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Week 1: How To Start Building Your LinkedIn Profile
How to Wow People with Your Profile Image and Headline!
Video Time: 4 Minutes Action Time: 3 – 5 Hours
Video Time: 4 Minutes
Action Time: 3 – 5 Hours
This Section is divided into 4 parts below:
LinkedIn is like your internet search history: in the end, the only people who will see it are you, your internet service provider, your nosy roommate leaning over your shoulder, and (hopefully) your employer!
So click away at those illicit websites and get ready to experiment like it’s freshman year, because, to paraphrase an advertisement we heard from a friend of a friend, THERE ARE LOADS OF LOCAL EMPLOYERS IN YOUR AREA LOOKING TO HIRE NOW!!!!
LinkedIn is like your internet search history: in the end, the only people who will see it are you, your internet service provider, your nosy roommate leaning over your shoulder, and (hopefully) your employer!
So click away at those illicit websites and get ready to experiment like it’s freshman year, because, to paraphrase an advertisement we heard from a friend of a friend, THERE ARE LOADS OF LOCAL EMPLOYERS IN YOUR AREA LOOKING TO HIRE NOW!!!!
Signing Up on LinkedIn
1Navigate to LinkedIn.
You will see the following page. When you are ready to begin, click Join Now.
2Type in the email and password you want to use for your account.
3Type in the first and last name you want to use for your account.
Here’s a fun fact: “Super” apparently violates the terms of service as a first name, so Super Porpoise had to make do with “Superb Porpoise” instead. Bummer!
4You will come to a welcome screen which will require you to put in a country and postal code.
Once you’ve done that, hit Next and input your most recent job title and most recent employer. You may wish to wait until you’re closer to finishing your profile to put in real company information so that your profile does not show up when people search for your company.
4You will come to a welcome screen which will require you to put in a country and postal code.
Once you’ve done that, hit Next and input your most recent job title and most recent employer.
You may wish to wait until you’re closer to finishing your profile to put in real company information so that your profile does not show up when people search for your company.
5Skip the next screen, which asks you to connect with people, by clicking the Skip button in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.
Don’t worry we’ll teach you how to start connecting with people later!
6The next screen wants you to add a profile photo – don’t do it!
We will be covering how to add a great photo in a little bit. Just hit that sweet Skip for now.
7This screen is the door-to-door salesman that you want to Skip.
Hey, have you heard of the LinkedIn app? It’s a pretty cool way to use LinkedIn on your phone so you can have it with you everywhere! Did you also know that you can get it on the Google Play st– *slams the door*
8Skip this last screen too!
LinkedIn wants you to fill out one of those get-to-know-you worksheets. How nosy! This screen doesn’t have a Skip link (like most worksheets thrust upon you), but you don’t have to pick any interests, either. Clicking Continue will let you move on unhindered and finish creating your profile.
8Skip this last screen too!
LinkedIn wants you to fill out one of those get-to-know-you worksheets. How nosy! This screen doesn’t have a Skip link (like most worksheets thrust upon you),
but you don’t have to pick any interests, either. Clicking Continue will let you move on unhindered and finish creating your profile.
Here’s a Tip
You can change your LinkedIn profile’s URL on the public profile settings page! Just click the pencil beside your URL under Edit your custom URL to change it to whatever you want it to be! Try to leave the Instagram tags out of it, though.
Photos
1 Take a clear and professional photo of yourself (also known as a head shot) so that others can clearly see you. Make sure your profile picture aligns with the profession you are seeking. Stay away from an Instagram bathroom selfie as a profile photo. No company or professional would be interested in seeing that! And no Daisy Dukes either. Unless you want to work for the Daisy Duke company, then it would be appreciated.
1 Take a clear and professional photo of yourself (also known as a head shot) so that others can clearly see you. Make sure your profile picture aligns with the profession you are seeking. Stay away from an Instagram bathroom selfie as a profile photo.
No company or professional would be interested in seeing that! And no Daisy Dukes either. Unless you want to work for the Daisy Duke company, then it would be appreciated.
2Be mindful of the background of your profile picture.
Your background should be simple and not distract the eye away from you and your face. If you can’t find a simple background in your dorm or apartment, try the library. If the background is more interesting to gaze at than your beautiful eyes, then you’re doing it wrong!
2Be mindful of the background of your profile picture.
Your background should be simple and not distract the eye away from you and your face. If you can’t find a simple background in your dorm or apartment, try the library.
If the background is more interesting to gaze at than your beautiful eyes, then you’re doing it wrong!
4Dress for the role you want!
Taking a picture of yourself in the dark isn’t going to help you! Superb Porpoise isn’t doing themself any favors, here.
5Smile!
Let your future employer know you aren’t a psychopath! Or at least that you can fake it. And you definitely don’t want this dumb face on your profile.
6Find a cover photo that showcases your personal brand and the career you want.
As an example, Kaily is an aspiring editor who featured a photo of books as her cover image and got hired right away. By contrast, Layla is a teacher-to-be who used a picture of Jonestown for their cover image and instead received a telephone call from the FBI.
6Find a cover photo that showcases your personal brand and the career you want.
As an example, Kaily is an aspiring editor who featured a photo of books as her cover image and got hired right away.
By contrast, Layla is a teacher-to-be who used a picture of Jonestown for their cover image and instead received a telephone call from the FBI.
Helpful websites you can use to find your background
Headline
1Create a headline that shows your value to the field/company that you are interested by incorporating keywords on how you can help them.
Headlines need to have these 3 elements, also known as an elevator pitch:
- What you do.
- How you do it uniquely.
- Who you serve.
2Determine the keywords that you are going to use that are popular in your field and include them in your elevator pitch.
Do you sell vacuums? Make sure you use the word “vacuums” in your headline so that it sucks less… Wait… Sucks more?
Never use “Seeking new opportunity.”
3Next, use a line to separate your headline from your title or the title you want to be considered for. Reduce your headline down to 120 characters (LinkedIn limit)! That’s less than half the amount Twitter allows.
4 Finally, use a line to separate your title from your pronouns.
This is where you will be educating others as to the gender you identify with and how forward thinking you are in the understanding of diversity and inclusion!
Here are some examples
Increasing Conversions for Hospitality Websites Through Easy User Experiences | UX Designer | Pronouns They/Them
Don’t …
… Leave your headline blank. People want to know who you are and what you do! So tell them! Do it! Don’t make us beg! puppy-dog eyes
Where to Find Keywords
There are several places that you can go to find keywords:
- Job postings. Sites like Glassdoor, Indeed, SimplyHired, or any of the many other job sites out there have a ton of job postings for all sorts of positions. Find job postings for your position and look through them. Take a look at the sorts of words they use for requirements to land a job with them, and you’ll have a good place to start.
- Resume-building articles. Your LinkedIn profile is sort of like an online resume. That being said, employers look for the same keywords on your LinkedIn profile that they would on a resume, so articles pertaining to finding good resume keywords also apply to your LinkedIn!
- A search engine, such as Google. More on how to get the best results below!
- A thesaurus. You heard us! You can use this to spark inspiration for keywords that suit your magnificent, splendid, phenomenal, outstanding self! There are quite a few online thesauri out there (did you know that’s the plural form of thesaurus?).
Finding Keywords Using Google
1Go to our trusty friend, Google!
2Type in your job title/position followed by a space.
3After your job position/title, type keywords for search engines.
4Review your results!
Sometimes google will give you a preview of the most popular article at the top. This doesn’t mean it’s always right! Take a look at relevant articles to find your keywords.
4Review your results!
Sometimes google will give you a preview of the most popular article at the top.
This doesn’t mean it’s always right! Take a look at relevant articles to find your keywords.
5Add the relevant keywords to your LinkedIn profile!
Once you’ve got the incantation, work a couple into your headline! And your summary! And your experience section! Spread the keyword love! Don’t worry, we will go over the summary and experience section in week 2!
5Add the relevant keywords to your LinkedIn profile!
Once you’ve got the incantation, work a couple into your headline! And your summary! And your experience section! Spread the keyword love!
Don’t worry, we will go over the summary and experience section in week 2!
Other good search phrases to use
Some positions may be harder to search for than most. Don’t fret! Sometimes you just have to change up your wording a bit in your search! Here are some great alternatives to “keywords for search engines!”
- keywords for resume
- skills list
- job skills requirements
Don’t forget to build your experience by getting an internship with us!
More helpful information