LinkedIn

What is LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the internet. You can use LinkedIn to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen professional relationships, and learn the skills you need to succeed in your career. A complete LinkedIn profile can help you connect with opportunities by showcasing your unique professional story through experience, skills, and education.

LinkedIn vs. Resume

Getting Started

To create your LinkedIn profile:

1. Navigate to the LinkedIn sign up page.
2. Type your first and last name, email address, and a password you’ll use.
3. Click Join now.

Your Professional Profile Must Have

1. Custom URL
2. Professional Profile Photo
3. Headline 
4. Summary
5. Work Experience
6. Education

Adjusting Your Profile

Turning off the option to share profile edits eliminates notifications about changes to your network. 

To adjust notifications sent to your network about profile changes:

1. Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
2. Select Settings & Privacy from the dropdown.
3. Click the Visibility tab on the left.
4. Under Visibility of your LinkedIn activity, click Change next to Share job changes, education changes, and work anniversaries from profile.
5. Switch the toggle to Yes to share your profile edits or No to stop sharing your profile edits.
6. Your changes will be saved automatically.

1. Creating a Custom URL

1. Click on your Profile
2. Click on “Edit your public profile” on the right column
3. A new window will appear – “Your public profile URL” can be edited
4. Ensure it’s professional (“john.smith” vs. “JohnnyIsDaBomb”)
5. Remove the 6 numbers behind your name

2. Professional Profile Photo

Your profile picture is a key element of your LinkedIn presence. Our research shows that just having a picture makes your profile 14 times more likely to be viewed by others.

Profile Photo

3. Great Professional Headline

Who you are, what you want to do (120 characters or less)

Here are the 4 things that should be included in your headline:

1. Say WHAT you are
2. Say WHO you help
3. Say HOW you make their life/work better
4. Give PROOF that you are credible

Before: Andrea L. Wilson P.Eng., M.B.A., Creator of ACHIEVE™ Professor, Part-time at Humber College

Current: “Purpose-driven Connector who helps individuals and businesses achieve Holistic Success. Clients include the Canadian Federal Government, City of Toronto, Boys & Girls Club, Google, Honda, just to name a few.” 

4. Great Professional Summary/About

The summary or “about” section is often under-utilized, and many LinkedIn users leave it blank or type a short tagline that is better suited for the headline. Use your summary to strengthen your profile by adding some personality and telling your career story to inspire action from the readers. Whereas the headline is limited to 120 characters, the summary has 2000 characters which is about 300 words.

Tip: Start with a strong catching statement. Use accomplishment statements and make sure you have a “call to action” at the end.

Answering the following questions will help you craft a strong summary:

1. What are your goals and aspirations?
2. Why are you passionate about this – Remember your “Why” from your Best Life Career statement
3. Are there any unique skills and knowledge that you bring from your past experiences?
4. How do you add to the culture of your workplace?

Here is an example:

“Colleagues know me as a highly creative marketer who can always be trusted to come up with a new approach. But I know that the client’s business comes first, and I never try to impose my ideas on others. Instead, I spend a lot of time understanding the business and the audience before suggesting ideas. I can (and often do) work well alone, but I’m at my best collaborating with others. Etc, etc…..”remember end with a “call to action”

5. Your Experiences

Use this section to establish you as a credible trustworthy employee. 

1. Add a description to each work experience

Do not copy the details from their resume and paste it directly into their experience section as your LinkedIn profile and resume serve different purposes.

2. Focus on your most recent and relevant roles

Hiring managers and recruiters tend to look at your current responsibilities and accomplishments. Just like on your resume, you can be selective and remove positions that are not relevant to your career aspirations and dream job. 

• Use action words, similar to a resume (e.g.. Engaged, facilitated, coordinated, managed, produced)
• Use keywords relevant to your industry (soft skills and hard skills)
• Correct tenses (past tense vs. present tense)
• Upload supporting documents (PDF, IMG, PowerPoint, etc.)

No Relevant Experience? Show that you are adaptable! Highlight academic achievements, volunteer work, awards

Resume:

Work directly with the Manager of Business Accounts, organize meetings to deliver proposals that demonstrate brand value propositions; successfully closed 100K+ in sales 

LinkedIn:

In my current role, I manage a large account base in collaboration with the Manager of Business Accounts. By organizing meetings, I am able to deliver proposals and demonstrate our brand’s value propositions. As a result, I have successfully closed large deployments that brought over 100K sales to the company.

6. Your Education: School, Degree, Field of Study, Activities and Societies

Timelines: When did you or will you graduate

Highlight how this credential will help you achieve your dream profession

Now it’s time to build your network

Example of Personalized Invitation

Send invitations to people you would like to connect with on LinkedIn, however make sure its personalized.

1. How you know them, know about them, or found them
2. Identify commonalities
3. Tell who you are and why you’d like to connect
4. Warm, polite end

Finding Jobs on LinkedIn

• Open Candidates – ‘Update Career Interests’
• Search jobs via the Job tab on your profile
• Download the LinkedIn Job App (Mobile)
• Follow your target companies

Action

1. In the comment box below, share your LinkedIn URL.
2. Your goal by the end of this program is to have 50+ LinkedIn connections.