19 Essential LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job Seekers

19 Essential LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job landseekers19 Essential LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job SeekersIf you are thinking about using LinkedIn to search for a job, make aya that your profile represents you in the best way possible.By learning these 19 essential LinkedIn profile tips you are guaranteed to get noticed and increase profile views.1. Start with a catchy headlineYour headline is the fruchtwein visible piece of information to recruiters and hiring managers which is why this is LinkedIn Profile tip 1.Instead of writing your current job title and company, make sure that you mention the schrift of job you are looking for and what you bring to the table.Here are a couple of examplesSales professional who has literally sold ice to an Eskimo.Organized executive assistant specializing in making your life easier.Author/Writer specializing in LinkedIn tips for job seekersFor more on LinkedIn headlines, check outLinkedIn Headline Ideas That Dont Suck.2. Broaden your locationDo you live in a smaller town next to a large city that you are willing to work in?If so, make sure that you put the closest large city in your location so that you will be easier to find.Thiswill make it easier for job recruiters and hiring managers to find you.3. Add a relevant industryHaving a relevant industry will help recruiters find your LinkedIn profile much easier.4. Customize your internetadresseThis LinkedIn profile tip is often times overlooked for years.Who wants a link with a bunch of random numbers next to your name?Customizing your URL not only give your profile a cleaner look, it will also help you stand out from the pack.If you havent already, select Profile and click the little gear/cog next to your Profile URL under your picture (do this on a desktop).This will take you to a page wzu siche you can customize your URL on the upper right-hand side.Edit your URL so that it is (linkedin.com/yourname).5. Select a professional photoMake sure that your profile photo represents you in a professional manner.Smile, face the cameraand try to dress nicely.Take a look at profile photos of others in your industry and see exactly how they are presenting themselves.See 5 Tips For a Perfect LinkedIn Profile Photo.6. Add the hintergrund photoA background photo is always a nice touch for your profile.It adds an additional piece of personality and excitement to your professional LinkedIn profile.Recruiters and hiring managers will appreciate you making an effort in your online presence.7. Spice up your summaryThis is your opportunity to show who you really are.It also happens to be one of the most important LinkedIn profile tips of all.The summary is a great section to show off the achievements ofany relevant, industry-specificwork experiences you have.This is also a great section for you to add some personality.Do not be afraid to speak in the first person and speak directly to the hiring manager/recruiter reading your summary.Your summary should be tailored towards your target audience while telling a story about yourself, your experiences, skills, and achievements.An ideal summary is 3-5 short paragraphs.The summary is agood placeto include your contact info.8. Use relevant experienceA common mistake that job seekers make is putting too much information on their profile.Make sure that if you are applying for an engineering position you remove your babysitting experience.If you have no relevant work experience, some things you can consider including areRelevantprojectsVolunteerworkexperiences that relate to whatever field you are trying to get intoA recruiter should be able to skim through your LinkedIn and know exactly what you are looking for without being confused by unrelated work experience.9. Add a current job even when youre unemployedIf youre unemployed and your LinkedIn is showing that you have no current job it will be a lot harder for a recruiter to find you.LinkedIn offers a filter when searching for people with the option to look for current, past, or current and past professionals in a given industry.In buchen to save a ton of time, recruiters typically look for current employees.A LinkedIn profile tip to help you get noticed is to add your desired job title such as Executive Assistant or Sales Professional followed by Seeking Opportunities or In Transition in the Company Name box.10. School, work, or projectsSome of you mighthave little to no work experience.In this case, it is extremely important to make up for this with any school or personal projects that relate to your desired job.Just because you have no work experience doesnt mean you dont have any experience to show off.11. Utilize volunteer experienceSome studies show that people who have volunteer experience on his/her LinkedIn profile are 20% more likely to get hired than those who dont.I cant speak to the validity of that statistic, but it definitely cant hurt to add volunteer work if you have it.Volunteer work adds experience and shows a willin gness to work with others in order to contribute to the community.12. Add multimediaThis LinkedIn profile tip is sure to add some color and style to your profile, making it more enjoyable to look at.Many people fail to utilize the multimedia feature on the LinkedInprofile.Take a look at the profile of someone with multimedia under his or her summary and work experiences and compare it to someone who doesnt.Multimedia can spice up your profile by adding images and showcase some of your work.Add photos, videos, links, and slideshows to your profile.If you dont have any work to show off, just try adding the URL to your company website.13. Strategic skills onlyA common mistake that job seekers make on their LinkedIn is adding way too many skills.Do you really expect a recruiter to believe you have all of those skills?And even if they did, are ALL of them relevant to the type of job you are looking for?Make sure to be strategic with the skills you add.The more skills you add, the fewer e ndorsements you will get on each skill.Start with 10-20 relevant skills and work your way up.14. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)The skills you add to your profile also play a factor in SEO.But they are not the only things playing a factor.Make sure to review your LinkedIn profile at the end of this article and add any relevant keywords that you think an employer will be usingto find someone for the job.This particular Linkedin profile tip is also very usefulforyour resume.For information on how to use SEO in your resume, read How To Use Resume Keywords When Applying ForJobs.15. Add contact infoThis seems obvious but surprisingly is overlooked a lot.Add your contact info to your profile so that the recruiter can get ahold of you16. Join relevant groupsBy joining groups you will increase your chances of finding someone, or someone finding you for a job.Of course, you will want to be strategic about the groups you join.Join industry-specificgroups and begin networking with other profe ssionals in your desired role.You might even run into someone thatcan offer you some additional LinkedIn profile tips that we havent mentioned.17. Add interestsAdding interests to your LinkedIn profile allows your viewer to learn a little bit more about you.Who knows, maybe a common interest that you have with the hiring manager will be the little extra push he needed to give you a call.18. Network within your desired industryGroups arent the only way to meet industry-specific people.Once your profile is completed dont be afraid to search LinkedIn for people in your desired industry.Use the search bar at the top to type in your desired job title or industry and then add a filter to view only your second-degree connections.These people have the best chance of accepting your invite since you already have a mutual friend in common.For the inside storyonhow one LinkedIn member went from 100 to 15,000 connections without paying a penny, check out LinkedIn Networking Tips for Job Seekers. 19. LinkedIn profile tips for jobseekers summaryAt the end of the day, creating a high-value LinkedIn profile is not easy.There are professionals out there who do this for a living.If you are interested in finding a company to do the work for you, check out our list of the Best LinkedIn Profile Writing Services in America.19 Essential LinkedIn Profile Tips for Job SeekersIf you are thinking about using LinkedIn to search for a job, make sure that your profile represents you in the best way possible.By learning these 19 essential LinkedIn profile tips you are guaranteed to get noticed and increase profile views.1. Start with a catchy headlineYour headline is the most visible piece of information to recruiters and hiring managers which is why this is LinkedIn Profile tip 1.Instead of writing your current job title and company, make sure that you mention the type of job you are looking for and what you bring to the table.Here are a couple of examplesSales professional who has literally sold ice to an Eskimo.Organized executive assistant specializing in making your life easier.Author/Writer specializing in LinkedIn tips for job seekersFor more on LinkedIn headlines, check outLinkedIn Headline Ideas That Dont Suck.2. Broaden your locationDo you live in a smaller town next to a large city that you are willing to work in?If so, make sure that you put the closest large city in your location so that you will be easier to find.Thiswill make it easier for job recruiters and hiring managers to find you.3. Add a relevant industryHaving a relevant industry will help recruiters find your LinkedIn profile much easier.4. Customize your URLThis LinkedIn profile tip is often times overlooked for years.Who wants a URL with a bunch of random numbers next to your name?Customizing your URL not only give your profile a cleaner look, it will also help you stand out from the pack.If you havent already, select Profile and click the little gear/cog next to your Profile URL under your pic ture (do this on a desktop).This will take you to a page where you can customize your URL on the upper right-hand side.Edit your URL so that it is (linkedin.com/yourname).5. Select a professional photoMake sure that your profile photo represents you in a professional manner.Smile, face the cameraand try to dress nicely.Take a look at profile photos of others in your industry and see exactly how they are presenting themselves.See 5 Tips For a Perfect LinkedIn Profile Photo.6. Add the background photoA background photo is always a nice touch for your profile.It adds an additional piece of personality and excitement to your professional LinkedIn profile.Recruiters and hiring managers will appreciate you making an effort in your online presence.7. Spice up your summaryThis is your opportunity to show who you really are.It also happens to be one of the most important LinkedIn profile tips of all.The summary is a great section to show off the achievements ofany relevant, industry-specific work experiences you have.This is also a great section for you to add some personality.Do not be afraid to speak in the first person and speak directly to the hiring manager/recruiter reading your summary.Your summary should be tailored towards your target audience while telling a story about yourself, your experiences, skills, and achievements.An ideal summary is 3-5 short paragraphs.The summary is agood placeto include your contact info.8. Use relevant experienceA common mistake that job seekers make is putting too much information on their profile.Make sure that if you are applying for an engineering position you remove your babysitting experience.If you have no relevant work experience, some things you can consider including areRelevantprojectsVolunteerworkexperiences that relate to whatever field you are trying to get intoA recruiter should be able to skim through your LinkedIn and know exactly what you are looking for without being confused by unrelated work experience.9. Add a current job even when youre unemployedIf youre unemployed and your LinkedIn is showing that you have no current job it will be a lot harder for a recruiter to find you.LinkedIn offers a filter when searching for people with the option to look for current, past, or current and past professionals in a given industry.In order to save a ton of time, recruiters typically look for current employees.A LinkedIn profile tip to help you get noticed is to add your desired job title such as Executive Assistant or Sales Professional followed by Seeking Opportunities or In Transition in the Company Name box.10. School, work, or projectsSome of you mighthave little to no work experience.In this case, it is extremely important to make up for this with any school or personal projects that relate to your desired job.Just because you have no work experience doesnt mean you dont have any experience to show off.11. Utilize volunteer experienceSome studies show that people who have volunteer experience on his/her LinkedIn profile are 20% more likely to get hired than those who dont.I cant speak to the validity of that statistic, but it definitely cant hurt to add volunteer work if you have it.Volunteer work adds experience and shows a willingness to work with others in order to contribute to the community.12. Add multimediaThis LinkedIn profile tip is sure to add some color and style to your profile, making it more enjoyable to look at.Many people fail to utilize the multimedia feature on the LinkedInprofile.Take a look at the profile of someone with multimedia under his or her summary and work experiences and compare it to someone who doesnt.Multimedia can spice up your profile by adding images and showcase some of your work.Add photos, videos, links, and slideshows to your profile.If you dont have any work to show off, just try adding the URL to your company website.13. Strategic skills onlyA common mistake that job seekers make on their LinkedIn is adding way too many skills.D o you really expect a recruiter to believe you have all of those skills?And even if they did, are ALL of them relevant to the type of job you are looking for?Make sure to be strategic with the skills you add.The more skills you add, the fewer endorsements you will get on each skill.Start with 10-20 relevant skills and work your way up.14. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)The skills you add to your profile also play a factor in SEO.But they are not the only things playing a factor.Make sure to review your LinkedIn profile at the end of this article and add any relevant keywords that you think an employer will be usingto find someone for the job.This particular Linkedin profile tip is also very usefulforyour resume.For information on how to use SEO in your resume, read How To Use Resume Keywords When Applying ForJobs.15. Add contact infoThis seems obvious but surprisingly is overlooked a lot.Add your contact info to your profile so that the recruiter can get ahold of you16. Join releva nt groupsBy joining groups you will increase your chances of finding someone, or someone finding you for a job.Of course, you will want to be strategic about the groups you join.Join industry-specificgroups and begin networking with other professionals in your desired role.You might even run into someone thatcan offer you some additional LinkedIn profile tips that we havent mentioned.17. Add interestsAdding interests to your LinkedIn profile allows your viewer to learn a little bit more about you.Who knows, maybe a common interest that you have with the hiring manager will be the little extra push he needed to give you a call.18. Network within your desired industryGroups arent the only way to meet industry-specific people.Once your profile is completed dont be afraid to search LinkedIn for people in your desired industry.Use the search bar at the top to type in your desired job title or industry and then add a filter to view only your second-degree connections.These people have the best chance of accepting your invite since you already have a mutual friend in common.For the inside storyonhow one LinkedIn member went from 100 to 15,000 connections without paying a penny, check out LinkedIn Networking Tips for Job Seekers.19. LinkedIn profile tips for jobseekers summaryAt the end of the day, creating a high-value LinkedIn profile is not easy.There are professionals out there who do this for a living.If you are interested in finding a company to do the work for you, check out our list of the Best LinkedIn Profile Writing Services in America.

The Elevator Pitch When to Use it and Why

The Elevator Pitch When to Use it and WhyThe Elevator Pitch When to Use it and WhyAn elevator pitch is a way to help other people shortcut their thinking about you in a way that you guide and approve of. It allows them to understand whats important about you without knowing your life story.The key elements of an elevator pitch are brevity (can be delivered in the time it takes to change floors in an elevator), differentiation and promotion.Why is this so hard to do? It requires you to understand whats special about you, how others perceive that and how to communicate it.Lets break it down into baby steps in the context of a real example.1. What are you?If someone were to slap a label on your professional career, what would it be? Salesperson? Teacher? Project manager? Nurse? Its important to speak in language that others understand. Otherwise they wont remember what you do.Example I have done work in different niches throughout my career (Public Relations,marcom, copywriting, demand generation), but the broad label I would use to describe my career is marketing.2. What makes you different from all the other people with the same label?This doesnt mean that no one else in the world does what you do, but among people in the same occupation what makes you stand out? Another way to look at this is regardless of your profession, what things do you do well?Example I drive efficiency and process everywhere I go. I like to take on new challenges and different projects. Once they start moving smoothly I hand them off and move on.3. Why would this be interesting to someone else?People remember things that are personal to them or that they find interesting. Give people an idea of situations where you would be useful to help them visualize placing you either at their own company or someone elses. Speak to their need, not your own interest.Example Within the world of marketing, I can help people create new programs or refine programs they already have that arent running smo othly.4. Dont forget to tighten and refine.Now that you have the basic structure of your elevator pitch, spend some time tightening and refining it. Aim for a length of 50 words or something you can say in about 20 seconds. Differentiate between the written and verbal versions. Your written example might use higher-level language, whereas your verbal version should use short words and can be less formal.Written Example I excel in creating structure, process and program management for new or failing endeavors. If you are looking for someone to create a marketing program from scratch or troubleshoot and revamp a program that is underperforming, I can help you create order out of chaos.Verbal Example I am a marketing person who adds process and structure to new or failing programs. I can create marketing programs from scratch or revamp programs that arent performing well. When a company needs someone to create order out of chaos, Im the person they call.Once youve got your elevator pit ch down, practice it until you can recite it in your sleep. Then youll be ready when your moment comes.

How to go from successful to very successful (and why most people cant do it)

How to go from successful to very successful (and why most people cant do it)How to go from successful to very successful (and why most people cant do it)Success is an obsession.Many people want it more than anything else. And theyll sacrifice everything to have itwhich is often the cost of admission.But theres a problem. Sustaining success, and goingbeyondsuccess is nearly impossible for most people. Hence Greg McKeown, author ofEssentialism,questions, Why dont successful people and organizations automatically become very successful?McKeowns answer is succinctSuccess is a catalyst for failure.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBeing invisible is easy. When you make mistakes, youre the only one who notices. Even being the underdog is easy. If you fail, youre justified in doing so.But when the spotlight is on you, everyone is waiting for you to fail. The external pressure often beco mes too overpowering, smothering the values and vision it took to become successful in the first place.Which is why success is often a short-lived experience. People come and go. Very few remain on top for long. For example, only eight NFL gruppes have won the Super Bowlback-to-back. As 49ers coach, Bill Walsh has said,The toughest thing I ever had to do was get my team to overcome success disease.Winning a first Super Bowl, according to Walsh, is enormouslyeasierthan winning a second or third.This is true in all life domains. If you succeed in business, life doesnt get easier. It gets harder.Success Is Much Harder To Deal With ThanFailureNearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a mans character, give him power.Abraham LincolnFor most people, privilege is a poison.Once you succeed or have certain privileges (e.g., time, money, fame, accolades), one of two things happensYour focus shifts from the cause of your success to its effects. Rather than continuing to hone your craft, you indulge in the benefits of your prior success, which inevitably damages future performance. Hence the saying, Success skips a generation. The children of the successful dont learn the causes but only relish in the benefits.Or, you experience an intensification of internal pressure to keep succeeding. Many people cant handle this level of pressure and it often ends careers prematurely. Yet, this escalation of internal pressure is what prevents a person from being consumed by external noise (i.e., distraction) that come with success. As Robert Horry, former NBA player has said,Pressure can burst a pipe, or pressure can make a diamond.Internal, not external, pressure is what makes you successful. Increasing the pressure is what keeps you going.Success Vs. AchievementThe difference between success and achievement is subtle but crucial. Success is asubjective feelingabout how youre doing relative towhyyoure doing it. Achievement is an objective measure aboutwhatyouve actu ally done.Yet, success is far more important than achievement. Indeed, you could have all the achievements in the world and not be successful.You see this all the time, people who have many external indicators of success, yet inwardly, they are a wreck.Theyveschwefelyperit their why,and thus, no longer remember the reason they are pursuing their goals in the first place.What once was a genuine passion has now become a need for more external validation. An endless need to acquire and achieve more. Thus, rather than focusing onwhy,the focus becomes onwhatwill work, and doing as much of that as possible, most likely at the expense of your values.According to Seth Godin,Art is when a human being does something that might not workWhen youre focused onwhat,you only care if it works, you no longer knowwhyyoure doing it.Interestingly, many successful entrepreneurs admit to being happier before they were successful, back when their motivations were congruent with their values. Achievement po isoned them, and their motivation changed.When your motivation shifts from intrinsic to extrinsic, your performance naturally drops over the long-run. You may be able to sustain high performance for a while, often at great cost to your health, relationships, and finances.From Successful To Very SuccessfulSuccess is something you attract by the person you become.Jim RohnIf success is your primary objective, you probably wont get it. Chasing success is like chasing happiness. You cant pursue it directly. Both success and happiness ensue from something far more fundamentalwho you are.Success comes from consistency to your vision and values. Although difficult because of the added noise that comes from achievement, becoming very successful requires remaining consistent to your vision and valueswho you are.When you stay consistent and true, youll continue to hone your craft, even after you become world-class.Youll say no to all of the distractions that come your way, no matter how entici ng they are.You wont let your selbst inflate and forget who you really are. You wont abandon your values and the most important people in your life.Dont forget your why. That may be the hardest thing you do as you seek to improve your life. AsRyan Holiday recently said of Tim Ferriss,He does what he does because he enjoys it, and hes compelled to create, experiment and improve because thats who he is. Tim is still Tim. Most people are made worse by success, and thats a shame. It has suited Tim well and thats a model I aspire to.How I Turned $25,000 Into $374,592 In Less Than 6MonthsIve created a free training that will teach you how to become world-class and successful at anything you choose.Access the free trainingherenowThis article first appeared on Medium.