You’ve been hibernating on your job search all winter, but spring has finally arrived. While you’re not in a huge hurry to find a new opportunity, you want to make sure you don’t miss out if the right one comes along.
Giving your LinkedIn profile a little attention is a great way to get started. Here’s a look at a few quick updates that will make a difference.
4 Spring Cleaning Tips for Your LinkedIn Profile
Get a New Profile Photo
Your LinkedIn profile is the first impression you’ll make on many potential connections, so you want it to look good. If your profile photo is seriously old, blurry, or admittedly unprofessional, it’s time to change that.
If you have the budget, get professional headshots taken and upload one as your profile photo. However, there’s no need to worry if you don’t have the money for that right now. Simply put on professional attire and have someone take a picture of you standing in front of a plain white wall.
Customize Your URL
It only takes a minute, but creating your own unique URL for your LinkedIn profile will score you major points with potential employers. Taking this step makes your profile easier to find, adds credibility to your personal brand, and looks better on job applications.
Update your Headline
If you can’t remember what your LinkedIn headline says, it’s probably outdated. This is one of the first things new contacts will see on your profile, so it needs to sell your value, as well as perform well in searches.
Instead of simply listing your current job title and company, it’s best to take things up a notch by also including something that makes you unique, such as a measurable metric. For example, if you’re a customer service representative, you might include your customer satisfaction score or average resolution time on your headline.
Refresh Your Summary Section
Otherwise known as the “About” section, your LinkedIn summary is the space under your profile photo where you have 2,000 characters to sell yourself. Use this opportunity to walk readers through your career path, highlight your top achievements, discuss your current position, and/or offer a glimpse at your personality.
Ready to find a new job this spring? Wood Staff is here to connect you with top Northern Indiana/Southwestern Michigan employers. Contact us today to learn more!
