Leveraging LinkedIn for Career Development

I’ve reviewed 1,000+ LinkedIn profiles over the past 5 years. Here are 8 tips to turn your LinkedIn profile into a job-generating machine: 1. Upgrade Your Profile Picture Like it or not, your profile picture is your first impression. Make it a good one: - Upload your PP to Photofeeler .com - Analyze the feedback - Reshoot/edit your picture based on the data Repeat until your scores are good! 2. Leverage Keywords The right keywords help you show up in more searches. Here's how to find them: - Find 5+ job descriptions for target roles - Paste them all into ResyMatch.io's JD scanner - Save the top 15 skills Weave them into the rest of your profile! 3. Write A Killer Headline I like to use this headline formula: [Keywords] | [Skills] | [Results-Focused Value Proposition] Example for a data scientist: Data Scientist | Python, R, Tableau | I Help Hospitals Use Big Data To Reduce Readmission Rates By 37% 4. Write A Killer About A great About section has 3 parts: - A short paragraph that speaks to your job, years of experience, and value prop. - Five "case study" bullets that showcase specific results. - Your email w/ a CTA for people to connect with you. Include keywords! 5. Leverage Your Featured Section It’s hard to convey your value on a resume or in an About section. This is your chance to show people what you’ve done on your terms. Include things like: - Case studies of your work - Content you’ve created - Posts you’ve written 6. Skills Matter LinkedIn uses profile Skills sections to rank candidates. Here’s how to boost your rank: - Add every keyword from your ResyMatch scan - Choose the top 5 most relevant skills - Ask colleagues, friends, family, & classmates for endorsements (aim for 5) 7. Engage & Support Others Comments can generate tons of profile views! Here’s how: - Find 10+ thought leaders in your target space - Bookmark their post feed - Check their feeds daily - Leave a supportive, valuable comment on each new post Repeat for a minimum of 30 days 8. Create Content! Content is networking at scale. One post can reach more people than your entire connection base. It also allows you to showcase value in your own words, on your own terms. It can feel scary, but only 1% of people do it—and the returns are huge.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗠 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿. 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸. That it was only for extroverts, salespeople, or those who knew the “right” people. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The truth? LinkedIn changed my career more than any job board ever could. From landing internships to publishing research and breaking into power & energy, the biggest opportunities in my career didn’t come from job boards—they came from building the right connections. Yet, so many professionals hesitate to network strategically because they: * Feel awkward reaching out to strangers * Don’t know what to say in a cold DM * Fear getting ignored or rejected I get it—I used to be the same way. But once I started using LinkedIn the right way, I landed mentors, internships, and research opportunities that shaped my entire career. Here’s How You Can Do It Today: ✅ 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 * Look for professionals in your target field (engineers, hiring managers, senior leaders). * Use LinkedIn’s “People Also Viewed” section to find similar profiles. * Join industry groups to see who’s actively sharing insights. ✅ 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 Forget “Hi, can I pick your brain?” That doesn’t work. Instead, try this: 💡 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗠 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: “Hi [Name], I came across your profile while learning about [topic]. I admire your work on [specific project]. I’d love to hear your thoughts on [question]. Would you be open to a quick chat?” ✅ 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗗𝗠 * Like and comment on their posts genuinely * Share their work and add your insights * Make your name familiar before sending a message ✅ 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 People respond better when you bring something to the table: * Share an article or resource relevant to their work * Offer a fresh perspective on one of their posts * Ask a specific, thoughtful question instead of just “Can you help me?” The Outcome: I’ve used this exact strategy to build meaningful relationships that led to: ✔ Internship opportunities before I even applied ✔ Research collaborations that boosted my career ✔ Insights from industry leaders that I couldn’t find anywhere else If you’re not leveraging LinkedIn for strategic networking, you’re leaving opportunities on the table. 💡 Try this today: Pick ONE person you admire, craft a thoughtful DM, and hit send

After a year of job hunting and trying to pivot sectors, from education to human resources, I've faced countless challenges and have grown immensely. With August bringing a surprising uptick in recruiter contacts, I've been reflecting on what's making a difference. While every job search is unique, here are strategies that seem to be working for me: 1️⃣ 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: I've made it a habit to tweak my profile weekly, even in small ways. If I update my resume, I'll add the change to my profile. It could also be an edit to my About section or Headline. 2️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀: I've aligned my job titles with LinkedIn's pre-populated options. This makes it easier for recruiters using specific search terms to find my profile. For dual roles, I use the corporate title in the header and explain the full scope in the description. For example, instead of "School Counselor/Project Manager," I might use "Project Manager" as the title and mention the counseling role in the description. 3️⃣ 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Regular activity on the platform helps. I share relevant content, offer thoughtful comments (15+ words, or so I've heard) on others' posts, and highlight professional development achievements (e.g., if I took a LinkedIn Learning course, what did I learn and gain from it?) 4️⃣ 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: I've expanded beyond LinkedIn, posting my resume on other job boards relevant to my target sector (e.g., Dice, Indeed, etc). Remember to keep those profiles updated in addition to your downloadable resume on LinkedIn (found in the Jobs tab under Preferences). 5️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵: I respond to every recruiter who reaches out, even if the position seems out of left field. Here's why: ▶ It could lead to unexpected connections or opportunities ▶ Responsiveness signals that you're active on LinkedIn ▶ Recruiters using LinkedIn Recruiter often target candidates more likely to respond. Your history of engaging with recruiters can increase your chances of future outreach. 6️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: I've attended webinars, engaged in networking events, and committed to ongoing education. This not only expands my knowledge but also my professional network. The key? Implementing what I learn and sharing insights- fostering a cycle of growth and connection. Remember, this is just my personal experience. The job search journey is different for everyone, and what works for one person might not work for another. If there's one overarching lesson, it's the importance of paying it forward. So, if you're looking for something new to try in your job search, I hope these tips help! What strategies have worked for you in your job search? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #Networking #LinkedIn #JobHunt

How to Utilize LinkedIn in Undergrad (Especially from a Non-Target School!) If you're a student looking to break into competitive fields from a non-target school like me, LinkedIn can be a great asset. Here's how I’ve used it to secure opportunities that many think are out of reach. 1. Networking 💬 It’s the most obvious answer, but it works! In today’s market, many people land opportunities through who they know, not just what they know. LinkedIn is a powerful way to connect with hiring managers and professionals, especially if you lack a strong alumni pipeline. Many are eager to help if you show genuine interest. Here’s my go-to message template for connecting with hiring managers: “Hi [Name], I’m [Name], a [Major] student at [University], and I’m really inspired by your work at [Company]. I’d love to connect to learn more about your role and any advice you have for someone looking to pursue a similar path.” 2. Early-Career Programs ☀️ Wondering how students get into programs like MLT, SEO, or IBM Accelerate? LinkedIn is often where they first hear about them! These programs help students land early-career roles at top companies. As someone who completed the IBM Accelerate program, I used LinkedIn to connect with participants and professionals who shared invaluable insights. Early connections = early access to career-defining opportunities. 3. Alumni Connections 👫🏽 Alumni connections can be a game-changer. LinkedIn’s search features let you to find alumni at your dream companies. I’ve used it to connect with graduates at Google and Microsoft—people I wouldn’t have known existed otherwise! Here’s the general message I send when reaching out to alumni: “Hi [Name], I'm [Name], a [Major] student at [University]. I see you’ve had great success at [Company], and I’d love to hear about your career progression and any advice you might have for a fellow [Mascot]” Many alumni are more than happy to help once you make the connection. 4. Building a Personal Brand 💁🏽♀️ More companies ask for your LinkedIn profile during job applications LinkedIn is now your personal brand. It’s where recruiters get a fuller picture of who you are beyond your resume. I’ve started sharing my journey, focusing on the unique path I’ve taken as a non-target school student navigating big opportunities. Start building your brand today! 5. Finding Jobs/Internships ✅ Finally, LinkedIn is still one of the best places to find jobs & internships. In a tough job market, having a referral can make all the difference. Networking with alumni and industry professionals is crucial. I also recommend following pages like Taylor Falls and Jade Walters who focus on sharing job opportunities for students and early-career seekers. At the end of the day, LinkedIn is a TOOL. If you’re a student from a non-target school, USE IT to break through the barriers and reach opportunities you never thought possible. You Got This! #earlycareer #2025internships #nontarget #LinkedIncreator