Thursday, November 17, 2022

 Seven LinkedIn mistakes to avoid

 

Jay was a career counselling client yesterday, and he had never used LinkedIn before. For a very long time, Baby Boomers have frequently disregarded this platform. Jay and many others have recently come to the realisation that setting up a profile on LinkedIn and using it to network, look for jobs, or locate new clients can have positive results. Sadly, learning how to increase your visibility on LinkedIn is not a simple process. The following seven errors are ones you should try to avoid making or fix if you do.

 

Mistake 1: Don't have a complete profile. You must have a complete profile if you want to be found on LinkedIn. That indicates that all required fields have been correctly filled out. No area is disregarded.

 

Mistake 2: Lack of specific or recent work experience. Many people's work experience sections are really short. Just the job title, employer name, and dates of employment are listed. Some of them could have incredibly extensive or vague job descriptions. Another error individuals make is describing what their business does but not what they do. A key section is the job history. It's frequently subjected to rigorous screening by recruiters hoping to snare an employer and pique your interest in one of their employment openings.

Therefore, you should highlight a couple of your most significant achievements and results from that employment in the Experience section. More important positions recently than those you held 15 or more years ago.

 

Mistake 3: A weak headline. People may not realise how crucial it is to use compelling keywords for their headlines. Many claim they were unaware that they could or ought to modify the headline. LinkedIn automatically builds your headline when you search for yourself, just giving your current work title. The job titles in the headline must reflect the positions you have held or desire to hold. Additionally, if you wish to draw emphasis to a specialty or certification, such as eCommerce specialist or Scrum Master, you can do so.

 

Mistake 4: Ignoring LinkedIn activity. LinkedIn's algorithm will reward you more favourably the more posts you make there. Remember that blogging is different from leaving a remark or like something. Posting involves publishing original information, polling your network, posing a query, or sharing an article you believe will be helpful to other connections. According to LinkedIn, posting once per day, five days per week, will significantly improve the amount of individuals who view your profile. Finding anything to post about, though, might be challenging five days a week. Posting once every week is a better strategy. Mention corporate news or discuss concerns facing the sector.

The sharing of a pertinent article you read is then made simpler and more feasible. You can quickly find items by scanning your phone's news stream. Finding items on a news aggregator like the Flipboard app is a fantastic additional choice. With this software, you may personalise the magazine-style material that you view. By choosing the subjects you wish to read about, you may tailor the articles you receive. You can then quickly locate one to share. The main benefit is that uploading an existing article takes just a few minutes and is faster than developing new content.

 

Mistake 5: The "About" section doesn't really reflect who you are. This is not the place to write about your business or paste a list of your main competencies. But a lot of people do it. To succinctly express your experience, use the first line. Then it's time to talk privately. There are other sources for skills and work experience. Use this space, according to LinkedIn, to express your individuality. Everything else in this sentence is written in the first person to achieve that. Talk about your reasons for liking your career and the aspects of your line of work that are most significant to you. Mention what kind of boss you are. Write it in a nice tone and keep the information personal. Don't hide personal information like being married, having three children, etc. A few people also include their personal interests, like that they are Seahawks fans. Non-job-related interests don't enhance your profile, so think twice before making them a focal point.

 

Mistake 6: You don't have many relationships. The number of connections you have affects how visible you are on this site. People with fewer than 75 connections are in a terrible position. LinkedIn advises having between 300 and 500 contacts for a strong network. Make an effort to contact friends, coworkers, former coworkers, old bosses, and others. The first thing you should do is expand your network.

Mistake 7: Bad photo. The unflattering photo that many people select to represent themselves on LinkedIn should humiliate them. This represents your unique brand. When you use a bad photo, you are not presenting yourself in the best possible way. Avoid utilising images that are obviously taken from a party, wedding, family gathering, or other informal occasion. Nothing is more crucial than displaying a headshot with a polished appearance and a smiling, amiable face. No requirement for a pro photographer is here. Using your cell phone, you can take pictures of good enough quality.

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