LinkedIn is the ideal social network for corporate professionals. This helps in making connections, and be connected with them in their particular field, and try reaching towards higher ladder in their fields of work. The latest survey shows that 94% recruiters, presently uses social media for their recruitments. 80% of all the users who use LinkedIn claim that they got success through this platform. There are more than 562M people who use LinkedIn for their professional purposes. The following steps give everything that is necessary to create a LinkedIn profile.
Steps for crafting a compelling LinkedIn profile
Creating a profile is the first step when it comes to LinkedIn. There are different types to create an effective one. Here’s how to create.
Step 1 Start with the right picture
A face is the index of the mind. The profile picture uploaded on to the LinkedIn page is that of one’s face. Through profile, people know each other. It governs their opinions from the beginning. There are many guidelines of how the profile picture should be. But here are some quick bites to begin with: Note that it doesn’t have to be boring. No need go for business attire if it doesn’t suit. Make sure that the picture should be of recent. Have a smiling face. 60% of the profile is covered if the picture is professional and pleasant. Use a photo that has 200*200 pixel dimensions. Anything which is less than that will appear blurry and distorted. If the profile picture is professional there are more chances of getting high profile views.
Step 2 Write a Compelling Headline
There is a 120 character space at the top to showcase the profile and describe the profession. Use this headline to say more about the role. It’s a great chance to gain the first impression, so showcase the talents as much as possible in few words. Make it interesting, so that the connections can click and know more. Write it with all the keywords. Here are a few examples:
- Content strategist at Award-winning digital marketing Firm
- Talent Acquisition specialist at a StartUp
- Brand Marketing, PR, Communications Professional
- Recruiter, HR, Talent Management Expert
Step 3 Turn Summary as a story
The summary section has been the best after it has revamped in 2012. Users can include infographic of their experience, high-resolution photos, or a video talk. It is well worth if it is written in a captivating and unique way. In a very short span of time, one can grab the attention and make connections to read more. List three or four skills which best suits can add up to the profile. One more thing users can do is adding an exciting story. How far the user can go with their creativity depends on the extent their industry pertains to. Always end the summary with a call to action. For example: Please reach out to “XYZ” number to discuss more opportunities. The first thing to tell about the summary is to make sure to have an amazing one.
Step 4 Share the Job experience
For Job seekers, this is where the crux lies. This is where the body of the profile lies. Create it just like the traditional resume, showcase the skills, expertise, and experience. Add the Job Profile, and functions. Include the current positions and all the other relevant positions. There are two ways to add the job experience: Just copy paste the resume or Just add the employer name, the position, dates in that summary section. Optimize this with keywords and make it more suitable and readable.
Step 5 Build the network
LinkedIn is all about the connections. It is one of the most accessible and most relevant ways to grow by syncing the profile to the email address. Groups may help to create a network and relationships with people who are all in a similar job profile and have the same interests. Beyond this, practice following the conversations and meetings with LinkedIn connections. By joining the alumni or discussion, try to give the inputs which are relevant to the conversation and show the interest and value. It is one of an excellent way of being active and vibrant.
Step 6 Optimize by inserting better Keywords
In SEO, keywords are a must which drives traffic to the websites. Include keywords everywhere, especially in the experience and summary sections. When recruiters use LinkedIn, they search for specific keywords. Keywords make the profile to appear on the top of the list. Recruiters rely on those specific keywords which are there on the tracking system. The tracking system looks for the keywords which are listed on the skills and experience column. Those candidates with the highest rank will be eventually visible. The ways to look for keywords is by looking into the career page of some inherent employers who are interested and pick some keywords which are specific to that industry or job.
Step 7 Request for recommendations
Users have to ardently ask for recommendations, follow up, and keep on top. Recommendations can be from anywhere, be it colleagues, mentees, bosses, mentors, clients or anyone who are in association. A well-crafted recommendation is always better. One advice is to have a pre-determined strategy or a plan. Ask the connections to highlight a specific experience or speak about a particular skill. Having said that, it should cover all the skills and experiences which the user has. Always thank the recommenders.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, these are the few steps for creating the LinkedIn profile. There are more advanced steps where one can follow and get more opportunities through LinkedIn. Use this profile to scale up and become expert in the field. Keep adding the content and optimize for the better results. Connect with as many people and start building the connections and network. LinkedIn is used both as a challenging job search website and a networking tool.