What is LinkedIn and why you should optimise your profile?

LinkedIn is a professional online networking platform designed to help users build and maintain professional relationships, find job opportunities, and acquire the skills necessary for career development. LinkedIn is used by a diverse range of people to explore new opportunities and transition into the professional world.

With millions of users worldwide, it is important that you optimise your LinkedIn profile to demonstrate to recruiters what you do, who you are, and what skills you have. Having an optimised profile will help you stand out from others, allow recruiters to understand that you are open for work, and will encourage them to reach out to you directly for job opportunities.

A few tips

When it comes to optimising your LinkedIn profile, there are a few areas to consider. Some are quite basic, while others are slightly more advanced, which you may not have considered previously.

• Choosing a good profile picture: Upload a clear and professional profile picture that shows your face and select a creative background that reflects your work or passions. This helps recruiters trust who you are and determines their first impression of you online (Kunsman, 2014).
• Having a smart profile headline: Include relevant keywords and describe your expertise/skillset to boost your profile. This is useful as LinkedIn ranks your profile based on search terms (Gunner, 2022).
• Providing a ‘about you’ section: This is one of the most important sections in your profile as it is the first thing that recruiters will read. Your opening line should reel in their attention. You can do this by tailoring it to your desired job while telling the profile visitor who you are, what you care about, and what you aspire to do (Kunsman, 2014).
• Presenting your education and credentials: While overall experience is important in the workplace, many recruiters and individuals in your network may also be interested in your education and qualifications (McCoy, 2020). This can be useful for job hunting purposes.
• Filling in all your experience on your profile: Ensure that your current position is up to date and contains your title, company name, and time spent there. Talk about your expertise in each role with an overview of your time in the company, keeping it as brief as possible (Rogers, 2024).

LinkedIn is a useful tool in the world of recruitment for finding, targeting, and hiring people. LinkedIn’s interface is designed for professional self-promotion and is the reason why having an optimised profile is so important. Picture it as an online version of your CV, helping you to expand your network and connect with potential employers.

References:

Education, J. G. (2022). Best LinkedIn Summary Examples for Students. In YourDictionary. https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/best-linkedin-summary-examples-students

Kunsman, T. (2024, June 11). Optimizing your LinkedIn Profile [The simple guide]. EveryoneSocial. https://everyonesocial.com/blog/linkedin-profile-optimization/

McCoy, D. (2024, April 15). Are professional designations important? Should they be displayed as part of your signature block/title? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/professional-designations-important-should-displayed-dawn-m-

Rogers, N. (2022, June 27). 10 ways to optimise your LinkedIn profile for career opportunities. https://www.sixdegreesexecutive.com.au/your-career/10-ways-to-optimise-your-linkedin-profile-for-career-opportunities

Van Dijck, J. (2013). ‘You have one identity’: performing the self on Facebook and LinkedIn. Media Culture & Society, 35(2), 199–215. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443712468605