This is the second part of the post on the topic, “How To Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile”. If you missed out on the first part you can check it out by clicking here.
Also, if this is your first time of getting to hear of LinkedIn and you are probably wondering what it is or you already know what it is but would like to know more about it and what we mean by LinkedIn optimization, you click here to check out this post I wrote on the subject.
In the first part of this topic, I wrote about how to optimize the Intro section of your LinkedIn profile. In this part, we are going to take it a step further as we consider the other sections available in your LinkedIn profile.
The Featured Section
The Featured Section on LinkedIn allows you to feature certain things about yourself that you would like people to know or see. These could include:
- A Post
- An Article
- A link (to your blog, website, YouTube, podcast or even an external site where your name is mentioned)
- A video or photo
This section is found immediately after the Intro section and can be edited by clicking on ‘Edit Profile’ among the options found when you click on your profile picture.
The About Section
The About section is also referred to as the Summary Section. It is where you have the opportunity to sell yourself to your visitors by highlighting the various things about you that make you tick.
You may have heard of the term USP – that is, your Unique Selling Proposition. This is where you have to show it forth.
In designing one, you have to keep in mind three important things and ensure you convey them clearly – what you currently do, what you have done and what you can do.
The Background Section
The following subsections make up the Background
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Your Work Experience
In this section, you have the opportunity to showcase the relevant work experience you have. LinkedIn has so made self-promotion through its platform easy and interesting in that it provides options for you to add more details about each work experience you list on your profile.
You can include such things as job title, employment type, company name, location, start and end date, industry, your job description, relevant skills obtained on the job or related to the job, and also links to any media that could provide more information about the experience.
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Your Education
Under this sub-section, you have the opportunity to list all the relevant educational qualifications you have. Just like in the case of the work experience, you also have room to include not just what you are studying or studied but more details into the scope and nature of the qualification.
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Your Licenses and Certifications
Under this section, you can showcase all those amazing certifications and licenses you have garnered throughout your career.
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Your Volunteer Experience
Have you got any volunteering experience? This is where they come in. This section goes a long way to add colour to your profile as it tells your profile visitors about the causes and projects you are passionate about. For students or recent graduates, this should be one of your selling points.
The Skills Section
In this section, you have the opportunity to highlight the skills you have that are relevant to your career journey or the industry you want to be identified with.
It is important to only focus on relevant skills that add to your profile.
Yes, you know how to cook Indomie and egg in the most delightsome and appetizing way, that does not in any way mean you should highlight it here, except if you are optimizing your profile for culinary jobs.
Also ensure that for each of the skills, you have persons in your contacts/ connections that can verify or give you endorsements on them.
The Accomplishments Section
This section allows you to highlight some of your amazing accomplishments such as Publications, Patents, Courses, Projects, Honours and Awards, Test Scores, Languages, and Organizations you belong to.
Here, you can as well showcase such things as online training you have completed (such as Udemy and Coursera) and also fellowships you have been involved in.
The Additional Information Section
This section is where you highlight other additional information about yourself. In this section, you can attract more attention to your profile by specifying key topics that are of interest to you or which you would like to be contacted on.
Another important aspect of this section is the RECOMMENDATIONS. You can ask for recommendations from people who know you well enough such as your former classmates or colleagues, your current colleagues, your employer, and even your clients. With such recommendations from them, you increase the chances that others will come to see you as being credible.
Closing Thoughts
There you have it. How to optimize your LinkedIn profile. Remember, an optimized profile does not guarantee you will make millions off LinkedIn but increases your chances of attracting connections and opportunities that will benefit you immensely.
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