Connect and Conquer: 9 Proven Steps to Mastering LinkedIn’s Power

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and on LinkedIn, it can increase profile views by 14 times. When choosing a photo, remember that it’s your first impression. Invest in a professional photo shoot, or at the very least, ensure good lighting and a clean background. Consider your audience and the brand you want to convey. Are you aiming for approachability or professionalism? Tailor your photo accordingly.

Step 2: Add your Industry and Location

Specify your industry and location as these are crucial filters recruiters use. Click on “Edit Intro” and select your industry from the dropdown menu. Don’t forget to input your location as it’s one of the top fields LinkedIn prioritizes when conducting a keyword search.

Step 4: Write a Summary

Use the summary section to communicate your brand and highlight key skills and experiences. Start by copying and pasting the profile statement from your resume, but remember to switch from the third person to the first person. For example, change “An Integral Career Coach with over Fifteen years’ experience” to “I am an Integral Career Coach with over 15 years’ experience.” Customize the summary to reflect your industry and style, ensuring it aligns with your personal brand.

Step 5: Describe your experience

When describing your experience, consider keyword density. Keywords are important for search optimization, so identify the main descriptive words from your resume, colleagues’ profiles, and job ads. Highlight the context, actions, and results of each role. Paint a complete picture for recruiters, showcasing your contributions to the company and the results you achieved. Remember to make it interesting and captivating for recruiters who sift through countless profiles.

Step 6: Add 5 skills or more

List up to 50 skills on your LinkedIn profile, and aim for 40-50 to increase your chances of being a top match for different roles. Start with your keywords, ensuring they describe critical skills you possess. Consider how different companies may describe similar skills, such as “sales” and “business development.” Cover all your bases to maximize your visibility in recruiters’ searches.

Step 7: Fill out the Education

Provide details about your education, including specializations that highlight your keywords. As you write out your school’s name, select it from the dropdown menu to include the logo, adding visual appeal and credibility to your profile. This tip applies to the Experience section as well, assuming your current or past company has a LinkedIn company page.

Step 8: Connect with 50+ contacts

Building a robust professional network is crucial on LinkedIn. Click on “My Network” and explore the various ways to connect. You can sync your email address book to find contacts already on LinkedIn and invite those who aren’t. Accept invitations from people who can potentially help you expand your network. Scroll through the “People you may know” section to find familiar faces and connections. Remember, a larger network increases your chances of finding the right people and opportunities.

If you’re actively searching for work, let recruiters know by enabling the “Let recruiters know you’re open” feature. Click on “Jobs” and then “Career interests.” Specify the details of your job search, including titles, locations, and the type of work you’re seeking. This feature helps recruiters find you and increases your chances of getting discovered for relevant opportunities.