Learning LinkedIn

In case you don't know, LinkedIn is the next best thing in the world of work. Why?

1. When you apply for a job, the employer most likely searches your name on the internet, and your LinkedIn profile could greatly enhance your online image (if you have made your profile correctly!)
2. Recruiters browse the people on LinkedIn and send emails or invites to people who they want to recruit.
3. LinkedIn is the best way to literally connect to all of your professional friends, and keep track of their contact information for the future.
4. Companies post job openings, and if you connect to the right people, you can get an interview for your dream job.

How do you get your LinkedIn profile to attract employers? I've compiled a few major points that you need to remember when creating and editing your profile. 

**Click on the links to see YouTube videos for more help!

• URL: The first step is to change your URL to your name. If your name is already taken, do not add numbers - rather, add a descriptive word, such as "marketer" or "artist" so that your URL describes you.
• Image: Your profile photo needs to show you wearing professional clothing, with a solid-color background. Make sure you are smiling, don't use an outdated or much-younger photo of yourself.
• Headline: Your headline is the message that says "This is How I can Solve Your Problems and This is What I am Seeking"
• Demonstrate how you can be a solution to your dream employer. You can use your job title (Account Executive) or a set of action words that describes your capabilities (Organized Media Professional)
• End your headline with a call to action, or an ASK, such as, "Seeking Grade school Teaching Opportunities" or "Let's Get Connected!"
• Summary: This is all about you, and rather than tell a life story, it is best to highlight your key qualities, qualifications, and anything relevant to your job life.
• Job History
• List your most recent jobs, with a simple and direct explanation of your responsibilities, achievements, and correct dates of your employment.
• Students: If you do not have work history, then write about your volunteer history! Anything and everything that makes you different from the next person is important.

My last piece of advice is critical: UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE. If you are happy with your current job, then say so! If you are actively looking because you are unemployed, then don't leave your status as "happily working!" (True story: a man wondered why recruiters never called him for a year. It was because his profile still said he was working!) 

I will post more about LinkedIn in the future, but for now, this should give you a great start. Leave a comment if you want specific advice - I know more, and I know professionals who create LinkedIn profiles for a job, so I can get you connected! 

Bonus: A neat picture with these same tips.

From LinkedIn-Makeover