9 LinkedIn profile creation tips to make it stand out

LinkedIn can be an indispensable branding tool to showcase your work and to connect with others, but many academics don’t know how to make the most of this tool.

If you’re looking to land your next opportunity and connect with others in the academic field, here are the best LinkedIn profile creation tips to apply.

Headline

The headline is the one area of information people read. Make sure the headline clarifies what you do and is customized for the jobs you are looking for. Do keyword research to ensure you are using words that help searchers find you.

Headshot

Use a friendly, headshot where you look your professional best. Don’t skip the photo! A headshot lets people know they have the right person when they’re trying to connect.

About Section

Use the About section to highlight your experience and character. LinkedIn is not a regurgitation of your CV. Instead, it’s an opportunity to bring your CV, skills, and accomplishments to life. So, when you start the LinkedIn profile creation, think of it as having a conversation with someone at a networking event. If you’re job hunting, this section is an excellent place to add industry and position-focused keywords.

Featured Section

You can add links to your personal academic website, faculty profile, videos, and a link to your CV in a cloud service. Take advantage of this section to highlight and share your work.

Experience Section

Add detailed descriptions for each job you have or have had. These descriptions boost searchability and keyword score. Write concise points about your accomplishments and results for each position using action verbs like you would for a resume.

Set-up Job Notifications

To create a job alert, search for a job on LinkedIn. Then, switch the Job Alert toggle to on. You can specify how often you would like to receive alerts and create alerts for different job titles and positions.

Start Connecting, Creating, and Sharing

Social networking is intended to be social! Create original posts that add value to your network by sharing beneficial information. Share photos of events, industry news, and information about your organization. Use a balance of relevant and popular hashtags with your posts. Hashtags help people find your content when doing searches.

Be consistent with posting and sharing. LinkedIn doesn’t require daily posts the way other social media platforms demand. If you’re job searching or promoting your brand, consistent posts, shares, and interactions keep you in your network’s feeds.

Join LinkedIn Groups

Groups connect you with people in specific industries and organizations. Groups are hubs to share content, grow your network and connections, and help establish you and your personal brand as a thought leader.

Make Adjustments

Social media profiles are not once-and-done. Constantly update your profile with new classes, experiences, and publications. If you’re looking for new opportunities, adjust to fit the job you’re looking for instead of reflecting on the jobs of your past.

Are you looking for support in optimizing your LinkedIn profile as part of your job search? Check out our LinkedIn profile creation service on thebabbgroup.com