How Do I Setup My LinkedIn Profile?

So you’ve finished college and are ready to get your first real job. Or maybe you’re looking for a new one. Either way, it’s time to start building up your LinkedIn profile! The following steps will show you how to set up an account the right way so that all of your hard work can be put on display in order for potential employers to see what they’re getting when they hire you.

1. Choose a Professional Photo

A LinkedIn profile with an unprofessional or inappropriate photo is not going to help you on your job search. Always choose the best quality image of yourself that represents your personality and professional brand. You should always be smiling! This will show everyone how happy, friendly, and approachable you are in real life even if they never get to meet you. Remember, it’s okay to use a photo of yourself that is not your most recent one.

Your profile picture should be the same photo you are using on all other social media sites. This will ensure consistency across platforms and keep things simple for everyone! You want people who are viewing your LinkedIn page to know exactly who they are looking at even if they only see your picture on this one site.

To ensure you are using the best quality photo possible, have someone else take it for you or use a professional photographer to get headshots done if needed. Do not take selfies! This is exactly where consistent branding comes into play – do not mix yourself up with another image across the web that is not your own.

2. Add Your Contact Information

This is a must! You want people to be able to contact you, so please include your email address and phone number. This shows that you are open to communication from anyone who wants it which gives off a positive impression during the hiring process. LinkedIn allows users to choose whether or not they wish for their profile visitors to see this information as well. If you would like to keep your contact information private, simply uncheck the box that says “show” and all will be well!

Make sure this is accurate so people can trust it as a reliable source of where they should reach out for communication purposes. You may consider using an email address such as [email protected] or adding a contact number that has the same area code as you will be living in to ensure it is accurate for all who view your profile!

Always include both of your phone numbers – work and cell – so people have the best chance possible at reaching out to you directly, even if they cannot get through on one line. You never know when you may be out of the office and need to check your personal email for a job inquiry so it is best to always have options.

This information should also be found on all other social media profiles as well, especially if they are professional in nature such as LinkedIn or Twitter. Make sure this contact information is consistent across platforms! This will ensure you are easy to find for everyone who is looking.

It’s okay if the job being applied for does not require contact information! For instance, LinkedIn can be used as a resume or portfolio showcasing tool so this may not always be necessary depending on your profession and what you’re using it for. If that is the case (and only if that is the case), you may consider leaving this out of your profile.

It’s important to note that LinkedIn offers a premium upgrade for users who are looking to have more control over their privacy settings, which includes being able to limit what people can see in regards to contact information or even how much personal information they reveal about themselves.

LinkedIn allows the user to fill in their location under settings. This is another great section that should always have accurate information so employers can trust it as a reliable source of where they are located while networking on the platform. If you do not want your full address listed publicly then you can also keep this as private as you would like to.

You should check out LinkedIn’s help center for more thorough explanations of how your contact information is displayed and what it means if someone has the ability to see these things about you! This will ensure all of your bases are covered in regards to account privacy settings.

3. Include Your Education, Work Experience, and Skills

You will want to fill this information out in your profile! You can use LinkedIn’s “Summary” section for this. Make sure you are using keywords that employers may be searching for when combing through profiles. If they search by certain terms and yours pops up with those words included, it is more likely you will get viewed! This also helps you stand out over the other applicants.

This section can be expanded to include important details about your education, certifications (such as CPR or OSHA), languages spoken, and any skills that might make you a better candidate for the position like starting up projects on your own time or working with others in different environments. These things all show what you can bring to the table and should be included in your profile.

You may also want to include a section dedicated specifically to volunteer work or any other experience that doesn’t fall under either category! This shows you have passion for certain things outside of your career and allows potential employers another way to connect with who you are as a person. You never know what traits a company is looking for and this can be used as an opportunity to show them more of your personality.

Always make sure that any section you fill out on LinkedIn follows the same style with spacing, bolding or italicizing certain words, and adding in bullet points where necessary! This makes it much easier to read through all of the parts that are important to you and the employer as well.

It’s okay if your education or work history is not at an advanced level! That doesn’t mean it should be left out completely, either. You can include information about school projects you were involved with, any internships held throughout college (even those which weren’t paid), and jobs you held even if they were short-lived.

This information is useful for other people to see as well! If an employer comes across your profile and sees that you are looking to update or refine certain parts of it, this can really help them decide how to approach their communication with you. It shows that the applicant has a positive attitude towards their career and demonstrates their willingness to learn.

LinkedIn is a great platform for networking with others in the same industry or creating an online resume that can be accessible from anywhere! Make sure you fill out your profile in full and edit it regularly so you don’t miss any opportunities when they arise. Always double check everything before submitting, too! No one wants to miss out on a chance because of an error you could have fixed if another look was taken.

Make sure your LinkedIn account is up-to-date and professional! It’s the first impression many employers will see and it should reflect who you are as much as possible while also highlighting why they might want to hire you for their company.

4. Upload a Cover Letter

This letter should include details about why you want this job and how you can contribute to their company’s success. There are many online templates that can be used to create a cover letter tha is clean and easy to read. You should also include your contact information at the top of it, along with any other details you might want someone viewing it to know about who you are as an applicant (such as why they may not recognize your name or if this job was found through their own website).

5. Create An Online Resume

Resumes are very important for showing an employer what you can do and have done! List your most recent jobs at the top of it along with any volunteer or extracurricular experiences that are relevant to this particular position. Always make sure whatever resume you choose includes contact information, a summary about yourself, projects/accomplishments if applicable, education background (with GPA if you have it), and a list of references.

If an employer sees that you don’t have all the experience they are looking for, your resume can show them what skills or knowledge you do possess from previous roles! Even if some aspects don’t fit exactly with this new position, there will likely be other things on your resume which may catch their eye and encourage them to reach out.

Make sure that your resume is easy to read! Clean fonts, plenty of spacing between sections/bullet points, and logical formatting are all very important for this document. Always double check it before submitting it as well- no one wants an error causing their application to be thrown away because of something simple they could have fixed.

If your job history is quite long, consider condensing it down into one or two pages if possible! You never know what details an employer will be interested in seeing the most so you want to make sure that they are front and center on your resume without overwhelming them with too much information.

LinkedIn can help employers find your resume when they are searching for candidates! It also allows you to easily apply for different jobs without filling out the same information over and over again.

When it comes to posting a resume, make sure that all of your content is in full sentences rather than bullet points or numbers. If an employer wants someone with certain skills but doesn’t see them on your resume, it might be hard for them to take you seriously even if they are impressed with what else is included on there.

Ready to get your LinkedIn Profile created, but don’t have the time? Alpha Media Group offers LinkedIn Setup and Optimization! Give us a call today at 214-531-3979 or visit our website www.AlphaMedia.group

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