How to Spruce up Your LinkedIn Profile
Posted: May 26, 2023 | Author: McKinley Hatch | Read Time: 3 minutes
To no surprise, in our digital era, 85% of jobs are found through networking. One of the most effective ways to network in a digital space and online community is by utilizing LinkedIn. LinkedIn is an online networking tool that allows you to connect and strengthen professional relationships, learn skills to succeed in your career, and it’s also a job board for you to see what job openings are available. Just think of social media, but for professionals to showcase their achievements, certifications, and awards. It’s awesome!
So now that we have convinced you that you NEED LinkedIn, we want to make sure you set up your profile professionally. Here are six steps to create a stellar LinkedIn profile:
- Choose a Profile Picture and Cover Photo.
- Write a Headline.
- Create a Summary Statement.
- Personalize Your URL.
- List Your Experience.
- Build Your Network.
Above all stay active on your profile!
Six steps to create a stellar LinkedIn profile:
Choose a profile picture and cover photo that is professional or business casual. Make sure the background of the photo is plain or portrait style (blurred background so it’s not too distracting from your face). Show some personality in your photo by smiling! When choosing a cover photo, it’s always a good idea to have one that reflects your career aspirations instead of your personal life.
Write a headline that makes you stand out from other people in your field. Headlines only have so much space, so you want to grab people’s attention right away with specific words related to your industry. List your unique qualifications and use that as leverage to stand out!
Create a summary statement as your “hook” to captivate your audience. Use first-person voice and show them who you are, your professional goals, skills, etc. Tell the story that your resume doesn’t — Don’t make it repetitive.
Personalize your URL so you can add it to your resume. To personalize your URL on a desktop, follow these steps:
- Log in to your LinkedIn account and go to your profile page.
- On the top right section of your LinkedIn profile, it will say, “Edit public profile & URL,” click that.
- Once you click that, it will take you to a new page, then click the little pencil icon next to your current LinkedIn URL.
- Create your custom URL (e.g., www.linkedin.com/in/firstnamelastname) and then click save.
List your experience to build off of your resume. For inspiration on what to include here, look at professionals' LinkedIn profiles that you aspire to be like. Check out their profiles to get ideas on how you can word yours and which keywords to use to stand out. Add media (photos, videos, links, etc.) to make your profile looks visually appealing.
Build your network by connecting with 50 people, at the very least. As a starting point, connect with bosses/former bosses, coworkers, friends, family, etc. Utilize the SUU LinkedIn Alumni Tool to find people to connect with to help build your brand.
Lastly, this wasn’t one of the six tips, but we want to advise you to stay active on LinkedIn. Create posts, follow employers, companies, and hashtags that interest you. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it! Good luck.
SUU’s Career & Professional Development Center helps college students find jobs, write resumes, and prepare for interviews, in addition to assisting students with major and career decisions. For more information, contact the Career & Professional Development Center.
Tags: CurStu Student Life Career Center
