5 Tips to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile | Co-operative Education

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Is it just me or is it challenging to figure out where to start when using LinkedIn? All of these questions might be running through your head; how do I grow my connections? Am I showcasing myself effectively? How do I get employers to notice my profile?

Your LinkedIn profile is crucial. It is where you are presenting yourself and creating your own personal brand. If you are having trouble figuring out where to start, these next few tips are a great guide to your profile success!

Tip #1: Add a profile picture and header image, don’t be a mystery

A lot of the time, people like to associate a face with a name. Simply putting up a photo of yourself can make your profile that much more engaging with your viewers. When choosing a photo, be sure to use one that is professional, up to date and high quality. One thing that I find helpful when choosing a photo is asking myself: “Does this photo represent me well?” In addition to including a photo of yourself, adding an image to your profile header allows the aesthetics of your account to really come together. Choose a picture that expresses who you are! You want your viewers to get to know you through the images you present. Utilize those photos and make yourself known! Below is an example of a LinkedIn profile from someone who also happens to be a University of Waterloo alumnus.

Tip #2: Have a compelling tagline

Although it may not seem like a huge part, taglines are an important piece of your LinkedIn profile.

Example of the "people also viewed" section

Before we get into that, let's first define what a tagline is. A tagline is your mission statement and selling point. When you’re looking through LinkedIn, on the right-hand side you will see a heading that says “People Also Viewed”. Here, you will see multiple people come up and you will notice that it displays the photo, name and tagline of that person.

Now, you don’t want to make your tagline too long, but you also want it to have enough context that you are still able to convey your message. Doing this will help increase your chances of grabbing the attention of an employer.

Think about the tagline as a “preview” of your profile, where you are summarizing the main points you want to get across.

Tip #3: Talk about yourself, create a personal story

Use the “About” section on your LinkedIn profile to give viewers a chance to get to know you better. Produce a biography that shines a light on the important points you want to get across. You can choose which direction you want to go with this; either you can keep it short and sweet or use it to create a story. Let’s take a look at the example below.

This person laid out their bio using a list format and made it comprehensive by introducing themselves, touching on what they are currently doing, their educational/work background and even adding in a few fun facts about themselves! Keep the viewers engaged with who you are and don’t be afraid to have a sense of humor when doing it. Give enough detail so that others can get a good idea of you as a person. Remember, make it your own!

Tip #4: Add a little value to your profile

It never hurts to add a little razzle-dazzle to your LinkedIn profile. As Sir Arthur Conan Doyle says, “It’s the little things that matter most.”

Add things like your current geographical location, popular industry keywords, a captivating call to action (CTA) or a small, verbal introduction using the audio note (which can only be done on the LinkedIn mobile app).

Including things like this will make your profile stand out and may increase your profile views!

Tip #5: Showcase those skills and experiences that you have!

Think about all the skills that you have and choose the ones that you are proficient in.

You want to aim to have around 12 to 15 skills, but at least 5 to 10 of those skills you consider yourself to be really good at. List your skills from most to least important, as the skills listed first will be the ones employers will most likely see and pay attention to. Furthermore, talk about your experiences. This shows the employer how you have gained your skills and that you have been putting in the time and effort to constantly improve on them.

Highlighting those relevant skills and experiences allows you to display your capabilities and will help attract more job opportunities your way.

Let’s wrap it up!

If you have made it to this point and are reading this, congratulations! You are one step closer to optimizing your LinkedIn profile!

Now, if you take away anything from this, it would be:

Don't be invisible. Have a photo of yourself that is clear and engaging and a background image that adds to who you are.
Share your story. Create a tagline that will capture viewers' interest, produce your unique story and use those value-adding suggestions in your profile!
Show off your skills. Highlight your skills and experiences, it goes a long way.

Taking that first step is always the toughest, but once you take it, you gradually start getting better and better. Your LinkedIn profile is your brand, so be confident and own it! #LinkedInBoss