Your LinkedIn profile may serve as one of the most valuable tools in your job search, but it also has the potential to be a hindrance. With so many professionals using the employment-related social media platform, it's vital that your profile presents you in the best possible light and markets you to potential employers. Discover five mistakes that might be hurting your LinkedIn profile, and make sure you're impressing those who make hiring decisions.
1. Listing Irrelevant Skills
If you're a former salesman looking to break into the world of finance, your LinkedIn profile should reflect your career aspirations rather than your past work experience. By writing about your sales achievements and marketing skills, you're not reaching the right audience to break into a career in accounting. To bring your LinkedIn profile up to par, research a few people who have the title you aspire to hold; read over their skills, and add the ones you possess to your own profile.
2. Leaving Out Your Profile Picture
Just as you want to see a photo of the couch you're about to purchase online, recruiters prefer to see a photo of the job candidate they intend to interview. Choose a profile picture that's professional, and always opt for a headshot. Don't use photos of yourself with pets, children or significant others, and avoid those party pics from Facebook and Instagram.
3. Overlooking the Recommendations
Take advantage of the recommendations section of your LinkedIn profile to provide credibility and give you the upper hand. Reach out to a respected college professor, a former co-worker, a previous boss or a trusted client, and ask him to provide a recommendation to give your profile that extra oomph.
4. Neglecting the Summary
Pay special attention to your summary section. Don't just regurgitate the same old information from your profile; put a creative a spin on it to show off your unique personality, tell your story and demonstrate your values. This section makes the perfect location to throw in a few industry-specific keywords so you can attract the right hiring managers and employers to your profile.
5. Ignoring the Headline
Don't just accept a boring headline that states your current job title and present employer's name. At a maximum of 120 characters, this headline represents valuable real estate on your LinkedIn profile. Create a quick and catchy headline that hooks the reader by describing your career goals, your relevant work experience or your significant achievements.
A quality LinkedIn profile can get you noticed, land you an interview and sell you to a prospective employer, but a not-so-stellar profile gets you attention for all the wrong reasons. Avoid these five mistakes to ensure your LinkedIn profile is up to snuff.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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