by Susan McClain
LinkedIn is a popular way for employers to find potential candidates for open positions. According to the Society for Human Resources Management over 90% of recruiters rely on the site. That is why having a professional LinkedIn profile is more important than ever. A good LinkedIn profile not only helps you find work, it can also build your reputation, so take control of it!
Ten ways to make your profile effective and professional:
- Take advantage of the Headline section that shows up under your name.
- Set the tone of your profile summary by personalizing your message with a statement in the first person.
- Describe your work experience by providing compelling information.
- Take advantage of the “Add to profile section” such as: “Interests,” “Associations,” “Volunteer” and “Certifications.”
- Think about what sections you want made public.
- Be honest about your education, experience, and skills.
- Upload a professional photo.
- Build your network keeping in mind the goal of connections is in the quality – not quantity – of people in your network.
- Get recommendations: Recommendations are public votes of confidence and because of that it is one of the factors that employers look at when evaluating potential candidates.
- Proofread: Nothing says unprofessional and lack of attention to detail like grammar and spelling errors.
