LinkedIn certifications are a great way to showcase your skills and expertise to your professional network. Once you’ve earned a certification, LinkedIn makes it easy to share and promote your accomplishment. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of sharing your LinkedIn certifications.
Add the Certification to Your Profile
The first thing you’ll want to do is add your certification to your LinkedIn profile. Here’s how:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile
- Click “Add profile section” and select “Licenses & certifications”
- Click the “+” icon to add your certification
- Search for the name of the certification and select it from the dropdown menu
- Enter the date you received the certification
- Click “Save”
Once you’ve added your certification to your profile, it will appear in the Licenses & Certifications section so anyone viewing your profile can see it.
Showcase Your Certification in Your Summary
In addition to adding your certification to the Licenses & Certifications section, you can showcase it in your profile summary. This is the first thing people will see when they visit your profile, so it’s great for highlighting your most impressive accomplishments.
Try opening your summary with a sentence like “Certified [Certification Name] professional with 5+ years experience in [field]”. You can also create a separate “Certifications” subsection in your summary where you list out all of your certifications.
Add the Certification to Your Headline
LinkedIn allows you to customize your headline so you can showcase what makes you stand out. Consider adding your certification to your headline for extra visibility.
For example: “[Certification Name] Certified | [Job Title] | [Company Name]”
This will immediately show people that you hold this prestigious certification when they view your profile or see you in search results.
Announce Your Certification in a Post
One of the most powerful ways to share your certification on LinkedIn is by announcing it in a post. This allows you to share the news with your entire network and gives you a space to reflect on the certification process.
When writing your post, be sure to:
- Explain what the certification is and why you pursued it
- Share some highlights/key learnings from the certification process
- Express your excitement and gratitude
- Include the certification name so it is searchable
It can be helpful to attach an image of your certificate or badge to make your post more visual. You can also link to the certification issuer so people can learn more.
Give Recommendations to Connections Who Earn the Same Certification
When you see connections in your network earn the same certification you have, be sure to congratulate them and offer a recommendation. This will show up on their profile and means a lot coming from a fellow certified professional.
To give a recommendation:
- Go to their certification on their profile
- Click “More” > “Recommend [Name]”
- Write your recommendation note and click “Send”
Join LinkedIn Groups Related to the Certification
There are many LinkedIn Groups dedicated to specific certifications and professional development. Joining these groups allows you to connect with others who have earned the same certification as you.
You can engage in discussions, ask questions, share resources, and more. It’s a great way to continue learning and make new connections with other certified professionals.
Offer to Guest Blog for Certification Issuers
Many certification issuers, such as Coursera and edX, offer guest blogging opportunities. Consider pitching a guest post where you share your certification journey, tips for others, and how you’ve applied your new skills.
This is a great way to showcase your expertise while also getting exposure through the issuer’s audience and channels. Just make sure to disclose your relationship as a certification holder.
Participate in LinkedIn Publisher Posts
LinkedIn Publisher allows certification issuers and training companies to publish long-form posts. Keep an eye out for Publisher Posts related to your certification and share your own experiences in the comments.
For example, if the post is on certification exam tips, you could comment with what helped you succeed. This shows your expertise and gets you exposure to that publisher’s audience.
Encourage Connections to Endorse You
Endorsements from your connections on LinkedIn are a great way to validate your skills and expertise. Don’t be afraid to reach out to connections who can speak to your abilities in the certification domain and politely ask them to endorse you.
Send them a message saying something like “I recently earned [Certification Name] and would greatly appreciate if you could endorse me for [Skill]. Let me know if there are any skills I could endorse you for as well!”
Give Back by Volunteering as a Mentor
Once you’ve gained expertise through certification, consider giving back by volunteering as a mentor to others who are pursuing the same path. Many certification programs offer mentoring opportunities.
You can provide advice on everything from studying tips to real-world applications. Mentoring looks great on your profile and enables you to make meaningful connections.
Join Industry Organization Chapters
Industry organizations like the Project Management Institute (PMI) and American Marketing Association (AMA) have local chapters across the country. Attend events to share your certification status and network with fellow professionals in your field.
You may even want to get involved on a committee or with speaking opportunities to increase your visibility.
Showcase with Badges and Icons
LinkedIn allows you to add visual badges and icons to your profile to represent certifications, awards, volunteer work, and more. You can select badges suggested by LinkedIn or upload your own image.
Displaying relevant badges and icons is an easy way to quickly communicate your most noteworthy accomplishments and qualifications.
Promote Your Services as a Certified Professional
If you offer services related to your certification, be sure to promote them on your LinkedIn profile and in your summary. For example, if you’re a certified coach, you can list coaching as a service you provide.
You can also share posts showcasing how you help clients and make sure to highlight your certified status. This establishes credibility and trust.
Give Skills Assessments to Demonstrate Knowledge
LinkedIn Skills Assessments allow you to take short quizzes to prove your proficiency in a given skill. Scoring 90-100% will display a verified skill badge on your profile.
Consider taking assessments related to your certification to further back up your expertise in those areas with demonstrable skills.
Conclusion
Sharing your LinkedIn certifications not only showcases your achievements, but also allows you to create new connections and opportunities within your field.
By featuring it prominently on your profile, discussing it in posts and groups, getting endorsements, giving back through mentoring, and promoting your professional services, you can maximize the visibility and impact of your LinkedIn certifications.
