5 tips for creating a successful LinkedIn profile

First impressions matter: A good profile picture  

That beach photo you took on your holiday in Italy? Cute, but unless you’re a travel blogger, it’s a no-go for LinkedIn. Because it’s the first thing people notice, you want a high-quality photo where you can clearly see your face. No professional equipment is needed; just ask a friend to take a picture of you with a phone. Dress appropriately for your industry (or the industry you’re aiming for) and have a clean and uncluttered background. 

2. Show ‘em who you are: A clear headline 

Your headline is what’s going to attract people to your profile. Although many people write down their current role in the headline, you can also use it to showcase your ambitions, achievements, or your current role, for example. Some ideas: 

• Current role: Marketeer at The Green Company 
• Ambitions: On a mission to make the planet green again! 
• Job hunting: Creative Business alumnus looking for a new, green challenge! 

In the summary, shown at the top of your profile, you can share some more info about yourself. Make it short, catchy, and easy to read. If you find it difficult to write a professional summary about yourself, ask a friend to write the first version for you or look at others within your field.  

3. Show ‘em what you got: Your professional experience 

Add relevant work experience and include your accomplishments and responsibilities. Think of it like this: a recruiter who visits your profile probably doesn’t know the small start-up you worked for. So, give them some short information that paints a clearer picture of your experience. An example: 

The Green Company is on a mission to re-green the planet by planting a tree for every product sold. As a marketeer, I was responsible for: 

• Email marketing, growing our database by 200% in the first year 
• Social media management and content creation, creating a steady engagement rate of 5% 
• Partnerships, expanding our reach through collaborations with like-minded people and organizations. 

4. Never stop learning: Your education 

Highlight your educational background, including relevant coursework, projects, and achievements. Did you do any courses that were not affiliated with your degree, but can be relevant to your career path? Add them as well! 

Have you done any interesting projects? Written an extraordinary essay? These are things you can include and show your dedication to learning more about and exploring certain subjects. 

5. Join the conversation: Share and engage 

Actively engaging with content within your industry shows your interest in certain topics. Share relevant articles, comment on posts, and join interesting LinkedIn groups. This way, you’ll build your network and connect with like-minded professionals. 

Hopefully, these tips help you to get started with your LinkedIn profile. Remember, you can always change, add, or remove things if your ambitions change. Good luck!