LinkedIn, as an online platform is different than what is typically thought of as social media. The focus of a professional LinkedIn profile, unlike Facebook and Instagram, is not the look, but the word! On LinkedIn, you need to look professional in terms of experiences and career, whereas on Facebook and Instagram, professionalism means to have looked! There are several factors to consider to create a LinkedIn profile that looks professional. Here is how:
1- Choose a professional profile picture for LinkedIn
A profile picture on LinkedIn should not be anywhere near cute, rising emotions, goofy or foolish. This is not how a job seeker wants to look to their colleagues or future employer. Plus, most employers seek people who are sincerely looking for professional opportunities.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that the profile picture must be serious and unfriendly; quite the opposite. Try to wear a mild smile on to convey your friendly characteristic while looking professional. Also, the profile picture on LinkedIn must be cropped to include the head and shoulders, only. A full-height photo that doesn’t show your face is not a suitable choice for a professional LinkedIn profile picture.
2- Summary and Experience sections are very Important
Focus the ultimate attention of viewers on summary and experience sections and write them correctly (both informationally and grammatically). After the profile picture, employers go straight to summary and experience sections to see who you are and what your experiences are.
Summary:
To write a summary go to the “About” section of LinkedIn.
Write a summary of your current status and put external links and sources to double ensure the claim.
Experiences:
Scroll down the profile to reach the experience section on LinkedIn. Add your career and educational backgrounds.
Try to avoid any grammatical mistakes in these sections, because texts here reveal how accurate you are and how much you care about the neatness of a professional look on social media.
3- Update the LinkedIn profile with every change in the professional and educational Statues
Keep the profile up-to-date and synchronized with every achievement and change in your professional and educational life. This helps recruiters decide based on the latest status update on profile. It also implies you as an active and progressing person in the field of profession.
4- Add as many skills as you have
Do not assume that your skills are not worth mentioning. Put in the skills section as many skills you have acquired so far. Your skills might seem very commonplace to you, but believe it or not, many people are as skilled as a potato! So USE your abilities to stand out!
Scroll down the page and get to the “Skills and Endorsement” section. There, put yours on the display!
5- Create a customized URL for LinkedIn profile
By default, a LinkedIn profile comes with a URL that is not customized. It includes the username name and some numbers. Those numbers make the profile look unprofessional, so create a unique and professional URL.
To do this, click on “Edit public profile & URL” on the top right corner of the profile page. On the next page, top right, click on “Edit your custom URL.” Click on the edit button and customize the URL.
6- Use the right keywords in the LinkedIn profile
The last but not least important thing to consider is to use the right keywords in a professional LinkedIn profile. The keywords must match your career, profession, education, goals, achievements, honors, and even connections. These are what let people know you on LinkedIn, and when searched, display the profile on top of others.
For example, if you are a digital marketing expert, then the term for this career is defined as Digital Marketing Manager. So be careful with titles and posts. Choose precisely what is set for the LinkedIn search and what people search for.
Conclusion
There are many factors to consider for creating a professional LinkedIn profile. All these six tips are essential, but you will find more along the journey towards “Linking-in.” Take time, click everything on your profile, and experiment the in’s and out’s. Always remember that a LinkedIn profile is a professional identity, so use it wisely and to its full capacity.
