At Attolon, we know that LinkedIn profiles are often the first place recruiters turn to learn more about a candidate. From optimizing your headline and summary to engaging with groups and remaining active through its social platform, your profile displays who you are and how the professional world perceives you. This article provides guidance on creating a LinkedIn profile that articulates your career ambitions and helps you make meaningful connections on your professional journey.
Getting Started – Headshot, Headline, Summary
Invest in a high-quality, professional headshot that makes a strong first impression. As much as you may like that photo of you from vacation or the selfie you took with your iPhone, an employer may consider these unprofessional. A LinkedIn profile is a snapshot of your personal brand, which means it’s imperative to display a credible, clean, and professional photo.
Headlines are often the first thing a recruiter will read upon opening a profile. Keep it simple and about what your career is primarily focused on. “Seasoned Biotech Finance Executive with strong financial leadership and strategy experience” is an example of an effective headline. A common mistake people make with headlines is stating their current title and employer. This information will already be listed in the “Experience” section of the profile. It’s most important to provide a statement that captures your career specialty, not your job title.
The About section is similar to the headline but with one big difference. About provides more space to showcase and enhance your personal brand. It is important to put something in this section so carefully determine how you want to portray yourself. Consider highlighting a few career accomplishments or explaining the company you founded and why it’s important to you.
Experience – A Virtual Resume
Attolon recruiters prefer potential job candidates who have a detailed Experience section that closely matches but doesn’t duplicate, their resume. Generally, your resume should be no more than two pages long, but there is no limit to the amount of detail you can share on your LinkedIn profile. The Experience section is a perfect place to expand on your accomplishments and include links to relevant projects.
For previous jobs held that relate to your current position, include bullet points with strong action verbs describing your accomplishments. Stick to the facts and avoid subject statements. Descriptions like “Developed shared-service program with $300M savings for $1B retail business” and “Led finance, operations, and IT teams to 70% topline growth in 2022” may make your profile stand out from a pool of candidates.
Bear in mind that a strong Experience section requires constant attention and updates. If you are applying for a new job or even considering entering the market, review and update accordingly so recruiters and employers know exactly what you can offer.
