More Linked In Content Tips

I have previously written about the importance of making sure that your LinkedIn profile is at 100% completion, so assuming that you have done this already let’s analyse the LinkedIn profile a little further.

If your profile has not yet reached at least 90% completion by LinkedIn, you should follow LinkedIn’s easy to follow suggestions for profile completion.

First, review your LinkedIn profile picture.

Professional and engaging are the desires for the photo.

Make sure that the picture was taken recently as you do not want to create any sort of disconnect between image and reality.

This lets people know that you are not living in the past, but are a realist.

It also shows that you are detail oriented and currently relevant when it comes to your online presence.

Make sure that the photo

not only displays a professional image but ensure that you are smiling as well in the photo.

This is the only opportunity to distinguish you from any other generic work document.

It is a proven fact that pictures with smiles are more effective as they project confidence, good energy and suggest positive personalities.

However, save your smiling vacation photos for your Facebook account.

Reduce the content of your “resume” to an effective summary.

In the job summary area, quick hitting bullets with quantitative successes are essential.

They display better and they also show that you think with an executive summary mentality which is appreciated by every audience member and it also shows an ability to visualize bigger pictures at a more macro level.

In the area of your work experience that is older than 10 years, it is best to indicate only the name of the company and the position title.

Due to technology, most companies are no longer that interested in what you were able to accomplish using DOS software with your previous company 15 years ago.

Too much has changed and the viewer is more interested in the company where you worked, the position that you held and the tenure time with that company.

Remember less is often more.

Next, stand back and view the profile and see if it accurately tells people who you are professionally and where you want to go with your career.

Do the last few positions appear to be working towards a specific goal or does it seem like a confusing path to a reader?

Have someone else that you trust who is able to offer a critical viewpoint also take a look at your profile.

Do their observations align with your statement?

If the career progression still seems confusing, the key to your profile will come down to the summary statement section.

Again with an executive summary approach, you will want to clearly communicate where you excel, and what you want to continue to focus on moving forward with your career.

If your past is somewhat confusing, you will want to tie it together with key learning’s from your past roles that you plan to leverage moving forward and briefly explain how they will support you in your defined career goal.

Remember to be as concise as possible or the reader will stop reading the profile all together.

Ensure that you are using the correct key words so that your resume is picked up by people doing key word searches on LinkedIn.

Also ensure that you are using enough key words in your profile that they will support your future desires.

This is especially important if your resume looks more broad vs. specialist and you are wanting to ensure that your depth is being properly displayed on a subject.

Remember to include a telephone number or private email if you want to be contacted for new opportunities.

Not all companies will call your current work, especially companies that conduct their own recruiting so do not place the onus of your next promotion on some stranger trying to find you.

Farewell,

Mike