![\"LinkedIn\"](\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2020\/12\/linkedin_1_700.jpg\")
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A LinkedIn profile sometimes seems like this thing we have to have, if only for show.<\/p>\n
Many of us are guilty of it ourselves. We sign up for a LinkedIn profile and assume it\u2019s a “set and forget it” solution.<\/p>\n
You put up that one photo of yourself looking semi-professional and bam \u2014 you\u2019re ready to make some sweet connections with thought leaders and go-getters. But you might be making some mistakes that are wrecking your job prospects. Read on, dear job seeker.<\/p>\n
Oh, man. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is failing to put up a decent picture. Opting out of uploading a photo makes you seem like a weirdo, a faker, or someone who just doesn’t care.<\/p>\n
An unprofessional profile pic is just cringe-y. By all means, avoid from including your boyfriend, cat, or baby in your LinkedIn pic \u2014 it\u2019s all about you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t overthink the picture. The biggest thing is, you\u2019re wearing clothing that looks clean \u2014 at least somewhat professional \u2014 i.e., no superhero shirts or bikini tops.<\/p>\n Employers want to see that you look alert \u2014 eyes open, standing up straight \u2014 and smiling. Your picture serves as a way to communicate that you look well, normal.<\/p>\n A couple of examples that are LinkedIn-approved<\/a>:<\/p>\n Additionally, a profile picture comes in handy when you meet people in person or other corners of the web.<\/p>\n People tend to look you up after that networking event or after you\u2019ve sent an email. A bad pic or no pic makes it harder to find you, and could lead to a missed connection.<\/p>\n Complete guide to advancing your career<\/p>\r\n Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n Recommendations are the easiest way to demonstrate credibility \u2014 and allow you to squeeze in a few brags without tooting your own horn.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need a ton of recommendations to make a positive impression. Quality over quantity cannot be emphasized enough here. Still, recruiters might think something is wrong with you if there aren\u2019t any recommendations at all.<\/p>\n But, this area is all about quality. Someone looking at your profile might see a boring recommendation that says \u201ceasy to work with, team player.\u201d But that could be about anyone.<\/p>\n By contrast, something like \u201cSarah has a real knack for rallying people together and getting them to share ideas. She doesn\u2019t hesitate to help others and always has some out-of-the-box solution on hand.\u201d<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have any recommendations, offer to trade with a few trusted colleagues<\/strong> (or former colleagues) who can describe in detail what you bring to the table.<\/p>\n It\u2019s uncomfortable to ask people for recommendations. Sometimes you\u2019re lucky enough to receive one without calling in a favor, but mostly, you have to ask nicely.<\/p>\n LinkedIn is like a dating profile for jobs. You want to put your best self forward, but that \u201cbest self\u201d should still resemble who you are when you\u2019re out in the world.<\/p>\n So, get those stale, meaningless buzzwords out of your head. You know, “detail-oriented,” “multitasker” (we all know that\u2019s a lie), “hard worker” \u2014 highlight unique areas where you excel.<\/strong><\/p>\n The experience section should offer more information than just the company you\u2019ve worked for and your job title.<\/p>\n Job titles mean different things at different companies. For instance, a marketing manager at one company might be a generalist with few responsibilities whereas someone with the same title elsewhere might oversee a whole department and have a highly sought-after skill set.<\/p>\n Now, we\u2019re not saying you should spit out every duty related to your job. LinkedIn offers limited space, after all. Instead, focus on a few bullet points that demonstrate your capabilities. Leave “proficient in Microsoft Office” out of the mix.<\/p>\n LinkedIn report shows most coveted worker skills<\/p>\r\n Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n Many people don\u2019t know that you can change your headline with minimal effort. Generally, if you leave it alone, LinkedIn defaults to whatever you have listed as your current position.<\/p>\n Your LinkedIn headline (right under your name) is the lead-in to your brand. It\u2019s less about sharing your job title verbatim, more about giving recruiters the short answer to \u201cwhat you\u2019re all about.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019ve all seen those people in our feeds with weird, vague descriptions\u00a0 \u2014\u00a0 either a mishmash of industry jargon or an overly long sentence.<\/p>\n Be specific \u2014 tell people exactly what you do. Industry focus, what you\u2019re known for \u2014 i.e., Marketing Professional: Social Media Specialist and Content Expert.<\/p>\n Keywords aren\u2019t limited to optimizing blog posts. They\u2019re a handy tool for making sure that recruiters can find you \u2014 and more importantly \u2014 that they\u2019ve got an \u201cin\u201d with the types of jobs you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n With keywords, you\u2019re at the mercy of the algorithm \u2014 however, you still need to make sure that people can read your profile. Using a bunch of buzzy terms like \u201cdesign thinking,\u201d \u201cmarketing\/sales\/etc. guru\/wizard\/sorceress\u201d gives the reader a word salad they didn\u2019t ask for.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, Google and LinkedIn\u2019s algorithms might punish you if they feel you\u2019re engaging in keyword stuffing \u2014 or trying to game the system with too many keywords.<\/p>\n Still, you should use industry terms that correspond with your skills, experience, and location.<\/p>\n![\"example](\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2020\/12\/Screen_Shot_2019-03-05_at_7.27.36_PM.jpg\" "\\"LinkedIn")
<\/p>\n![\"profile](\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/image\/upload\/c_scale,w_700\/v1551832226\/editorial\/Screen_Shot_2019-03-05_at_7.27.47_PM.png\" "\\"linkedin")
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\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n 2. Your recommendations suck<\/h3>\n
3. Boring descriptions are getting in the way<\/h3>\n
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\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n 4. You have a terrible headline<\/h3>\n
![\"LinkedIn](\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2020\/12\/Screen_Shot_2019-03-05_at_7.27.05_PM.jpg\" "\\"LinkedIn")
<\/p>\n5. You’re not using keywords<\/h3>\n