how to build your linkedin presence

a helpful guide to getting your linkedin profile viewed

why linkedin is important

having an online presence is becoming more and more critical in this new digital age. i’ve talked to many recruiters who all stressed the importance of candidates having a Linkedin profile. some recruiters even debated that a Linkedin profile is more important than an old-fashioned resume. will resumes become a past-time job requirement? i was always taught to keep my resume up-to-date, but with new emerging technology, recruiters are relying on tools like linkedin to find their top candidates. below, i summarized some quick and easy ways for you to get your linkedin profile up-to-date and gain traction from the right people. I’ve highlighted some key tips to make your linkedin profile stand out and to collect more profile views (ultimately landing you your dream job).

“i use linkedin all the time to pursue top talent. if you are open to new opportunities, turn this feature on (in your profile) to let recruiters know you are inquiring about new positions. another great tool is to have prior managers or colleagues leave you a recommendation on your profile. i review this section regularly when sourcing for candidates.” - larisa milam, corporate recruiter

Discover your elevator pitch

I know this sounds cliche but… having a quick elevator pitch on who you are and what you do (or want to do) helps your profile acquire the attention it deserves. Some of you might be thinking... “well, what’s an elevator pitch?”. An elevator pitch is a quick sales pitch of a product or person (in this case, yourself). Imagine you’re in a hotel elevator with the CEo of your dream company… what would you tell them? On your linkedin profile, I would write out 2-3 sentences in your “about” section.

make sure you include:

1. Who you are

2. what you do (or what you want to do if you don’t have experience)

3. a fun fact or something that makes you interesting

my example:

1. a design-centric product leader that believes in building products with empathy.

2. I’m currently working for an ai company that improves talent acquisition for fortune 500 companies through artificial intelligence. I’m passionate about creating thoughtful user experiences, aligning technology with business strategy, while conducting metrics-driven research to measure the success of products.

3. On the weekends, you can catch me practicing yoga or working on the millennial professional. I’ve developed the millennial professional to provide women with the tools and resources to become the next generation of business leaders.

Take a few minutes to jot down some notes following this structure. Feel free to add yours in the “comments” section for feedback or guidance. :)

Your experience tells a story

Your experience tells a unique story of how you’ve gotten to where you are… and gives companies insight into how you could be a good fit for their organization. Recruiters can filter through years of experience with their sourcing tools and you could easily be filtered out if your experience isn’t up-to-date. When i was a sophomore in college (first setting up my account) and didn’t have much professional experience, i included my high school tutoring jobs and extracurricular activities (clubs/organizations). Once i started to get internship experience, my experience section started to grow. if you’re in college, start applying to internships to build up your profile. internship experience will ultimately help in your search for a full-time career after graduation. if you’re a recent grad with little to no experience, no worries… look at certifications or entry-level positions that could help you tell your story in an interview or on your profile.

“LinkedIn gives an opportunity for you to stand out, build connections, and differentiate yourself amongst other talent. A Linkedin profile tells us more than a resume can, e.g., successes, career development and highlights, promotions, employee/ manager referrals. As a recruiter, I ALWAYS look at LinkedIn profiles, more often than not, they determine whether I want to engage with a candidate. Use this to your advantage, a intro message or even thank you note on LinkedIn could really go a long way!” - diana nichols, talent specialist

so how do you write your experience in a way that tells a story, is easy to follow, and attracts recruiters to your profile?

Some key tips:

1. add an accurate timeframe of when you started and when you left

2. add 2-4 bullet points of what you do while using “buzzword” verbs and adjectives (“buzzwords” make you searchable)

   • verbs: implemented, supported, led, created, developed, manages, monitors, marketed

   • adjectives: strategic, creative, forward-thinking, innovative, problem-solver

3. if it’s a current job, use present tense and if it’s a past job, use past tense

   • Current job example: manages, leads, creates

   • Past job example: managed, led, created

my example (current full-time job):

• leads a team of designers and product managers to develop new software features and product lines in the recruiting industry

• Consults with enterprise clients directly to determine how Olivia (our product) can help innovate their digital transformative initiatives while understanding the technical design requirements

• works with sales, solutions, and engineering to develop simple, scalable, and innovative products

• manages discussions and requirements of API integrations for clients with multiple technology vendors to create a seamless candidate and recruiter experience

my example (internship):

• worked closely with the director of product and ceo to finalize product designs, define the yearly product roadmap, discuss software metrics and develop strategies

• developed detailed product user stories, product requirements, and software designs in Sketch, photoshop, and adobe experience to convey design concepts

• conducted metrics-driven experiments and research to better understand the user experience, defining clear initiatives to alleviate user pains

skills to help you stand out

the skills section on your profile is an important tool and resource for companies to find you. if your new to linkedin, go endorse some of your friends and colleagues for their skills. linkedin makes it easy to add new skills to your profile. if you’re trying to find skill ideas, you can start by looking up common skillsets for your major, interests, job title, or industry.

Common skills by major/focus:

• marketing - digital media, online marketing, market research, content strategy, SEO, social media, public relations

• sales - leadership, people management, communication, storytelling, negotiation, time management, buyer research

• design - photoshop, figma, sketch, indesign, wireframing, user research, user experience, usability testing, analytical skills

• product - product management, design-thinking, leadership, product lifecycle management, marketing, product development, user stories

• software engineering - mobile development, web architecture and development framework, Javascript, HTML, css, python, (any coding language)

make it personalized

you’re going to want your linkedin to stand out in a different way than some of your everyday social media apps. for your profile picture, consider a lit up room/setting, a headshot where you can see your face, and a simple background. it’s also important to include your job title, industry, or your college major in your “headline”. this headline appears to your connections or people that are looking at your profile - it’s their first impression of who you are and what you do. the recommendation feature is another great way for you to stand out to recruiters. I have given past colleagues recommendations on their profile, then asked them to return a rec in return.

profile pic tips:

• a lit-up setting, your face is clearly shown, a simple background, preferably headshot

headline tips:

• job title + company, student + school, major + school, industry + job title

be authentic:

• add a skill or some personal accomplishment you’re proud of (marathon finisher, personal certificate, website/portfolio)

okay, now your turn!

try out some of these tips and let me know if you have any questions - feel free to ask questions in the comments section below.

overall, be yourself and be proud of your accomplishments. i know it’s a difficult job market and I hope some of these tips help you in your job search or when you’re looking for your next opportunity. :)