In today's competitive job market, it's super important to have a strong online presence to give their careers a boost. LinkedIn, often called the "professional Facebook," is a really valuable platform for networking, job hunting, and building your personal brand. In this post, we're going to guide you through the steps to create a really engaging LinkedIn profile.
The first step is to create a LinkedIn account if you don't already have one. Make sure you use an appropriate email address, not one from school that might raise questions, and choose a clear, high-quality profile picture. We recommend you go with something relaxed, warm and friendly - it doesn’t need to be super corporate!
The headline is one of the first things someone reads when looking at your profile. Make sure you use this space wisely by creating a concise, impactful headline that highlights your career aspirations and skills. For example, "Aspiring Graphic Designer with a Passion for Creative Storytelling.”
The summary section is an opportunity to showcase your personality, career goals, and values. It should be a concise and engaging narrative that tells a story. Focus on highlighting your unique strengths, aspirations, and what you can bring to the professional world. Remember, the summary is where you can let your personality shine.
Skills and endorsements are also a good addition to your LinkedIn profile. It would be great if you could include your core skills that are relevant to your chosen career path. Don't hesitate to reach out to lecturers, teachers, people you worked with during work experience or an internship, or mentors to kindly request endorsements, as this will greatly enhance the credibility of your profile.
LinkedIn is all about networking. To get started, make connections with your peers, lecturers, colleagues, and alumni. Having a strong network can open up a wide range of opportunities for you in the future. If you’re worried about sending connection requests (don’t be!), you can always “follow” people first to get a better feel for how people communicate on the platform. You can also search for hashtags to find people you don’t know who regularly post about certain topics that interest you.
Your feed will often include content from connections, people you follow, and their connections, so following people who talk about the industry you want to get into will help you get in the mindset of working in that industry. The platform will also make recommendations for people that talk about similar topics so make sure to keep connecting or following. If you do decide to make a connection request, always add a little note to explain your motivations.
Active participation on LinkedIn is key to success. Surprisingly, not many people post on the platform at all, but if you do, you will start to grow your own personal brand and generally the LinkedIn community is super friendly and supportive! Share relevant articles, comment on posts, and engage with the content of your connections. It’s a great way to express yourself and your interests and for prospective employers to get to know you in the application process.
Joining LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your career interests is a great way to connect with professionals who share similar interests and engage in meaningful discussions. This can provide you with valuable insights and networking opportunities, enhancing your professional growth and development.
To add a personal touch, customise your LinkedIn profile URL. It's easier to share a personalised link (linkedin.com/in/yourname) on a CV or in emails.
If you have completed noteworthy projects, internships, or have media showcasing your work, you should add them to their profile. Visual evidence of their skills and achievements can make a difference and brighten up your page.