How to use LinkedIn to Build your Professional Brand
LinkedIn is an online site that performs as a directory for organizations and professionals. It also serves the function of a professional social media site. On LinkedIn, you can
Establish and grow connections
Learn new skills
And find internships and jobs
By establishing your presence on LinkedIn you can begin to build your professional brand through the storytelling of your skills, education, and experience. The way LinkedIn is setup is almost exactly like a resume, meaning a lot of information is transferable. So how do you create a bomb LinkedIn profile? Let me teach you!
It all starts with your Profile Picture. This photo should be a professional headshot. The reason it is important to have a photo set is because it will be the first item someone will look at. We want it to stand out and show your personality.
The second visual element is the Background Cover. This should also reflect what matters to you professionally. An example of this is an architect having a background image of a city skyline or a computer analyst having hardware as his image. Even a simple quote related to your field is great.
Next is your Name. This is simply your first and last name. If you do not go by your first name, then I would use the name you like to be called. Your name is also where you put all of those fancy letters that represent all of the certifications that you’ve earned.
Your Headline is where you describe your role within your profession. This isn’t simply where you put your job title, this is where you describe your role within the industry. For example, on LinkedIn, the header reads “Architectural Designer | Design Professional | Content Creator | Blogger”. These are the roles I play within both the field of architecture and as The Blooming Babe.
The summary is where you get to tell your story. This is where you highlight your unique value to the industry you are in. You will want to take your time writing this. So open google docs and begin your first draft.
Your Experience section is essentially your resume. Now, this can put you in a bit of a pickle if you don’t have any, but we will work through this. So, when it comes to experience you always want to start with relevant work experience.
Relevant work experience is an experience that correlated with the job you are applying to. As a rule of thumb, I always say go back three jobs on your resume and if those three jobs happened in a time period of fewer than five years, then go back five years. Experiences should be laid out in the following manner:
Job Title, Company Name, Dates of employment.
Job description.
As a rule of thumb job experiences should start with your most recent and work your way back. If the job is current, the action verbs should be in the present tense. If they are in the past, the action verbs should be in the past tense.
So that’s relevant experience, but what if you’ve been working for a while at a job that does not directly correlate? Well, let’s turn that experience into leadership and those job descriptions into indirect accolades. For example, if you were an RA for four years..., then there are tons of interpersonal parts of the job that are perfect for job descriptions.
Now that they know how experienced you are, they’re going to want to know how smart you are. Yes, it is time for the Education section. Your education section should include:
What your degree is
Where you received your degree
Your GPA. Now, if you’re a bit older, 5+ years out of school, this may not be as relevant, however if this resume is going to a graduate school for review then your GPA is very important.
Next, we diving into Skills.
Starting with the skill section, this is where you get to flex a little bit. You’ll want to add both hard skills and soft skills. Hard Skills are typically skills that you learn through instruction whether it be from a book, in a classroom or training, or on the job. Examples of hard skills include:
Microsoft Suites
Photoshop
Illustrator
C++
Soft Skills are those interpersonal skills that are grown through interactions with other individuals. Example of soft skills include:
Time management
Communication
Flexibility
Leadership
Now, here is my first resume hack. Most job descriptions come with a list of desired skills. Match your skills with the skills your employer is seeking. But always remember to not lie on a resume. If you don’t have the skill, DO NOT PUT IT ON THERE.
Recommendations are a great way for a future employer to get references before you even get interviewed. You should be looking to get recommendations from past coworkers and bosses as well as current coworkers and bosses if you have a good relationship with them.
Lastly, You’ll want to add your accomplishments. These are your honors and awards. This portion is another place to flex and it shows future employers another reason why you are an asset. In the Honors and Awards section you should include:
the name of the honor or award
The month and year it was received.
And if you have not got it by now, these should be ordered from most recent to least current
And that is it y’all, that is your guide to a killer LinkedIn profile. If you have any questions about the job hunt, feel free to reach out and comment below! If you like what you read, sign up for my newsletter so you are first to know when new career blogs are posted!
Until next time :)