Whether you’re actively job searching or very comfortable at your organization and in your role, building a presence on LinkedIn is a strategic move. If you are someone who hires, potential staff may be visiting your LinkedIn page to learn more about your story and leadership voice as they decide whether or not to join your team. And if you’re currently job-seeking or simply open to hearing about great opportunities, having an updated LinkedIn profile can help you get the attention of recruiters and hiring managers online.
Here are some quick tips for refreshing a stale profile and engaging on the site:
1. Customize your URL! It’s free and takes about 30 seconds.
2. Update your profile photo if it’s been a while, or, if you don’t have one at all. You don’t need a professional headshot – anything taken on a smartphone will suffice (try the portrait mode on an iphone, for example, or even a free or low-cost AI headshot generator).
3. Review your LinkedIn headline – is it your current job title, or just a string of random keywords? Try this formula instead: “Job Title or Job Function @ Employer Name | 3 – 4 specialized skills, separated by commas | Short sentence sharing the way you add value to a team or organization”
4. Audit your “About” section. Share how you add value to teams and organizations, and how you got to where you are today. This is a great place to also share what you’re passionate about professionally, and any fun side projects or meaningful service you engage in outside of work.
Fun note: Don’t be afraid to inject some personality into this section, if that aligns with how you speak in real life! Make sure that your content is written in first person – this is your chance to introduce yourself to whoever is visiting your profile (whether it’s a recruiter, a potential client, a current colleague, etc.).
5. Review your experience section – ensure it’s up-to-date, and that you provide a 2-3 sentence overview of each role. If you’re feeling pressed for time, you can also copy/paste bullets from your resume. Updating your job experience/providing an overview of your actual job is especially helpful if your job title doesn’t translate well to an external audience (you’ll know this if people are always asking you to explain what you “actually” do after you share your job title).
6. Expand your connections, especially if you have a lot of invites you haven’t reviewed in some time! It’s up to you whether or not you limit who you are connected to (for example, only people you know in “real life”), but as long as someone is in your industry, a person with many mutual connections, or someone in your region, I say why not?
7. Check out your skills section – are the top 3 skills reflective of your most relevant and in-demand skills for your target roles?
8. Consider increasing your engagement in the LinkedIn feed section. You can post original content, reshare content from your employer, or occasionally write thoughtful comments on posts you see in your feed. If you have goals around thought leadership, the LinkedIn news feed is a great place to share ideas and your work.
9. Social media isn’t for everyone, and becoming a content creator on LinkedIn doesn’t have to be your goal. That being said, investing a few minutes into auditing and optimizing your LinkedIn profile and engagement can support your goals for hiring, thought leadership, attracting clients, or landing a new job.
10. Be consistent and make Linkedin engagement part of your routine. Updating your information, following new organizations, and connecting on Linkedin with new folks you’ve met in real life are all easy-to-adopt practices.
Need support navigating your job search? Our team can help. Check out WorkTogether Talent Consulting’s Career Coaching services to learn more.
