Create your LinkedIn profile
What is LinkedIn and why is it important to have?
LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform. It hosts over 500 million professional profiles, which provides many opportunities for building a network and finding job opportunities. It allows you to build and maintain a personal brand.
Difference between LinkedIn and your resume:
A resume is tailored to a specific job and company. Whereas a LinkedIn profile entails more details as it caters to a broader public.
Steps to create your LinkedIn profile:
Profile picture: A good picture is important, it should be professional, best is a head shot.
Personalized headline: Short descriptive words describing current position plus what you’re seeking – gives recruiters a better idea of what you are looking for.
Education: Mention the institution and your program.
Build a divers network
LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform. It hosts over 500 million professional profiles, which provides many opportunities for building a network and finding job opportunities. It allows you to build and maintain a personal brand.
Difference between LinkedIn and your resume:
A resume is tailored to a specific job and company. Whereas a LinkedIn profile entails more details as it caters to a broader public.
Steps to create your LinkedIn profile:
Profile picture: A good picture is important, it should be professional, best is a head shot.
- Use a tripod or stack of books to take a picture of yourself, no selfie angle picture
- Dress nicely; check what employees at companies you are interested in wear on the social media or career pages.
- Background should be neutral and simple
- Use a picture where only you are on, no ‘cut out picture’ from a big group
- Best is if you have a photo showing you in your element (e.g. presenting, at an event etc.)
- Other option is to create your own banner, displaying your key features or a quote that aligns with you
Personalized headline: Short descriptive words describing current position plus what you’re seeking – gives recruiters a better idea of what you are looking for.
- Choose efficient keywords that explain your professional brand/ skill, be descriptive
- Mention what you are looking for
- Example: Computing Science student | Java script, C++, Python| Seeking software development internship
- Include keywords and short sentences packed with information, so it is easier for recruiters to find you.
- Use bullet points to list the skills you can offer
- Include highlights and achievements
- Describe in 1-2 sentences who you are
- Talk about your experience and passion (3-5 sentences)
- Followed by your goals (1-2 sentences)
- Include contact information at the end of summary to make it easier for recruiters to connect with you.
- Example: “Feel free to email me at ….to connect further.”
- Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities
- Include quantifiable achievements if possible
- Don’t provide too many details it should only be an overview ( 2 bullet points each)
Education: Mention the institution and your program.
- Include projects you have worked on and important courses if applicable
- Look at the skills used in job descriptions that you are interested in
- Pick a selection and ask people in your network to endorse a few of those skills. But endorse them first
Build a divers network
- Connect with people on LinkedIn by adding them to your network. Important to include a personal message about why you want to connect when adding them.
- Identify LinkedIn Groups that are relevant to you. Increase your reach by posting content to your profile and the different groups.
- Search for jobs
- Create search alerts for companies
- Research company profiles – gives you a great insight for interviews
- Change your setting to: “Let recruiters know you’re open to opportunities” and also turn on “Signal your interest to recruiters at companies you have created job alerts for"
- Search option: search along relevant keywords for the positions you are interested in
- Follow companies – to show interest, even if you don’t want to work for them initially; but companies put out articles
- Join groups
- Keep your experiences up to date
- Don’t overuse keywords but choose effective keywords
- Don’t ask strangers for recommendations
- Always include a message when connecting with people
- Thank connections for sharing, liking or commenting your content
- Upload an effective picture
- Formulate a headline
- Claim your vanity URL
- Think about what your strengths are and what makes you different?
- Now think about how you want to be seen by others? How would you want to be described by people visiting your profile?
- Write 5-10 keywords related to your skills down
- Reach out to 2-3 people for recommendations