LinkedIn is the premier site to expand your professional network and explore career opportunities: a place for finding others and for getting found. You need to be found on LinkedIn in 2023 if you want to grow your career.
According to LinkedIn, 52 million people use the site to search for jobs each week. Eight people are hired every minute. So how do you maximize your LinkedIn profile and differentiate yourself so that you get noticed?
Here are 5 key ways to stand out on LinkedIn in 2023
1. Boost your Linkedin profile
The most important way to stand out on LinkedIn is with a comprehensive profile. Your LinkedIn profile is your story, and it’s important to tell it well.
A LinkedIn profile full of content allows you to capitalize on the platform’s search algorithm and appear higher in search results. It also enables you to paint a clear picture of who you are as a professional.
Where should you start?
Start with the right photo for your profile. LinkedIn profiles with photos are proven to get considerably more views.
It’s also important to check your settings to ensure your LinkedIn profile photo is visible to everyone.
The most effective LinkedIn photos are close-up headshots (head and shoulders), with good eye contact and a natural smile.
How formal should your LinkedIn profile picture be?
Deciding on how formal to be will depend on your industry.
A good rule of thumb is to dress for the job you want (not the one you have). So, if you’re currently working for a stuffy finance firm but looking to move into tech, it might make sense to ditch the suit and tie for a t-shirt.
It’s also vital that you choose a clear, high-resolution image and one that is reasonably up-to-date – you don’t want to give the interviewer a shock when they meet you!
What next?
Next, you need to work on your story and this starts with your LinkedIn Headline. You have 120 characters in the headline section on LinkedIn to describe yourself.
Think of the headline as the title of your story; it’s important to use all of this section to include keywords to describe your professional talent and stand out.
Recruiters and hiring managers use specific keywords to search for potential candidates for positions on LinkedIn.
By customizing your headline rather than defaulting to job title, you can convey the types of roles for which you’re qualified, and increase your chances of appearing in a search. Use the right keywords to showcase yourself.
2. Include a full summary of your talent on LinkedIn
LinkedIn gives you 2,600 characters in the summary section to share what you do or describe what opportunities you’re seeking.
This section is where you hook a recruiter or hiring manager with the persuasive story of your professional career. Write conversationally, and maximize the use of this section to tell your story.
The summary section is your chance to demonstrate your value and your personal brand. You should explain your qualifications and answer the fundamental questions: “Why me? So what?”
Reflect on your career and your achievements, and, ideally, highlight them with measurable or quantifiable statistics.
Also, include key skills in your summary section, so recruiters can see how your skills and qualifications align with potential positions.
3. Don’t overlook skills and accomplishments
The background, skills and accomplishments sections of your LinkedIn profile are there to share the substance of your professional career.
Work experience, education, and certifications all give recruiters and hiring managers the nuts and bolts of your professional experience.
What about your volunteer experience?
Even volunteer experience further adds to your compelling story by illustrating another aspect of your background — your commitment to your community or an important cause.
And when you list your accomplishments such as awards or publications, you build on your tale of why your talent can’t be overlooked.
Now add your skills
When adding skills, it’s important to use the same phrasing that a recruiter might be searching for. The easiest way to do this is to choose from LinkedIn’s pre-programmed skill list by beginning to type and then clicking on the prepopulated options.
Read: LinkedIn Skills – How & Why to Add Skills to Your LinkedIn Profile
4. Build a Strong Network
After you’ve crafted a rich and compelling story of your talent through a complete profile, use LinkedIn to grow and build your network.
The intrinsic value of LinkedIn is the network that you create and use to continue to grow professionally. Connect with peers, managers and customers/clients who have worked closely with you, so that they can give you recommendations and endorsements.
These accolades speak volumes about your ability to lead, execute work, take on challenges and work with others. They give additional credibility to your strengths and skills, and support the story you want to tell about your professional career.
Request and reciprocate!
The social equity you’ve built will reap rewards when you need it most.
5. Stay active on LinkedIn in 2023
LinkedIn is a dynamic snapshot of your professional life, constantly changing with new connections, updates and activity. By staying engaged and active on LinkedIn, you will be strongly positioned to stand out for potential opportunities.
When you engage on LinkedIn, through commenting, sharing or posting, you shape the perception of those who read your profile.
Your activity on the site also strengthens your credibility as a subject matter expert.
Spend time participating on LinkedIn to nurture your personal brand
- Regularly post relevant information to your feed
- Consistently seek out and add connection
- Leverage the tools available to you. LinkedIn’s search function can help you identify thought leaders, potential connections and companies of interest
You can even view the analytics of your activity on LinkedIn — your posts, shared content and published articles. This capability that LinkedIn offers enables you to gain valuable insight into your impact on your professional network.
Creating a strong profile, growing your network and remaining active on the platform is essential to standing out on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Take full advantage of all LinkedIn has to offer, and you’ll realize that the more effort you put in, the greater your return on investment.
