Top Tips to Build Your LinkedIn Profile

Lori Almeida, Global Chief Talent Officer at Siegel + Gale, joined us to chat about building a personal brand on LinkedIn. Since then, we’ve been thinking about the best practices she shared and have been testing out some of our own that we think could change the game.

We get it, creating and curating your LinkedIn profile can be hard. I mean, what even is a headline? And how are you supposed to express yourself while also creating a professional persona online? 

Sometimes it may seem easier to forget using LinkedIn all together. However, it is one of the best tools you have to expand your network and advertise yourself. 

So here are some of our top tips to build out your LinkedIn profile!

1. I’m sorry. Do we know each other?

Making sure you have a photo of yourself on your profile is extremely important! It’s an easy way to make people feel like they’re seeing you and not just another anonymous internet user. A professional headshot is the perfect way to express yourself while also exuding professionalism. 

2. Congratulations on being a VCU student! …Just like thousands of other LinkedIn users.

While a lot of people just share their job title in their headline, it’s a missed opportunity to get more eyes on your profile! Adding keywords to your headline ensures that your profile will appear in more LinkedIn searches, especially for LinkedIn recruiters who use this feature when looking for potential employees.

3. To Whomever It Concerns,

All too often, we get caught up in trying to appear as “professional” as possible. In doing so, we forget to express who we are. When writing your headline, your summary, and even your experiences, make sure you’re sharing your story. People hire people they want to work with, not just whoever can do the job.

4. Sincerely, the most professional 20-something in RVA.

Don’t be afraid of sharing content you enjoy! Genuine connections aren’t made talking about your favorite way to sign off on emails, but talking about media you’re consuming, campaigns that are meaningful to you, and music you love. Just keep in mind that what you share is seen as an extension of yourself and your personal brand.

5. Is marching band in high school really your best accomplishment?

Make sure all the information on your profile is up to date and relevant to what you want to do in your career. You don’t want to miss out on potential opportunities because you didn’t list responsibilities you had or industries you’ve worked on during jobs. Having experience, especially unique experiences, can help you stand out in the application process and can become something to mention in interviews.