12 Key Updates to Your LinkedIn Profile

12 Key Updates to Your LinkedIn Profile 12 Key Updates to Your LinkedIn Profile 2As LinkedIn is one of the biggest and most utilized professional tools, keeping your profile up to date and relevant is essential. The millions of users, including recruiters, are constantly searching and viewing profiles to expand their network, as well as seek out professionals for open jobs. Since LinkedIn is such a great personal branding tool, making updates to your LinkedIn profile is important to keep your profile searchable in Google and interesting and engaging to catch a recruiter’s eye. If you are making updates to your LinkedIn profile for the new year, consider the below tips. Here are 12 key updates to your LinkedIn profile: Update your photo. The first thing many people see on any social media is a persons profile picture. If you have been using the same picture for years, the beginning of the year is a great time to update it. With job searching coming back strong in January, getting a new professional photo can help catch the attention of busy recruiters. Refresh experience. There is no doubt that over the past year you have gained professional experience and skills. Use the new year to update your skills lists and your professional experience. Or, if you have much of this already updated, consider filling in some of the finer details like exact dates and titles. Add recent accomplishments, honors, and awards. Perhaps you recently landed a huge client at your current job, or a yearlong project was completed. Adding accomplishments, honors, and awards is a great way to elevate your profile, as well as showcase some of your best professional successes to those viewing your profile. Update volunteer work. Many people use volunteering not only to give back to society, but also to gain skills and experience in interesting and new roles. Don’t skip adding your volunteer work to LinkedIn. Volunteering will not only speak of your character, but help to fill in gaps in employment and showcase your desire to develop personally and professionally. Add a website. While not everyone is going to have an outside website, if you do, make sure to add it to your profile. Adding a website is particularly important for those in professions where portfolios and work samples are highly desired, such as freelancers. Join groups and be active. Updates to your LinkedIn profile will only go so far if you don’t use it. Join interesting and professionally related LinkedIn groups as a way to connect with others and learn more about your current or desired industry. Remember to remain semi-active in these groups by interacting with others and starting discussions. Make your headline stand out. Other than your profile picture, your headline is going to be what the world sees when they find your profile. Make it count! Although short, you can create a headline that summarizes your personal brand. Seek recommendations and endorsements. This doesn’t mean to reach out and contact everyone you know for a recommendation or endorsement on LinkedIn. Ask people you have worked with recently or who have offered up recent praise specific to your work. Asking for a recommendation or endorsement is similar to asking for a letter of reference but on a digital platform. Make use of the summary space. When crafting your summary, try to keep in under two or three paragraphs. Use this space to communicate your experience and skills, as well as your professional goals and aspirations. Make it relevant to professional readers. Add numbers. If your profile is already up to date, consider adding numbers to quantify your experience. Providing numbers gives a concise snapshot of your professional achievements and exactly what you can do in relation to a companys organizational needs. Follow new people and employers. To maximize LinkedIn, consider following your dream employers and influential people in your industry. Not only will it help you stay current on news and trends, it is another fantastic way of connecting with others who are interested in the same areas that you are. Clean it up. Last, but certainly not least, clean your profile of any old information or data you may have forgotten about. If there are irrelevant skills, experience, buzzwords, or groups, consider removing them to provide viewers with a clean and relevant snapshot of who you are. Readers, what updates to your LinkedIn profile will you make? Share your tips with us below!