Link. noun: “a social or professional connection between people or organizations”
Link. verb: “make, form or suggest a connection with or between”
Many simply view their LinkedIn profile as their “virtual storefront”, an electronic adaptation of their resume. This is LinkedIn as a noun. However, LinkedIn is also a powerful social media platform that allows linkages to be created; this is LinkedIn as a verb. Let’s consider each in turn.
While a resume can provide useful LinkedIn profile material (such as schools, companies, and roles), the platform offers valuable opportunities for creativity and personalization. Some helpful hints:
- Modify your personal URL to the following format: “linkedin.com/in/firstname-lastname”. This customized approach is preferable to a URL that resembles a Bitcoin private key.
- Keep your photograph professional, but make it personal. If your friends would find it funny or if it prompts the re-telling of an embarrassing story, you’ve probably chosen poorly.
- Select a background photo that says something about you. Avoid drab defaults that resemble the hallway carpet of a 2-star hotel. And avoid stock photos. The cappuccino? The cityscape? They look like stock photos and imply you don’t have much of a story to tell.
- Your headline creates a first impression; make it count. “Business Development”, “Manager”, and “Engineer” aren’tsufficientlydistinctive.Includeyourroleandindustry.Highlightanaccomplishment. Consideradding something memorable like “Marketing Maven”, “Relentless Client Advocate”, or “Python prodigy and A+ in C++”.
Below this introductory section is the “About” section. Think of this as a variation of your elevator pitch – a concise summary of you, your experience, and your accomplishments. A few key tips:
- Grab the reader’s attention early
- Explain who you are and what you’ve done by telling a story with a narrative arc
- Use keywords that will align with AI or recruiter screenings
The main section will likely resemble your resume, with a list of roles presented in chronological order. However, here you can take a greater license and add a level of detail that you would avoid on a resume.
What about LinkedIn as a verb? The platform enables you to write, share, react to, express, and explore your interests by following schools, companies, industry associations, and more. These are all tactics for distinguishing you as a person and will help you find and nurture connections. As your network and selected interests grow, you’ll find that LinkedIn turns into a useful news feed. This is a great way to stay current in your industry or learn about roles, companies, and industries that interest you or where you may be interviewing. To adapt a phrase from Glengary Glen Ross, “Always be linking”… you’ll be glad you did.
