11 Tips for Customizing Your Linkedin Profile

LinkedIn's popularity is growing among Generation Z, and this is causing a wave of envy and fear of missing out on some college and university students. They worry about falling behind other applicants for a new job.

"Viewing other people's LinkedIn makes me nervous," says Nick Saunders, a sophomore in the Department of Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University.

Using LinkedIn properly is essential as more recruiters turn to the platform to find potential employees amid huge job market turmoil. The number of new employees hired through LinkedIn more than doubled last quarter compared to the previous year, according to parent company Microsoft. Below are some tips for job seekers to make their profiles stand out from the rest.

What Applicants Can Do

Consultants recommend not worrying too much about connections or work experience. Employers don't expect to have a lot of this or that. There are other ways to stand out:

Include a profile photo and background photo

This is one of the most important things anyone can do. According to Ada Yu, Director of Product Management at LinkedIn, having a photo makes a candidate's profile 21 times more likely to be viewed.

A creative background photo will help you stand out. Consulting company Social Assurity helps job seekers create digital portfolios for college admissions and job hunting. Company CEO Alan Katzman advises students to choose a background image that suits their interests.

Consider a profile video

LinkedIn's new feature allows people to upload a short video. Viewers hover over a profile photo to view it. It's a way to show your personality. Videos should be professional, short and to the point.

Highlight Social Skills

Skills such as time management and communication are becoming increasingly important for employers. Therefore, applicants should focus on them.

Use keywords

Words that appear under the name and elsewhere in the profile are indexed in platform search and external search engines. So include keywords about the skills and interests that employers in your field are looking for. The more complete the profile, the more places to include keywords. It's helpful to read job descriptions and mention in-demand skills - provided you actually have them.

Write a short description

Five to seven sentences about yourself to a potential employer you've never met.

"Instead of talking about resumes, I want them to talk about what they've learned about themselves," advises Alan Katzman. "It could be volunteering, sports or taking care of the family."

Enable "Open for Work"

During the pandemic, LinkedIn created a feature for people who are actively looking for work. Once enabled, your profile photo will have a border that says #OpenToWork.

The probability of receiving messages from recruiters for such applicants is 40% higher.

Create Meaningful Connections

Quality is better than quantity. There are many groups on LinkedIn organized by interest: cinema, economics, and marketing... Job seekers can join them to connect with people who share similar interests.

Take advantage of the university's alumni network to find potential talent. Go to a university's LinkedIn page - New York University, for example - and search for alumni by position, keyword, or company.

Be individual

When sending messages to graduates or people working in companies of interest to you, take the time to write a personal letter and specify the reason for the appeal. The same goes for comments on posts. If you don't know the answer, ask a question.

Enter contact information

Teenagers and twenties are accustomed to communicating through direct messages, but not all employers do this. Don't rely solely on LinkedIn's internal messaging system. Add alternative ways of contact: phone, e-mail address.

Don't try to be funny

What's acceptable on social media with friends may not work on LinkedIn. Humor on the internet is very complex, especially in writing.

Get a second opinion

Before posting your profile on LinkedIn, ask experienced friends, parents, or recruiters you know to proofread it for helpful tips. The same goes for comments on posts.

"I would advise everyone to re-read what they write or consult with someone they trust if they are not sure what they plan to publish. There is no information on LinkedIn that disappears after 24 hours," Ada Yu said.

Based on materials Joseph Blumenthal BOCA RATON