Retweet this blog if you have a Twitter account! “Like & Share” this page on your Facebook. Chances are that you are currently using one or more social network and have become accustomed to the dos and don’ts of each one, such as: don’t use hashtags on Facebook, don’t slam people in your blog, etc. But many social media users have been skeptical about using proper LinkedIn etiquette. LinkedIn is a perplexing mix of social and professional which is a complicated mix that could leave even the savviest social media guru’s in question. Below are some quick and simple tips that you can use to improve your LinkedIn profile, all while abiding to LinkedIn standards.
1. Upload a professional photo
The photo that you took last week at your friend’s birthday party of you and your buddies stumbling out of the bar may lead people to think that you know how to have a good time and love to socialize, but you want to keep these types of photos far away from LinkedIn. Your profile photo on LinkedIn should make you look approachable and professional. If you happen to have professional headshot photos that are taken against a clean background, these photos would be a great option to use as your LinkedIn profile photo. If you don’t have a professional headshot photo, you can easily crop a nice photo of yourself. Photos where you appear professional and classy are great options! Full-body shots are okay, but not common on LinkedIn for the average user.
2. Complete your profile 100%
LinkedIn is an online equivalent of your resume; you want to make sure it represents the best that you have to offer. Be sure to complete all required fields of you profile including: Objective, Experience, Education, Projects, Skills, Languages, etc. LinkedIn is extremely user-friendly, so there should be no excuse as to why your profile is not fully complete. Before applying to any jobs or internships, be sure to set aside some time to clean up your profile. It is not necessary trying to remember every single scholarship or award that you’ve won throughout your college career, but make sure that things like your job description, position, and bullet points are all fully completed before inviting potential employers to your profile.
3. Recommend and Be Recommended
Now, it’s easy to do both on LinkedIn! It is important to only recommend people that you have actually worked with in the past or present. A good recommendation for a current or former colleague should include qualities that employers seek, common keywords include: honesty, team player, integrity, attention to detail, etc. Including a brief success story always makes your recommendation more memorable. Anyone can list strong qualities about a co-worker, but making it personal will benefit the person whom you are recommending, for example: “I’ll never forget the time that [he/she] salvaged a tense meeting with an investor by…”
4. Personalize your Connection Requests
We have all been told to not get overly close with employers or professors on Facebook, which is probably the appropriate advice to stick to. You should not be shy to connect with past or present employers, industry professionals, or professors at school. When requesting a fellow LinkedIn user to connect, don’t just use the general response- “I’d like to add you to my professional network.” Add a more personal message when requesting to connect such as: “We met at the career seminar at William Paterson University last week, and I’d like to add you to my LinkedIn connections.” Making new connections on LinkedIn is like tweeting on Twitter, the meat and potatoes of the social network. Building strong connections is a great way to stay fresh on the minds of professionals within your industry.
5. Brand Yourself
Updating your profile on a regular basis with benchmark accomplishments, skills, or articles that you have recently read will allow you stand out from your competition. Users LinkedIn profiles start to all blend with one another, because users repeat words such as: innovative, motivated, results-oriented, dynamic, proven track record, team player, fast-paced, and the list goes on. Be unique! Try grabbing a thesaurus to expand your vocabulary used as well as your connections by creating a unique profile. If one of your LinkedIn connections posts an article, press release, or blog that you find interesting, do not be discouraged to like or comment on the post. While LinkedIn is for professionals, it is also about networking and being personable.
LinkedIn can be just as confusing and intimidating as the business world you’re trying to get into, but it doesn’t have to be. Use these helpful tips to make your profile as unique as you are! For some, it may seem difficult to find the balance between getting personal, while maintaining your professionalism, but don’t be shy, and let your connections, recommendations, experience, and drive lead you to success with in your industry of choice or landing your entry-level job out of college!