased employee CSR participation by 25% (quantifiable consequence) (when)
Section on Education:
Include all important colleges and universities attended in the education section. It is not required to include high school information. Include and underline any exceptional achievements you have during that phase.
It is vital to include the type of degree or certificate you got, as well as the GPA, certificate copy, and link. Highlight notable accomplishments, learning experiences, and years.
Section on Skills:
Your LinkedIn profile can include up to 50 skills. A good combination of hard and soft talents is highly recommended. Before you add skills, research the trending hashtags and phrases in your domain. Remember to pin your top three abilities and ask your network to endorse them.
Are you unsure how to demonstrate the abilities you’ve placed to your profile? Investigate LinkedIn’s Skill Assessments function. Complete short quizzes and evaluations to receive a badge for your profile. This assists recruiters in validating your claims, increasing your chances of being hired!
5. Make Use of Visual Elements
A LinkedIn profile is dynamic as well as interactive. This distinguishes it from a standard resume. Recruiters can now read articles and whitepapers you’ve written as well as watch films featuring you.
Display your best work in this part to keep a visitor’s attention. Images, videos, PDFs, external links, and blog articles are all acceptable.
6. Personalize the URL
Which of the following profile links would you click on and why?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/owinfrey/
Or
https://www.linkedin.com/in/oW194DSnnn11
It’s no surprise that we’d all choose the first link. It’s bright and clean, and we know who’s profile we’d look at first.
LinkedIn allows users to personalise the URL links to their profiles. This functionality can be found in your profile area. Adding your full name and a job-related keyword to your URL can instantly boost your SEO worth. Your profile will display better and faster in search results, as well as receive more profile visitors.
7. Maintain Account Activity
Signing up for LinkedIn and maintaining an active profile are two separate things. Anyone can create a Linkedin profile, however, thoroughly filling out your profile, participating with your network on a regular basis, regularly posting high-quality content, and updating your abilities is an art. Users that regularly participate do better with LinkedIn’s ever-changing algorithm. When recruiters or firms are looking for candidates, their profiles are given higher priority.
Most importantly, LinkedIn provides a professional environment and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for job seekers to develop a strong personal brand.
If you are actively looking for work, you should turn on the ‘Open to Work’ feature. It will increase the visibility of your profile to potential companies and hiring managers.
10 LinkedIn Tips to Stay Active:
Keep aa watch-out for related hashtags and influencers.
Put up original content.
Repost material that is relevant to your interests.
Incorporate hyperlinks, videos, and images into your posts.
People should be tagged in your posts.
Participate by leaving comments on other people’s posts.
Conduct a poll on a popular topic.
Locate and connect with more individuals in your field.
Send customised invitations with a brief note.
Spend at least three times a week on quality time.
8. Establish a Solid Network
LinkedIn’s algorithm displays your profile to people in your second and third degrees of separation, encouraging them to interact with you. By bringing in the proper people, you will be able to expand your network and create more opportunities for involvement.
Adding people to your network but never communicating with them has a negative influence on the LinkedIn algorithm and your reach.
Tips for Creating and Maintaining a Network:
Share your posts with your network and subject matter experts.
Tag persons who are related to your content.
Like and interact with their material by leaving comments.
Repost intriguing content together with a blog post expressing your point of view.
Support coworkers
Make recommendations and request one.
Participate in LinkedIn groups and discussion boards.
Take part in webinars.
Influencers and industry professionals should be included.
9. Achieve the All-Star Profile Level
A solid profile that has all of its elements filled and recently updated is promoted to the All-star Level. While this may appear to be an easy task, remaining active on LinkedIn and constantly updating your profile is not. Only half of all users on the platform have attained this level. Are you one of the 50%?
LinkedIn’s technology pushes such high-ranking profiles automatically, resulting in 14x more profile visits and 40x more employment opportunities. LinkedIn profiles are classified into five levels of strength: beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert, and all star.
The All-Star Level Requires Eight Mandatory Profile Elements:
Photograph for My Profile
The headline and the location
Summary
Industry Knowledge
Experience
Skills
Education
Connections
10. Make use of the Recommendations Section
The recommendation part is a feature that can positively influence your profile and provide credibility to all of your assertions. Obtaining the correct recommendations from past colleagues, managers, or instructors will assist recruiters in better understanding you.
As a professional, who are you?
Are the abilities you claim to have true?
Do you get along well with your coworkers?
How many persons are willing to provide professional references for you?
What are your qualities of leadership and professional soft skills?
Obtaining references from supervisors who have personally overseen you, colleagues who are your counterparts, and team members who report to you is highly recommended. A diverse set of recommendations will assist recruiters better grasp your professional persona.
Author’s Bio
Gurinder Khera, 20 + years of versatile experience across Content Marketing, Digital Marketing Operations, Entrepreneurship, Management Consulting, Outsourcing and Information Technology domain with global experience in working in 3 different regions: North America, Europe, and India.