Social media revolutionized the way we communicate with one another. But what started as a fun way to chat with kids in your school and share music has evolved into something so much bigger. Nowadays, people are finding jobs and booking interviews all through social media platforms.
If you’re looking online for a job, LinkedIn is the number one social media source for job recruiters. But how do you get them to look at your profile over others’? Below are seven easy ways you can improve your LinkedIn profile.
Your photo matters more than you think. LinkedIn might be a social network, but it’s not the place to show off how many friends you have or what you did over the weekend. When choosing a profile picture, make sure it fits these criteria:
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You are the only one in the photo.
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The image is clear and of high quality.
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You are dressed professionally.
Be yourself. Are you fun and quirky? Then make that clear in your bio! Throwing in a few (appropriate) jokes or anecdotes is a great way to separate your profile from the thousands of others out there.
Update your page constantly. Your LinkedIn profile is not something you can set and forget. We suggest setting a few minutes aside at the end of every week, to go into your profile and see if you can update your community service, experience, or awards.
Be consistent. There has been a debate raging on about whether or not your information should be in first or third person. In the end, both have been found to be equally successful — just as long as you keep your narrative consistent throughout the entire page.
Research others’ profiles. If you’re ever unsure of what to say or how to format your profile, there’s nothing wrong with looking at other bios for guidance and inspiration.
Brand your URL. When you initially signed up for an account, your URL was probably a compilation of two dozen letters and numbers. If your profile URL still looks like this, it’s time for a change! Customizing your URL will help keep your name consistent across all of your social media platforms.
