Signing up for a LinkedIn Profile requires only a few simple pieces of information. However, the more complete your profile is, the more opportunities will likely open up for you.
According to LinkedIn, a “100% complete profile” includes the following items:
- Industry and postal code
- A current position with description
- Two more positions
- Education
- At least 5 skills
- Profile photo
- At least 50 connections
- A summary
In this article, we’ll discuss 3 of these items that will be valuable additions toward a more complete profile.
Add at least three positions with descriptions
Likely one of the first things you’ll do is add your current position. If you’ve gotten that far, you’re off to a great start. But having a more complete employment history provide several benefits for you:
- Connect with past co-workers – Adding employment history with past employers will allow you to reconnect with past co-workers, potentially opening the door for networking opportunities, partnerships with your current employer or simply reconnecting with an old friend.
- Demonstrate experience – By adding multiple work experiences, you’re demonstrating your experience with different employers in different positions with different job roles. You may also be able to show career progression as you move from one position to another.
Add previous education
Just as adding employment history gives you the ability to re-connect with past colleagues, adding education history allows you to reconnect with former classmates. It also shows relevant education as it pertains to your job or career.
- Add relevant coursework – Be sure to add your concentration/major if you’re adding a post-secondary education, but also include any relevant coursework to assemble a thorough education history.
- Add activities and societies – This is another easy way to connect with people of similar backgrounds. You may find that you have a closer connection with some of your existing business relationships through past activities or societies.
Add a summary
A summary acts as your personal branding boilerplate. If you were in an elevator with your dream employer (which may be your current employer) and had to summarize your career, experience and expertise on the way up, what would you say? Luckily here, you have more than an elevator ride’s amount of time to craft your summary.
- Think in keywords – What are they keywords that you want people to associate you with? If you’re a job seeker, you might use terms like “action-oriented” or “goals-driven.” If you’re looking to connect with other professionals in your industry, write in terms of tasks or responsibilities.
- Share relevant extracurriculars – Are you affiliated with an industry association? Do you volunteer with a prominent group that may boost your credentials? Be sure to add that here.
- Be concise – This isn’t the place to write your life story. Try to use short sentences, bulleted lists and no more than a paragraph or two.
