How to be brilliant on LinkedIn
Getting off the starting blocks
If you have been out of the workplace on parental leave, on a career break or even just in the same organisation or role for a prolonged period of time, your LinkedIn profile may not have been something that you have paid much attention to.
When you make the decision to get out there, whether that is starting your own business, going back to the sector you worked in before or you are making a career change, getting your LinkedIn sorted is going to be key.
I know it’s overwhelming and I know everyone else looks like they have their **** together, but I promise you, if you break it down into small chunks your profile will be looking brilliant in no time.
Your LinkedIn Profile is the marketing pitch for your professional brand
Before you start, there are some things to keep in mind when building your profile. In each section, present yourself with credibility focused towards your target audience. It is possible that you are applying for several different types of roles, so keeping it’s appeal broad is key. It goes without saying that keywords are critical to increasing your visibility in automated searches. Research the keywords for for the roles you are interested in and make them the basis for every element of your profile.
Insider info: You can create your profile in a word document and upload from there to get round limited formatting in LinkedIn. Did you know 95% of recruiters use your LinkedIn profile to support the recruitment process.
Start at the top
First things first, make sure your profile picture looks professional, by which I mean a clean, clear picture of you that represents you well. A holiday snap or a picture from a night out with your mates cropped out is not going to cut it! Once that’s in place, start to think about your headline. It should be professional and authentic to you. It does not need to be a job title, it can be a phrase representing what you do and why you do it. Remember your headline follows you everywhere - it’s visible when you like, comment and share. For location state where you want to work, not where you live (e.g. London Metropolitan Area), and your industry should reflect the industry you want to work in.
Insider info: In LinkedIn on a desktop the headline allows for 120 characters, if you do this on the mobile app you can have 240 characters (this includes spaces and special characters). For inspiration have a look at a few LinkedIn profiles of people you know/in a similar role whose profile impresses you.
Highlight what is uniquely brilliant about you
The key difference between your CV and LinkedIn is that the latter gives you an opportunity to show your personality and and make the profile unique to you. The ‘About’ section is the place to do this and, particularly if you have had a career break or are changing careers, this is where you get to state your business case, tell your story and talk up what makes you interesting and a perfect fit for the role or career you are looking for. Here is where you should weave in examples of your strengths and knowledge and amplify your transferable skills (business development, achieving targets, prioritising tasks in a fast-paced environment). Another great way to do this is to showcase any voluntary work, training or qualifications you have undertaken.
Insider info: The character allowance for this section is 1990 including spaces and it should be written in the first person. You might want to write and format this section in Word and copy it in when you are happy with it.
Experience matters
Whilst the Career Experience section should be representative of it, it is not your CV. This is a good thing. Under each of your roles you should cherry pick the most brilliant bits and highlight any exceptional projects you have been involved in - those that showcase the skills you want to demonstrate and amplify. You can provide additional depth by adding more detail to projects you have been involved in, awards you have received and any languages spoken in the Accomplishments section. Remember above all else, the purpose of this section is to promote your career highlights and showcase the skills and expertise you have developed in your career.
Insider info: For SEO purposes it is vital to include the right keywords in this section. You can also elevate your profile by adding links to videos and other media.
Get connected
It stands to reason, the bigger your network the more visible you are, but I would caveat that with quality over quantity. It will take time to build, but a really powerful network has 500+ connections. It’s important to grow your network gradually and with integrity - start with work colleagues, ex-colleagues, work contacts outside your businesses, friends and acquaintances. Try to reach out to people you are genuinely connected to, this will give you confidence in the quality of your network from the get go and if time allows, say when you connect. You never know what conversation this might start or where it might go.
Follow businesses, high profile individuals and industry influencers that resonate with you and your values. This will help you keep up to date with what’s going on in your field and also provide you with the opportunity for engagement (see next section).
Insider info: 85% of jobs filled are via a network.
Next level - boost your brilliance
So now you have created your profile and started building your network - this is excellent progress. Well done you! There are now a few more things you can do that will really elevate your profile and visibility.
Below I have listed some top tips:
#Open to Work - this banner is a great way to help recruiters to find you. It does not need to be shared to your whole network if you don’t want to
Endorse and recommend others in your network - if you do this for others, it will make it feel easier to ask them later to do the same for you
Make yourself visible
React to posts in your feed
Comment and share content that resonates and supports your values and intentions
Create your own content (articles, recommendations, certifications, accreditations)
If you are feeling courageous, you can put out an announcement post talking about the types of roles you are looking for and the value and skills you bring to a role.
Need a bit more support?
If you think you could do with some support to get your LinkedIn (and/or your CV) updated and ready to land your dream job - I can help!
You can sign up to my programme Get Your Story Straight and get 90-minutes of 1 to 1 coaching and as well as access to easy-to-follow video and PDF guides. You can find out more here.
From time to time, I also run FREE masterclasses on CV and LinkedIn. To find any upcoming dates and see my other FREE workshops click here.