The LinkedIn Advantage - 1 Billion Users & Counting

People have lots of opinions and valid concerns about social media—reasons to use it or not—but in my view LinkedIn is an absolute must-have for anyone looking to grow their professional network, locate jobs, and keep pace with developments across industries.

The truth is, your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression you make on potential employers or networking contacts.

In this issue of The Hired Edge, we’re going to focus on practical ways you can elevate your profile.

Some of these tips may seem like common knowledge, but you would be amazed at how many people miss them.

The Core Elements of Your Profile

There are so many elements that go into a LinkedIn Profile, but today we’ll focus on the core ones:

• Profile Picture

• Name

• Headline

• About (Summary)

• Background a. Work Experience b. Education

• Skills & Endorsements

• Contact Info

BUILDING YOUR PROFILE

Profile Picture / Headshot

Look, your Headshot is your virtual handshake and you need to make it count. Put yourself in a potential employer’s shoes: Do they want to hire, for example, a marketing professional who can’t even market his or herself with a decent photo that isn’t blurry, grainy, or badly cropped?

Some specific tips?

• Use a high-quality, recent photo of yourself

• Ensure your face takes up 60-70% of the frame

• Wear professional or business casual attire

• Choose a neutral background

• Smile naturally to appear approachable

• Avoid group photos, selfies, or overly casual images

Pro tip: If possible, get a friend to take a few shots of you in natural light. This often yields better results than indoor lighting.

Your Professional Headline

Your headline appears right below your name and is prime real estate. In addition to the headshot, your headline is one of the first things people see when they view your profile or encounter you in search results. It's your chance to make a strong initial impression.

LinkedIn's algorithm uses your headline to determine relevance in searches, so including key industry terms and skills can improve your visibility to recruiters and potential connections.

It’s also a concise way to communicate your potential value.

Some more tips:

• Don't just list your job title or student status

• Use the 120 characters to showcase your value proposition

• Include keywords relevant to your industry or desired role

Pro Tip: Consider a format like [Your Role] | [Your Expertise] | [Your Unique Value]

Example:

Data Science Student | Machine Learning Specialist | Transforming Big Data into Actionable Business Insights

Of course, depending on your major and professional goals, you can tailor it to better connect with LinkedIn’s searchability algorithms.

For example, a computer science student might use….

Computer Science Major | Full-Stack Developer | Building Scalable Web Solutions with Cutting-Edge Technologies

A marketing student might use something like…

Digital Marketing Student | SEO Strategist | Driving Organic Growth Through Data-Driven Campaign

Writing Your Compelling Summary

Your summary is your chance to tell your story—so tell a good story.

• Personal view: Keep it between 2-3 short paragraphs

• Start with a hook that grabs attention

• Highlight your key skills and experiences

• Showcase your passions and career aspirations

• End with a call-to-action (e.g., "Let's connect to discuss AI in healthcare")

• Use first-person narrative for a personal touch

Detailing Your Education and Experiences

Be thorough but concise:

• List all relevant education, including expected graduation date

• For each experience (jobs, internships, significant projects):

  • Use bullet points to highlight key responsibilities and achievements

  • Quantify your accomplishments where possible (e.g., "Increased efficiency by 25%")

  • Use action verbs to start each bullet point: built, launched, streamlined, etc.

• Include relevant coursework, especially for students with limited work experience

Showcasing Skills & Endorsements

Skills are crucial for the searchability factor and for demonstrating expertise.

• Add at least 5-10 relevant skills to your profile: e.g., Data Analysis, Public Speaking, Project Management, etc.

• Order them with your top skills first

• Don't be shy about asking classmates, professors, or colleagues for skill endorsements they can vouch for. Seriously. This is such an easy way to boost your profile. It’s not weird!

• Endorse others' skills to encourage reciprocation

Your Contact Information

There are numerous ways to go about this. The most straightforward is to use LinkedIn's designated "Contact info" section:

• This is located near the top of your profile, usually under your profile picture and headline.

• Click on "Add profile section" > "Contact info" to edit this area.

You can include an email address (a professional email, not a personal one) and your general address; usually, it’s sufficient to just list your city and country/state.

Of course, you can include more, but you should be aware of Privacy: Your connections can always see your email address, but do you want them to have, for example, your phone number? Maybe

OTHER RESOURCES

LinkedIn actually offers numerous FREE “LinkedIn Learning” microclasses that can help you go through this process in greater depth. One good one is the “Rock Your LinkedIn Profile” course:

LinkedIn’s Official Blog has some great resources too:

IN SUMMARY

Crafting an effective LinkedIn profile is a crucial step in building your professional brand and opening doors to career opportunities. It’s far more than just an online resume—it's a platform to showcase your skills, experiences, and aspirations.

Key takeaways:

1. Your profile picture and headline are your first impression—make them count.

2. Use your summary to tell your unique professional story.

3. Detail your experiences with concrete achievements and skills gained. Use Action Verbs!

4. Regularly update your skills and seek endorsements to boost credibility.

As you progress in your career, your LinkedIn profile should evolve with you.

Regularly revisit and refine your profile to ensure it accurately reflects your current professional status and future goals.

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