What Makes a Winning LinkedIn Profile...

You should treat your LinkedIn profile the same as you would your CV or even your personal social media (only some parts that is). It is important for your profile to be visually appealing to any potential employers and future colleagues. It can be easy to get stuck in a rut and neglect your LinkedIn page, but it is important to keep your profile up to date. You never know what opportunities are around the corner.

Below are some tips on how to improve your LinkedIn profile. This blog focuses on the visual aspects to help make your profile stand out, and what you can do to make sure your profile is easy to engage with.

Upload a Suitable Photograph

This may seem like an obvious start. However, you would be surprised by how many people upload inappropriate profile photos to LinkedIn. The photo doesn’t need to be taken by a professional, it simply needs to be a good quality, clean image of yourself.

Make sure you can clearly see your face and look happy in the photo. Even though LinkedIn is a platform for professionals it’s good for potential employers to recognise you as friendly and approachable from the outset. Its good to start with white/plain background, taking a clean sharp image.

Update Your Profile

Updating your profile regularly is a great habit to get into. It may be just a small change, like adding in a new responsibility you’ve been given at work or uploading a new picture. Keeping your profile as up to date as possible will highlight your organisational skills and professional enthusiasm to potential employers.

Stay Active on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media tool. Even though it is different from some other social platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, it is a useful tool to showcase your professionalism and interests to like-minded people. It is important to post your own updates on your profile, as well as engaging with posts and discussions that interest you. This will expand your network and provide further insight into your capabilities and personality to potential employers who may want to learn more about you than just your job history.

Share Your Organisation’s Content

Even if you are considering roles elsewhere, it is a good idea to share your current company’s content to your profile. This shows that you are active on your profile and that you are proud of your current organisation's work that is being posted on their social media channels. This will look good to future employers who will recognise your enthusiasm through your engagement.

Write Your Own Articles/Blogs

LinkedIn is a great tool for professionals to share their own thoughts, feelings, and opinions on their sector and the current market. Writing an article/blog is a great way to highlight to potential employers that you are invested in your industry and that you have your own mind when it comes to speaking on matters that are important to you. These articles can also spark up conversations with your following and allow you to begin build relationships through the platform.

Don’t be too Descriptive

Yes, it is important to include all relevant experience on your LinkedIn profile but having an overly descriptive job history or summary of yourself will put off potential employers. People want to read a brief overview of your professional history and personal interests. Try to limit each section to two or three paragraphs (apart from your summary which can be longer) this will ensure that you aren’t going overboard with your descriptions.

Request Recommendations from Colleagues

Endorsements from other professionals are a great tool to utilise on LinkedIn. It isn’t unusual for people to request recommendations from their colleagues, and it is a good idea to do so. Aim to request endorsements periodically throughout your career.

If you follow these simple steps, we believe you will get more out of your LinkedIn profile than before. Developing your profile is a great tool to open the door to new opportunities, build relationships, and get you thinking about your future in a totally different way.