LinkedIn is a great tool.
Yet you can harm your online presence with just a few common mistakes.
Fortunately, like skinning your knee, the mistakes are easy to avoid and usually not fatal. Your profile should always be more helpful than harmful.
Recruiters search LinkedIn for candidates. Hiring managers use LinkedIn to prep for interviews and decide who lands on the short list.
Your network contacts (new and established) access and use your LinkedIn profile to share information about you, connect with you and decide if they would like to do business with you. Review your profile. What messages are you sending?
Check your profile for these 4 common mistakes:
- Pasting your résumé into your profile. Personalize your LinkedIn profile. Use it as a gateway platform to your online presence. With LinkedIn’s volume and traffic your profile shows up in most searches for you. Create a compelling summary that gains you favorable attention.
- Ignoring the details. Your LinkedIn profile is a 24-7 marketing site for you. Optimize your profile so it will be found in a search. Focus on your key skills, the benefits you offer and the problems you solve. Be selective and highlight the talents for which you want to be known. Include your contact information.
- Being generic. Your profile needs to pop and paint a clear picture of you. If it reads like a dry job description, it may be ignored. Manage your endorsements. People hire people, not lists of skills. Include your personality.
- Dropping in only occasionally. Create a plan to engage in the community and regularly update your LinkedIn profile. Just as not returning a phone call reflects your lack of interest, so does not responding on LinkedIn. A slow response reveals much to those who use LinkedIn as a recruiting or sourcing tool. Drop in often. Be visible.
Now, edit your profile as appropriate to be in the running for the ‘right’ positions.
Do you think your schedule is too busy for a great, well-managed LinkedIn profile? You can have a great LinkedIn profile and manage it in just minutes a week.
Email me to learn more about effectively managing your LinkedIn profile. I will send you a video link and a fun tip sheet.
Cindy,
Thanks for the tips on my LinkedIn profile. I am guilty of the latter, not interacting enough with my community there. I will make a plan to get in there regularly and share.
Lilia Lee, I understand – Here is a tip set aside 9 minutes a day. You will be amazed and the interaction you can achieve in only 9 minutes. If you try it let me know how it works for you.
Uh oh Cindy, looks like I need to schedule in a regular time to check on my LinkedIn! I am definitely guilty of only checking in occasionally.
Ditto to the above comments. I’ve found it difficult to naturally engage in Linked In. However, I’m working on improving that. Like right now. I’m heading there right now to check in. =-)
Think of engaging on LI as nutrition for your relationships and the difficulty may disappear!
Dorothy, having a schedule may be your key to success. I know you will find the balance that is right for you and help you achieve amazing results.
Thank you Cindy for these great strategies and I love you r comment above about engaging with LI as nutrition for your relationships!
Kelley – you are welcome!