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How can I create an effective LinkedIn profile?
LinkedIn is a great tool to connect with existing contacts and other people in your field. Creating a strong LinkedIn profile can help you in your job search and career.
In order to increase your chances of finding a new job, you can improve your job search strategy by using both traditional channels and social media platforms. LinkedIn has been designed specifically for professional and career purposes, so you can start by creating a LinkedIn profile.
While you should complete all parts of your profile, there are 5 main areas to focus on if you want to maximize results:
Profile picture
A good picture on LinkedIn gives your profile a personal touch; but, it is important to remember that your photo needs to be professional. Overall, it is a good idea to have a picture where you are smiling and dressed professionally.
Professional Headline
Under your name there is a section to provide your occupation or current job title. This is called the Professional Headline and has a 120 character limit. There are many ways to stand out by creating a good headline. You can take a look at a few examples below for variations for an Accounting Clerk:
- Accounting Clerk
- Accounting Clerk looking for new opportunities
- Accounting Clerk | Administrator | Global Experience
Summary
The summary is a great place to provide a short paragraph that outlines your past experience and describes the kinds of opportunities you are looking for. You can also use bullet points to outline your skills and years of experience working within a specific field.
The summary is an important aspect of your LinkedIn profile because it provides the reader with an idea of who you are. Often recruiters will focus on the summary to decide whether the person could be a good candidate for a job.
Experience
You can describe your skills and achievements in more detail in the experience section of your profile where you can add information on your current and past jobs. While this sounds similar to a resume, the difference is that on LinkedIn you have an opportunity to develop your thoughts in a paragraph rather than short sentences. Use this ability to tell a story for each job, so that recruiters and contacts can better interpret your value proposition for future roles.
Education
You can share any diplomas, degree or certifications you have completed over the years in the education section. In some fields and professions, certifications and designations are very important, so it is a good idea to show that you have either completed the necessary requirements or are enrolled in a relevant program.
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Last updated:
November 23, 2016
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