How to make your LinkedIn account stand out

For many professionals, LinkedIn is a great way to connect and network with others who are in the same or similar industry.

Potential employers and new contacts constantly look to LinkedIn to find out as much as they can about a potential employee, so there is no denying how critically important it is to have an up to date LinkedIn profile.

As LinkedIn has become an integral part of job searching and recruitment, here are 6 tips that will make your LinkedIn account more effective.

Profile picture

It’s no use trying to promote yourself to a professional audience, when they don’t have a face to put to a name. As important as it is to have a LinkedIn profile photo, it is as equally important to have a professional looking photo. If your photo involves a little too much skin, or is of poor quality; it won’t be taken seriously. As hard as it is to imagine, you can easily be judged by your LinkedIn photo.

Keep your experience updated and current

What’s really good about LinkedIn, is that it is literally an online resume that you can quickly update on a regular basis. It’s vital that you keep your experience up to date and current on your profile, and ensure that you list all of your previous roles, experiences, accomplishments and responsibilities.

The more detail and background you can provide, the better. Also, never eliminate past jobs or volunteer work you have done. You never know, that first job at the local green grocer may just get you over the line with an employer!

A summary about yourself

Every LinkedIn account should have a summary which gives a quick snapshot of who you are, what you have done and what you have achieved. Think of this as being your elevator pitch and use it to sell yourself to potential employers. Definitely write this in first person, be precise and to the point.

Fill out as much of your profile as possible

Ensure that you include all your skills, current and previous education, volunteer work, and associations you are a member of, as LinkedIn is the ideal place to list all of this extra information, which may not fit on your resume.

Ask for recommendations

Whilst receiving endorsements is good, recommendations are better! Reach out to your past colleagues, employers, managers and ask if they can write you a recommendation – think of this as a reference.

Contact details

If you want people to contact you and make connections, then you have to give them a chance and a way to do so! The bottom line is people cannot get in touch with you if you don’t include this information. Certainly never provide your personal address; a contactable email or business phone number will do.

Words by Jemma Mrdak