5 Sections You MUST Fill In On Your LinkedIn Profile
Other than your name and contact information, the below 5 sections are essential if you want your LinkedIn profile to be taken seriously.
1. Summary
This is where you can give a quick overview of who you are and what you do. Keep it short, snappy, and add in any other content you feel is relevant- For example, if you have your own website adding a link to it is certainly advisable, and likewise if you work in film, uploading a short video of your work will help demonstrate your capabilities immediately.
2. Experience
This is where you can highlight all of your past experience. Whilst you are not confined to paper like a CV, it still makes sense to keep each job role description short to avoid overloading people with information.
You also have the option to add links, videos, presentations and documents- Only include the ones you are most proud of, and do not include them in all of your past roles as it will make your profile huge.
3. Volunteer
Volunteering can help yourself stand out from the swathes of other professionals in your sector by highlighting what makes you a more well-rounded human being, as well as highlighting skills and personality traits in a more convincing way than your paid work. Whether it is volunteering at a homeless shelter (helping others), running a marathon for a charity (goal- orientated, determined) or volunteering on a helpline (calm under pressure, good phone manner, compassionate), this is a section to add extra depth to your personal profile.
You can also spell out what you are passionate about when it comes to volunteering work by adding in the ‘causes you care about’ and ‘organisations you support’.
4. Education
It’s important to add in your education as many employers require a certain level of qualifications when hiring for a role, and if they’re searching LinkedIn for a new candidate, this is a quick way to make sure you meet those expectations. If it’s relevant to your industry, do make sure to add extra information about what you did whilst studying eg. the subject of your dissertation.
5. Skills and Endorsements
One of the big differences between a hard copy CV and LinkedIn is the skills and endorsements section. You have the opportunity to highlight all of your skills and ask others to endorse you for them. Not only is this a great way of having others verify your abilities, but other LinkedIn users can search your specific skills- So do make sure you add all the skills you believe you possess.
There are other sections on a LinkedIn profile but the above are the key components to getting your profile up to date. Check back for more LinkedIn profile tips.