Curate your LinkedIn profile

When updating your CV and portfolio don’t forget about your LinkedIn profile. A gap that I often see are profiles out of date or missing information - it’s such a missed opportunity. Often your LinkedIn profile is the first impression others see of you, especially recruiters looking to fill roles. The profile is a way to showcase yourself in a richer way that  your portfolio and CV doesn’t. Through your profile you can see recommendations, collaborations with others and who you’re connected to. 

Profile photo

After your name, your profile picture is one of the first things that people see, especially if they search for you. Personally I think the picture should be a clear and recent one, that looks like you, so that when someone sees you in person they know it’s you. The piece of advice I would give is to think about the kind of vibe you want to give off, and to make sure that it’s consistent with your personal branding.

Headline

Your headline is seen next to your profile photo and is equally as important. You want to make sure that this communicates what your role and what you specialise in. This is especially important for you to stand out when recruiters are searching through profiles. 

Cover image 

The cover image is a good opportunity to highlight your brand and what you do further. If you’ve previously spoken at an event the cover image is a good opportunity to highlight that.  

Featured posts 

There are things that might not fit into your portfolio or CV and The featured section is a great way to highlight key projects, posts and events. I’ve used it to highlight: articles I’ve contributed too, talks I’ve done... I’ve seen others use it to highlight their podcasts, courses and so much more. It’s an area that can be treated as a mini-portfolio and is quite customisable. 

Recommendations 

Make sure you have recommendations from people you’ve worked with previously and currently. It is a good social proof of how you are as an employee. Ensure when getting recommendations that you tell them to highlight certain areas, you can then use that on your CV or portfolio. 

LinkedIn is a powerful tool in your personal branding arsenal and if used correctly you can make it work for you.