Creating an Effective
LinkedIn Profile
Carolynn Friesch
Director of Employer Relations
What is LinkedIn?
Eleven Sections of Your Profile
• Headline
• Summary
• Education
• Experience
• Organizations
• Volunteer
Experience
• Skills
• Honors/Awards
• Courses
• Projects
• Recommendations
Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Display a professionally appropriate photo
Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Create the right headline
 Tell people what you’re excited about and
what you want to do
 Use keywords that will attract recruiters
 Example: Skilled Social Media User, Aspiring
Public Relations Professional
 NO: Student at Carthage College, Barista at
Starbucks
Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Write a keyword-rich summary that “sells”
your skills and experience
 Be concise, specific, and typo-free
 Describe what motivates you, what you’re
skilled at, and what’s next
 Write the summary in the first person
 Include a link to a blog, portfolio, etc
Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Get strong, helpful recommendations
 Professors, employers (i.e. current supervisor),
and internship supervisors
 BEFORE you send a request, make sure that
you speak to the recommender first
 No minimum or maximum number of referrals
 One of each category would be helpful
Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Add samples of your work
 Course PowerPoint Presentations, Prezi, blog,
e-portfolio, senior thesis
 Sections: Summary, Education, Work
Experience
Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Tie your LinkedIn profile to your other
efforts
 Personalize your LinkedIn URL
 Example: www.linkedin.com/in/carolynnmfriesch
 Add the URL or badge to your email signature
 Example:
 Include the URL on your resume
 Business cards
How to Customize Your URL
1.Move your cursor over Profile at the top of your
homepage and select Edit Profile.
2.Click the URL link under your profile photo. It will be an
address like www.linkedin.com/in/yourname
3.Under the Your public profile URL section on the right,
click the Edit icon next to your URL.
4.Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box.
5.Click Save.
Completing the Experience Section
• Include all of the jobs and internships from
your resume
• Focus on your accomplishments
• DO NOT retype your resume
• Example: Assisted in the implementation of
new donor outreach program OR Helped to
raise $200,000 for XYZ program
• Include an example of your work, if possible
Completing the Education Section
• Include all of your educational programs,
as well as, summer programs
• List your major and minor
• Include your GPA if you want to
Completing the Skills Section
• Add at least 5 key skills
• Your connections can endorse you for
more skills
• Professional tip: Endorse others for their
experience
Completing the Course &
Projects Sections
• Add courses that show off your skills and
that you are most excited about
• Talk about class projects that you led
include what you did and how you did it
Additional Ways to Enhance
Your Profile
• Add additional sections: Language, Test
Scores, Publications, Certifications, Posts
(i.e. blog)
• In edit mode, drag sections to re-order
them; most important sections first
• Add Twitter link if appropriate to contact
information section
• Industry & location – aspirational or current
Linkedin - How to create an effective profile

Linkedin - How to create an effective profile

  • 1.
    Creating an Effective LinkedInProfile Carolynn Friesch Director of Employer Relations
  • 2.
  • 3.
    Eleven Sections ofYour Profile • Headline • Summary • Education • Experience • Organizations • Volunteer Experience • Skills • Honors/Awards • Courses • Projects • Recommendations
  • 4.
    Five Golden Rulesof LinkedIn  Display a professionally appropriate photo
  • 5.
    Five Golden Rulesof LinkedIn  Create the right headline  Tell people what you’re excited about and what you want to do  Use keywords that will attract recruiters  Example: Skilled Social Media User, Aspiring Public Relations Professional  NO: Student at Carthage College, Barista at Starbucks
  • 6.
    Five Golden Rulesof LinkedIn  Write a keyword-rich summary that “sells” your skills and experience  Be concise, specific, and typo-free  Describe what motivates you, what you’re skilled at, and what’s next  Write the summary in the first person  Include a link to a blog, portfolio, etc
  • 7.
    Five Golden Rulesof LinkedIn  Get strong, helpful recommendations  Professors, employers (i.e. current supervisor), and internship supervisors  BEFORE you send a request, make sure that you speak to the recommender first  No minimum or maximum number of referrals  One of each category would be helpful
  • 8.
    Five Golden Rulesof LinkedIn  Add samples of your work  Course PowerPoint Presentations, Prezi, blog, e-portfolio, senior thesis  Sections: Summary, Education, Work Experience
  • 9.
    Five Golden Rulesof LinkedIn  Tie your LinkedIn profile to your other efforts  Personalize your LinkedIn URL  Example: www.linkedin.com/in/carolynnmfriesch  Add the URL or badge to your email signature  Example:  Include the URL on your resume  Business cards
  • 10.
    How to CustomizeYour URL 1.Move your cursor over Profile at the top of your homepage and select Edit Profile. 2.Click the URL link under your profile photo. It will be an address like www.linkedin.com/in/yourname 3.Under the Your public profile URL section on the right, click the Edit icon next to your URL. 4.Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box. 5.Click Save.
  • 11.
    Completing the ExperienceSection • Include all of the jobs and internships from your resume • Focus on your accomplishments • DO NOT retype your resume • Example: Assisted in the implementation of new donor outreach program OR Helped to raise $200,000 for XYZ program • Include an example of your work, if possible
  • 12.
    Completing the EducationSection • Include all of your educational programs, as well as, summer programs • List your major and minor • Include your GPA if you want to
  • 13.
    Completing the SkillsSection • Add at least 5 key skills • Your connections can endorse you for more skills • Professional tip: Endorse others for their experience
  • 14.
    Completing the Course& Projects Sections • Add courses that show off your skills and that you are most excited about • Talk about class projects that you led include what you did and how you did it
  • 15.
    Additional Ways toEnhance Your Profile • Add additional sections: Language, Test Scores, Publications, Certifications, Posts (i.e. blog) • In edit mode, drag sections to re-order them; most important sections first • Add Twitter link if appropriate to contact information section • Industry & location – aspirational or current