How To Get STARTED On LinkedIn in 2023 - (Step-By-Step For BEGINNERS)

How to Create a Standout LinkedIn Profile

Introduction to LinkedIn

• Are you looking to create a standout LinkedIn profile? This video provides essential tips for optimizing your profile and showcasing your potential to attract better career opportunities.

• Heather Austin, the presenter, emphasizes her expertise in helping professionals build their personal brand and land their dream jobs. She encourages viewers to subscribe for more insights.

Importance of LinkedIn

• LinkedIn serves as a personal sales page where users can market themselves, seek job opportunities, and network within their industry. A strong profile is crucial for visibility among hiring officials and business growth.

• With 600 million users on the platform and two new sign-ups every second, having an effective LinkedIn presence is increasingly important. Users are encouraged to set up an account if they haven't already done so.

Getting Started with Your Profile

Step 1: Basics of Your Profile

• Begin by focusing on your headshot and headline; these elements are critical for first impressions on potential employers or connections. Ensure your headshot is professional—smiling, appropriately dressed, and clearly visible from the waist or elbows up. Avoid distracting elements like hats or sunglasses.

• Profiles with professional headshots receive 14 times more views than those without; thus, investing in a quality photo is recommended.

Crafting Your Headline

• Your headline should be attention-grabbing and include relevant keywords that others might use when searching for profiles like yours. Default settings often use job titles; consider customizing it based on your desired position or industry instead.

• You have up to 120 characters for your headline—use them wisely by incorporating specialties that enhance searchability (e.g., "senior project manager specializing in implementation"). Aim for clarity rather than filling all character space unnecessarily.

About Section Insights

Step 2: Writing an Effective Summary

• The About section allows you to elaborate on your skills, talents, and personality while engaging viewers effectively through organized content that intrigues them to read further. Start with what you're passionate about in your career journey.

• Structure this section into two parts: a summary addressing who you are and how you help others, along with media that showcases your work or achievements visually enhancing the narrative of your professional story.

Creating an Effective LinkedIn Profile

Crafting Your Summary Section

• After expressing your passions, include a paragraph highlighting your greatest accomplishments and strengths. For example, the speaker emphasizes their strength in helping others find career solutions.

• Use concise paragraphs (2-3 sentences) and bullet points to enhance readability in your summary section, making it easier for viewers to digest information.

• Consider using symbols or unique bullet points to break up content; however, avoid overusing them as it can detract from the professionalism of your profile.

• The speaker advises moderation with symbols and bullet points to maintain clarity while ensuring the reader can easily navigate through your profile.

• Conclude your summary with an expertise section that includes relevant keywords and phrases from job postings to improve searchability on LinkedIn.

Adding Media and Experience

• You have the option to add media such as links, documents, photos, videos, or presentations in your profile. The speaker shares they included popular YouTube videos in their media section.

• Moving on to the experience section: this is where you narrate your career story. It should reflect who you are and how you've progressed professionally.

• Unlike a resume, LinkedIn allows for a more informal tone; writing in first person is encouraged here to showcase personality.

• In the work experience section, use 2-3 sentence paragraphs detailing key accomplishments. Including quantifiable achievements (numbers or percentages) adds credibility.

• Avoid copying directly from resumes; instead provide teasers about significant experiences that prompt further interest from potential connections or employers.

Education Section Insights

• The education section contributes significantly to building your career narrative. If you're beyond five years post-high school with higher education credentials, omit high school details.

• List degrees obtained along with institutions attended and any honors received. This area is also suitable for mentioning relevant training or certifications related to your field.

• Highlight participation in clubs/organizations and relevant coursework that aligns with prospective job roles within this section for added impact.

Skills and Endorsements

• The skills and endorsements section showcases areas of expertise. Ensure top three skills are prominently displayed as these will be featured on your homepage for visibility.

Getting Started on LinkedIn

Importance of Skills on Your Profile

• LinkedIn allows users to add up to 50 skills, but it's recommended to focus on the top three skills that define your expertise to avoid diluting your profile.

• Hiring officials utilize the skills section to identify talent; therefore, it’s crucial to include specific skill sets you wish to be recognized for.

• Instead of generic terms like "training," use more specific phrases such as "corporate training" for better visibility and relevance in searches.

• Over time, consider rearranging your top three skills based on what you want to promote and receive endorsements for.

The Role of Recommendations

• Recommendations are valuable statements from other LinkedIn members that recognize your professional contributions and can enhance your profile's credibility.

• People viewing your profile often read recommendations; thus, having strong endorsements can significantly impact their perception of you.

• It is advisable to request recommendations from individuals in leadership positions or colleagues who hold a positive view of your work.

• Don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations; many people are willing to provide them if approached.

Managing Security Settings

• Check security settings by clicking the Me icon and navigating to Settings and Privacy; this ensures control over what others see about you.

• Edit your public profile URL for better personalization—using variations of your name helps make it recognizable rather than a random string of characters.

Visibility Control

• Adjust visibility settings so that certain sections appear or do not appear in search engines and other services like Outlook, enhancing privacy management.

Job Seeking Preferences

• Review job seeking preferences under settings; this includes options related to how information is saved during job applications.

• Enable the option for recruiters to know you're open to opportunities, which increases chances of being found during keyword searches relevant to your expertise.