Read on if you’re unsure about what to put on your LinkedIn profile section-by-section or what the ideal profile should seem like.
As an experienced recruiter, allow me to share everything that I learnt so far such as:
- What to put on your LinkedIn profile section-by-section: Detailed explanations of all sections.
- Why your LinkedIn experience area can be the most crucial section, and examples of how to write it to make your LinkedIn stand out.
- Tips for the other crucial sections of LinkedIn that will attract attention and result in job offers.
Article Road Map
What To Put On Your LinkedIn Profile Section-By-Section When Job Searching
You should fill out the following significant options on your LinkedIn profile:
1. Profile Picture
2. Headline for LinkedIn
3. Descriptions of holding a position
4. Work Experience
5. Skills
6. Colleague’s Recommendation
7. Education and credentials
8. Accomplishments
9. Service as a volunteer
Now that you know which sections to put on your LinkedIn profile, keep reading for an overview of each of these sections.
1. Profile Picture
As a recruiter, I won’t click on a prospect’s LinkedIn page without a profile picture.
Even when a LinkedIn user clicks on your profile, they will need to see your profile picture.
They will love to notice it if you are trying to interact with them, to leave a remark on one of their posts, apply for a job, and do other activities.
So it’s fundamental to put a profile picture on your profile.
Select a professional-looking, approachable profile photo with your face plainly visible while you complete your profile.
If you’re searching for a career, it would be a big error to not have a LinkedIn profile picture.
Employers and recruiters might assume your account is a ruse, and even if they don’t, they’ll really be perplexed as to why you don’t have a photo which almost everyone else does.
It merely appears strange and raises pointless worries.
Additionally, using improper photos can hinder your job search.
So now when selecting a headshot for your LinkedIn page, make sure it looks professional. It doesn’t have to be flawless.
But choose a photo in which you appear to be self-assured, cheery, and well-dressed.
Read Also: How To Find Saved Jobs On LinkedIn
2. Headline For LinkedIn
Your headline is accessible before someone even clicks on your profile, much the same as your profile picture is.
Even though it is plus or minus 50 words, your headline is one of the most crucial aspects of your LinkedIn profile as it determines whether a person will click on your profile.
Choose keywords and descriptive words that highlight your unique skill set and how you’re a suitable fit for the subsequent opportunity type as you construct your headline.
Note that there isn’t a necessity that your current or the most recent job description to appear in your LinkedIn headline.
If your headline implies “Software Developer” or “Customer Service Representative,” for example, you’ve squandered a chance.
To distinguish yourself from competitors in your industry, give more depth. Try to Include relevant keywords and important abilities that demonstrate your greater value to an employer if selected for a new role.
3. Descriptions Of Holding A Position
Due to its prominence and flexibility in terms of content, the summary part of your LinkedIn profile is crucial.
You can include emoticons to grab attention or just text, links to your portfolio or previous projects, or both.
Take advantage of the fact that, unlike many other LinkedIn sections, your summary has more versatility and allows you to be more creative.
Pick up a few job descriptions for the positions you’re pursuing if you’re stuck on what to write and are actively looking for work.
Now ask yourself, “How can I draft my summary to demonstrate to recruiters that I have the abilities and experience required for their position? ”
There is no set “correct” length for a LinkedIn summary, but you should write one to two paragraphs at the very least.
If you have more pertinent information to share, you can write much more.
Never omit this area since it’s one of the first things a hiring manager or recruiter looks at.
(But then that section is next, so please continue reading; it’s not the first place I searched as a recruiter)
Read Also: How To Get More Endorsements On LinkedIn
4. Work Experience
The most crucial part of your LinkedIn profile once someone has viewed it is your work experience section, even though your photo and headline are most crucial for enticing them in.
As a recruiter, I routinely began by looking at this section of a candidate’s profile.
I came here before I glanced at my talents, your summary, or anything else.
This is due to the fact that when hiring new employees, businesses search for former job descriptions and past work that are similar.
The quickest way for them to determine whether you’d be successful in their job is to see that you’ve completed previous similar duties.
This also applies to a resume. It is unquestionably the most important section of your resume, and I typically start with it when I read resumes.
Therefore, utilize the following advice to make your LinkedIn job descriptions stand out:
- Keep the “Main” Sections Blunter Than Your Resume
Your LinkedIn profile should be concise compared to your resume in terms of things like your professional experience and bullet points.
Assume that each job advertisement gets just a few seconds of attention.
Somewhere above the bullets, you could also want to include a one-sentence summary of your work in each of the roles.
Although this is usually a little bit lengthier on a resume, if it’s already one sentence, you can copy it over. If not, I’d cut it down a little.
On LinkedIn, the “summary” that shows above your work history but beneath your name is the lone exception to this rule.
On your resume and roughly the same length on LinkedIn, I’d advise that you use 2-3 sentences.
How Long to Make Your LinkedIn Work Descriptions For Each Job
You may encourage some readers to read more by including it. However, there is a problem.
Your LinkedIn (or resume) should not be written with the intention of making the reader read every word. It’s to get a response and an interview request, am I correct?
After reviewing your LinkedIn, they may still have some questions and desire additional information, but they will have seen enough to warrant a conversation.
That is the goal.
The rest will be revealed by the queries they pose to you throughout the interview.
Additionally, keeping things concise will compel you to concentrate on selecting the most spectacular accomplishments from among your bullet points.
5. Skills
Now, if you’re job hunting with no experience or straight after college, this won’t matter for you because you don’t have many jobs to list – but if you have many years of work experience and many former jobs… spend more time (and space) on your LinkedIn profile on the 2-3 most recent jobs.
When creating your profile on LinkedIn, make the most of the 50 skill spaces that are available to you.
Your profile will rank higher in recruiter searches thanks to the keywords that LinkedIn skills act as.
Only a few keywords can be used in your headline, LinkedIn summary, and other parts.
At the very least, without appear as if you’re just stuffing extra keywords into your profile to be seen (which is bad).
On LinkedIn, though, you can complete all 50 skill slots while maintaining a professional-looking profile.
Take advantage of this since it makes it much easier for recruiters to locate you in search results.
Besides soft talents, you can also incorporate hard skills and job-related skills.
Create a wide list of skills you’ve acquired over the course of your career by using your imagination, but keep it focused on the 50 abilities that employers will deem important for the position you’re striving for.
6. Colleague’s Recommendations
LinkedIn recommendations are a powerful tool for demonstrating to potential employers that your professional background is relevant and that you have excelled in previous positions.
Most LinkedIn users lack even one written recommendation (which is different than simply getting endorsements for skills).
Therefore, request letters of recommendation from coworkers that you have worked with throughout your career that testify to the caliber of your work before offering to do the same for them.
7. Education And Credentials
Add any significant credentials and licenses you have received throughout your career after finishing your education information.
Consideration should be given to what is pertinent for your position and sector, as in the sections above.
You might want to include more information if your industry is directly tied to your educational background.
If you’ve worked in a field unrelated to what you studied in college for a long time, you can just mention your degree in passing and without going into great detail.
8. Accomplishments
There is a specific Accomplishments section on LinkedIn where you can emphasize your projects, publications, languages spoken, and more.
Any extracurricular activities or interests that will enhance your professional career can be mentioned in this area.
You can further describe your professional job history by mentioning accomplishments and projects relevant to your place of employment.
This area, like your Summary section, is highly adaptable, allowing you to get inventive and use it in many ways according to your industry and job type.
Read Also: When To Update LinkedIn With New Job (Add promotions to LinkedIn)
9. Service As A Volunteer
Volunteer experience is regarded as relevant and positive by employers in all sectors.
So LinkedIn gives you the option to include a separate section for any volunteer work you’ve done.
Go to your LinkedIn profile,
Select “Volunteer Experience” under the “Add Section” heading on your LinkedIn profile.
This gives you the chance to demonstrate to companies that you have a diverse professional background and are involved in the community while also adding a powerful part to your LinkedIn profile that many job searchers won’t have.
Conclusion
Whether you’re in a job search or just trying to network or grow your personal brand, the above sections are the must-have pieces to put on your LinkedIn profile.
If you complete the sections above, you’ll show up in more search results, make more professional connections, and get more job offers through LinkedIn.
Once you’ve completed your profile, you shouldn’t just wait for people to connect with you, though.
Take an active approach to building your network and making connections.
Connect with people in your industry, join relevant LinkedIn groups, participate in discussions or start some of your own, leave comments on posts that seem interesting to you, and repeat the process to get your profile seen more.
This will amplify the number of people who see your LinkedIn profile and will give you access to even more opportunities.
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