LinkedIn Profile Guide

LinkedIn is the #1 place in the world for professionals to connect, with more than 1 billion members. It’s an excellent place to be found for a job, as 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates and 84% of organizations use social media to attract, recruit, and view information on potential employees. A complete LinkedIn profile means a 71% higher chance of being interviewed, and it‘s one of the first results when someone searches your name on Google. By creating a profile, you articulate what you bring to the world of work, your value in your field, and your skillset. People need to see things that make them want to connect with you. 

Even if you’re not currently looking for a new job, LinkedIn helps you proactively connect with people in your field, including colleagues, clients, potential employers, and organizations of interest. It’s estimated that between 70-85% of jobs are filled through networking rather than public job posts, which means people often hear about opportunities through other people. The best time to build relationships is before you need them. Show people that you’re genuinely interested in growing in your field and contributing, through your posts and activity in the shared space.  

Follow organizations and people doing work you care about, and engage with their posts. See if you can contribute in some way, join groups, or upcoming events. (Recruiters can filter by which candidates have selected their organization as a preferred employer, engaged with their page, and have connected to them or their people.) Connect with your friends, classmates, former co-workers and supervisors. 

On an organization’s page, select the People tab, and use the filters to find people doing roles you’re interested in. Look at their experience and education sections to see how they got to that role, and message them to see if they’d be willing to answer questions for you. (Also possible to reach out to a company’s hiring manager here.) Go to UM’s page, select the Alumni tab, and see other Griz in your field. 

You can also complete certifications and learn new skills, hear about industry news, and find out about opportunities. 

LinkedIn is actively trying to connect people to the most relevant options for them. Your profile is your billboard for your professional skills. What is your billboard saying about you? It matters who you connect with and follow, your industry, location interest, job searches and views, content you view, what’s important to you. LinkedIn tracks the interests of companies too, and looks for overlap.  

As you develop your profile, make sure it’s intentionally developed to help you meet your goals. Consider these guiding questions.

• What types of work or jobs do you want to move towards in the future? Does your profile show that you’re interested in those areas, and have qualifications to move into that work? 

• What kinds of people and organizations do you want to connect with, or who do you want to find you? (Think: potential employers, clients, colleagues, professionals doing work you’re interested in) 

• What types of tasks do you want them to find you for, or ask you to do? What can you help with? (Think: skills, strengths, roles) 

• Would people be able to find you when they enter search words for that type of work—what search words do you want connected to you? 

Tip: What qualifications or keywords come up in top job posts you’d be interested in? Use the language employers would recognize—keywords for the industry.  

Tip: Describe the type of job or role you’re looking for to ChatGPT and ask which keywords to include.  

Open to Work  

You can share that you are “open to work,” and recruiters on LinkedIn can see this. There are some pros and cons to broadcasting this. For example, it makes it easy for recruiters to find you; however, if you are using LinkedIn to network and tap into the hidden job market, you might get fewer responses from professionals who think you’re only reaching out to get a job from them. It’s also important to keep in mind that if you are connected to your current employer or colleagues, they will see you as “open to work.”  

LinkedIn URL 

You can customize your LinkedIn URL (using between 5-30 characters) and it should be your first and last name so you can put it on your resume with ease. At the top right of your profile click “Public Profile & URL.”  

Name  

You can add credentials or an advanced degree (e.g., master’s or doctorate), after your last name to increase your credibility on LinkedIn (e.g., Jane Smith, MA, CAP).  

LinkedIn Profile Picture  

LinkedIn profiles that have professional profile pictures get 26x more views and 36x more messages than profiles without a picture. A professional headshot is not necessary; a selfie is acceptable as long as you follow these guidelines: include a neutral background (e.g. a white wall), only include yourself in the photo, smile and dress professionally (e.g. plain-colored or collared shirt). Avoid displaying anything that would raise questions about your judgment.  

Banner Image (1584w by 396h, no larger than 8MB) 

Your LinkedIn banner, located at the top of your profile, should be changed from the generic banner to something that makes sense for your field. As an image, it won’t show up in keyword searches, but it’s one of the first things your reader sees, so it’s a prime spot to communicate what you offer in a memorable, visually interesting way (e.g., business card). You can find free images on websites, like Unsplash, or you can make a personalized banner using a free Canva account.  

Headline (220 Character Limit)  

Your LinkedIn Headline, located below your name, is one of the first things someone sees when they preview your profile, and it’s weighted more heavily in recruiter keyword searches. Use this premium space to write toward the future opportunities you want: Communicate the value you bring to a new employer and industry (why should they be interested in you?) by including keyword skills you can offer and the top 1-2 roles/job titles that you are qualified for and want to do. Consider whether including your school or current company is the best use of the space. Make it easy to read by separating info into single words or short phrases, and add pops of color with coolsymbol.com. 

Example: Top 1-2 Roles/Job Titles | Specializing in [keyword] and [keyword]  Fostering [keyword-rich statement]. 

*Tip: not sure what keywords to use? Try searching for industry leaders and professionals in your field to see the keywords they use in their profiles.  

Featured  

This section can be used to add posts, newsletters, articles, websites, or media to your LinkedIn profile to increase credibility and showcase your professional brand. For example, you could upload digital art, certifications relevant to your field, or publications.  

About (2600 Character Limit) 

This is where you can highlight your personality a bit more. It should be written in 1^st person and towards what is relevant to the reader—describe the experience, skills, and value you bring. Shorter sections and bulleted lists make it easier to read. Keep this in the professional realm, but not overly stuffy. You can set up this section in the following order, but know there is no one size fits all: 

What I Do  

A short introduction can be a good way to start off. Then, you can add your current position/internship if it is related to your field. You can also highlight skills related to your field to demonstrate how you contribute and bring value to your industry.  

My Background 

This is where you can describe any past experiences you want the professional world to know about from your experience section. You can share your major and other relevant experience as it relates to roles you are interested in (e.g., volunteer, internship, research experience)  

Where I Want to Go   

This is a good place to discuss the type of work environment you are interested in while you are searching for a role. You might also talk about positions or industries of interest as well. This section might be deleted, changed, or replaced once you are in a professional role you are happy with.   

Call to Action / Contact Information  

If you’d like, you could use this section to encourage your LinkedIn connections to reach out to you. Share a professional email address to make it easier for recruiters and connections who are looking to network to contact you, but this is not required if you are concerned about privacy–connections can always LI message you.  

More ideas for 3-6 section headers: 

• Summarize your qualifications and experience 

• Favorite projects/Proudest accomplishments or moments/How I make a difference 

• My top results/contributions/How I get results for clients 

• Topics I’m passionate about/What drives me/My mission 

• Strengths as a professional/Top 5 competencies/skill sets/specialties 

• Why I enjoy what I do 

Experience (2000 Character Limit Per Experience – same with Volunteering)   

This section overlaps with your résumé. Add titles from current/past roles, share accomplishments, responsibilities, and highlight skills gained. Remember, as this section is one of the most important sections in keyword searches, it’s good to include keywords in your job titles when possible (can put these in parentheses or add a translation for the title if needed). You can begin bullet-point accomplishment statements with “I” and add in articles (the/an) because you are not limited by space like you are on a résumé. Add your top 5-8 skills for the position using LinkedIn’s suggestions.    

*You can include internships/volunteering/projects as professional experience if they’re relevant to your field!  

Education (1000 Character Limit) 

Sharing your educational background is an important part of your profile, as it highlights the work you’ve put into your professional advancement and skills you gained. Remember to add graduation dates to your education. Recruiters sometimes search LinkedIn using graduation date ranges to find talent; if you eliminate dates, you could be missed!  Consider beefing up your education section by including a short paragraph describing your accomplishments, clubs, campus organizations, activities, etc. if relevant to your field.  

Licenses & Certifications  

If you earned certifications or licenses in something related to your industry (e.g. CPA, Teaching License, etc.), adding them to your profile can highlight your dedication to the field and show potential employers you have the skills they need. Add it to your profile for increased credibility and make recruiters’ lives easier by displaying these accolades along with dates they need to be renewed (if relevant).  

Skills (100 Skill Limit)   

This is another top section that is pulled in keyword searches to find talent, so adding relevant skills that you have expertise in can help you be found. Once you start adding skills, LinkedIn will recommend more. Adding the skills that LinkedIn already has prepopulated in the system (rather than creating new ones) will also ensure your profile gets attention. If possible, use your skill spots for phrases that encompass multiple aspects, instead of putting in duplicates. 

*Tip: make sure your top 3 pinned skills are highly relevant to your field and represent your top strengths.  

Recommendations  

You can request recommendations from clients, colleagues, supervisors, and other professionals you’ve worked closely with to increase your credibility. This is not necessary but can be especially helpful if you provide a service that would benefit from testimonies and recommendations (e.g., private coaching or training). If possible, try to ask at a good time (like right after a win, or helping them out). 

Courses  

Did you take courses related to your industry, but lack relevant professional experience? Add relevant courses to your LinkedIn profile and provide information about what skills and topics you learned in those courses to show that you have the necessary knowledge for a future role in your industry. This section is not pulled from as frequently by recruiters, but it can still be helpful, especially if you haven’t gotten much experience in your field yet.  

Honors & Awards  

Are you an honors student? Did you make the dean’s list? Did you receive an award or scholarship? You can share these accomplishments with the LinkedIn community as well. This section is especially useful when applying to graduate school or your first professional role out of college.  

Organizations  

Consider adding professional associations you are or have been connected to in this section. Only include memberships and affiliations that are relevant to your field of interest. Membership can indicate that you keep up with current trends in your industry, care about your professional development, and contribute to your professional community. 

Artificial intelligence is a remarkable tool. It equips your computer to analyze data, offer predictions, and expedite decisions when extra support is needed.    

However, despite AI’s intelligence, it sometimes falters in matters of common sense and context. While it excels at producing impressive data, its efficiency is lacking in data-sparse environments. Additionally, AI can display potential bias and limited creativity. As we dive into the landscape of AI integration, we must also consider the concerns of privacy, security and the unforeseen consequences of using this tool.      

PROS OF USING CHATGPT FOR LINKEDIN:  

• Efficiency: ChatGPT can help you draft and edit LinkedIn messages and connection requests, saving you time and effort.  

• Networking: ChatGPT can be used to help you discover which companies to follow, suggest personalized conversation starters with professionals, and help initiate meaningful conversation.   

• Resume and Profile Writing: ChatGPT can help you refine your profile, including your headline, summary, and work experience descriptions, and showcase your expertise, making your profile more appealing.  

CONS OF USING CHATGPT FOR LINKEDIN 

• Lack of Authenticity: Using ChatGPT might result in messages that lack your personal touch.  

• Unpredictable Output: ChatGPT can produce varying outputs, leading to unexpected or inappropriate content.  

• Overreliance: Depending too heavily on ChatGPT could hinder your writing skills and ability to communicate effectively.  

Keep in mind, your results will only be as good as the quality of the information you feed it, and the extent to which you edit the information using your own writing style, creativity, and sound judgment.  

STRATEGIES & PROMPTS FOR GETTING BEST RESULTS  

Apply the 60/40 Rule: Begin by crafting your content on your own, focusing on the key points you want to convey. Allocate 60% of the effort to your initial writing.   

Content Generation: After writing, input your content into ChatGPT and ask it to rewrite and enhance your material. Prompt it to add specific examples, quantify achievements, improve language, etc.    

Review and Polish: Review the generated text, make necessary edits, and ensure it aligns with your personal style and voice. Add any finishing touches, ensuring a well-polished final version.  

LinkedIn Prompts: 

• Can you help me draft a captivating headline for my LinkedIn profile that reflects my expertise? 

• Create an attention-grabbing summary that showcases my skills and experiences.  

• Suggest ways to describe my current role in an impactful manner. 

• Help highlight my key achievements in past positions. 

• What are some skills that are highly relevant in my industry?  

• How can I encourage more endorsements for specific skills on my profile? 

• Can you help me describe my educational background in a way that emphasizes its relevance to my career? 

• Provide suggestions to showcase my certification effectively.  

• Concisely highlight my accomplishments. 

• How can I politely request recommendations from colleagues and supervisors? 

• Can you suggest personalized messages for connecting with industry professionals in a meaningful way? 

• How can I infuse my LinkedIn profile with my unique personality while maintaining a professional tone? 

Easy Apply  

Easy Apply can require a résumé, but it also shares your LinkedIn profile with recruiters and hiring managers. If you are going to apply to jobs using this method, it is important to make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date, as this is what they will use for screening purposes. ELCS coaches encourage clients to also submit a cover letter when the option is given, as recruiters indicate a preference for them, even when not required.  

Adding Visual interest for the Reader  

• To add little pops of color using symbols (e.g., arrows, checkmarks, squares, etc.), copy-paste from coolsymbol.com. Too many different types of symbols can be distracting, so choose a few to incorporate.  

• Add bolded headers or text using yaytext.com. Write out the statement or header you’d like to use, and copy-paste your preferred text from the menu of options.  

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