Your LinkedIn profile can be an invaluable job search tool. With a few clicks, you can present your strongest career skills, make important networking connections, and find postings for jobs you’ll love.
Like any professional communication, your LinkedIn profile should demonstrate that you are committed, competent, and passionate about your work. It should also inspire trust and confidence in recruiters and hiring managers.
To stand out as the inspiring professional you are, focus on your work – and keep these five things out of your LinkedIn profile:
- An informal or group photo. LinkedIn profiles with photos grab more attention than profiles without photos. But not all photos will present you as the professional you are. Avoid using a photo with multiple people in it, so visitors aren’t confused about which smiling face is yours. Never use photos that show you in any unprofessional or unflattering clothes, accessories, activities, or locations. The best LinkedIn photo is a clear head-and-shoulders shot with a neutral background.
- A list of every college course you’ve taken. Classes that are directly relevant to your work can be listed – sparingly – under your “Education” section. But avoid the urge to list every class that appears on your transcript. And always list classes by name, not by section number. “Engineering 201” means something different at every school, so call the class by name.
- Listing Microsoft Word as your only skill. Microsoft Word is perhaps the most common job skill on the market today. Nearly everyone is familiar with the software. If you decide to list Word among your “Skills and Endorsements,” list it dead last, after more unusual skills like programming, copywriting, or image editing.
- Paragraph-long job descriptions. LinkedIn doesn’t limit you to a single sheet of paper, the way a formal resume does. But that doesn’t mean you should list every skill and task you tackled in every job you ever held. Just like a resume, your LinkedIn profile should highlight your best accomplishments and skill development in each position. Don’t bury these gems in a block paragraph – make them stand out to potential employers.
- Your “objective.” LinkedIn offers you space to create a professional summary that telegraphs your specific value to potential employers. Use it! Focus your energy on packing the most value into the summary space, and skip the classic “objective” section.
At Burnett’s Staffing, we help job seekers find great companies throughout Arlington, Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Colinas, and Alliance, Texas. Contact us today to learn more!
