Having a strong LinkedIn profile is crucial for anyone looking to advance their career or find new job opportunities. With over 740 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform and an important tool for establishing your professional online presence.
But what exactly makes a LinkedIn profile stand out? Here we’ll explore the key elements every LinkedIn profile should include to properly showcase your skills, experience, and personal brand.
A professional headshot
Your profile photo is one of the first things people will notice when visiting your LinkedIn page. You’ll want a high-quality headshot that is well-lit and portrays you as approachable and professional.
Some tips for your headshot:
- Wear professional attire, like a suit or nice blouse
- Smile naturally to appear friendly and approachable
- Ensure proper focus and lighting so your face is clearly visible
- Pick a neutral background like an office or plain wall
- Avoid selfies or casual photos
A professional headshot helps establish your credibility and gives you a more polished online presence.
A customized background photo
Your background photo appears at the top of your profile. This is a great opportunity to showcase your personality and what is important to you professionally.
Some tips for choosing a good background photo:
- Select an office setting or industry-related image
- Images from conferences or professional events can work nicely
- Avoid cluttered or distracting backgrounds
- Steer clear of personal vacation photos
- Use high-resolution images that look sharp on large screens
The right background photo complements your headshot and gives viewers a better sense of your professional environment.
An informative headline
Your headline appears right below your name at the top of your profile. Use your 120-character headline wisely to describe your current role and industry.
Examples of good LinkedIn headlines:
- Digital Marketing Specialist at XYZ Company
- Product Designer | Founder of ABC Design Studio
- John Smith – Finance Professional
Avoid simply using your job title. Add key details like companies, specialties, certifications, or unique differentiators.
A thorough summary section
Your summary section is located toward the top of your profile, right below your headline. Use this space to provide an overview of your skills, experience, and goals.
Some tips for writing a compelling summary:
- Keep it concise at 2-3 short paragraphs
- Use clear, descriptive language and avoid cliches
- Highlight your most relevant skills and areas of expertise
- Mention your specialties, certifications, achievements
- Explain your career goals and aspirations
This section gives viewers deeper insight into your background. Use it to hook their interest and stand out from other candidates.
An extensive work experience section
The work experience section allows you to delve into the details of your past roles and responsibilities. Each position should include:
- Job title and company
- Employment dates
- Location (city and state)
- 2-3 bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements
List your most recent roles first. Focus on quantifiable achievements, specialized skills used, and any promotions or awards received.
Detailed skills section
The skills section provides an overview of your core competencies. You can include:
- Hard skills: Technical skills and knowledge, like coding languages or CRM platforms
- Soft skills: Abilities like leadership, communication, creativity
- Tools and software: Programs you have experience using
Break these down into clear subcategories so viewers can easily grasp your areas of expertise at a glance.
Education
List any colleges, universities, or trade schools you have attended. Include:
- School name
- Degree earned
- Field of study
- Graduation year
- Academic achievements or honors
Listing your education provides credibility and gives insight into your background and training.
Recommendations
Recommendations from past managers, professors, or colleagues showcase others’ perspectives on your skills and work. When asking for a recommendation:
- Choose recommenders who know your work well
- Remind them of projects or qualities you’d like highlighted
- Aim for 3-5 recommendations
- Return the favor by providing recommendations for your contacts
Quality recommendations give your profile a boost and show you have left a positive impression on others.
Relevant volunteer work or causes
Volunteering shows what you care about. It highlights skills like leadership while contributing to a good cause. When including volunteer work:
- List organization names and causes you support
- Note any leadership roles or special projects
- Focus on recent, active volunteering
This provides a deeper view into your interests and personality.
Additional sections to consider
Other optional sections to showcase yourself further include:
- Accomplishments: List any major career achievements, awards, or special projects here.
- Courses: Include relevant educational courses or training seminars you have completed.
- Projects: Provide details on significant projects you led or participated in.
- Languages: List any languages you speak, along with your proficiency level.
- Organizations: Mention professional associations or industry groups you are a member of.
Use these to highlight successes that didn’t fit neatly into your work experience or education sections.
A customized LinkedIn URL
Claim a unique LinkedIn URL using your name to make your profile more memorable and searchable. Do this under “Edit public profile & URL” in your LinkedIn account settings.
For example: linkedin.com/in/john-smith
This creates a clean, professional URL that properly represents your brand.
Conclusion
A standout LinkedIn presence is crucial for reaching new opportunities and elevating your professional brand. By crafting a complete profile that checks all the right boxes, you can ensure you make a stellar first impression.
Keep your profile updated by adding new positions, skills, and accomplishments as your career progresses. Treat your LinkedIn as an evolving platform to demonstrate the value you bring to any organization or role.
