5 Mistakes You Should Never Make on LinkedIn

#LinkedIn has 500 million registered users and you're one of them. Researchers at North Carolina State University said that LinkedIn is really helpful when it comes to landing higher paying jobs - "informal recruitment" is a favorite of hiring managers aiming to fill positions up there on the pay-scale.

So whether you're hunting for a new job, making the most of the one you have or just looking to learn about professional possibilities, avoid these five big LinkedIn mistakes.

1. Not using a profile photo

One of the biggest mistakes is not using a profile photo. You're seven times more likely to have your profile viewed if you have one. Like a house that’s on sale, the assumption is that if there's no photo, something's wrong.

First impressions count; we all know this. And we only get one chance to make a good first impression. Perhaps in person, your charm and use of language can camouflage your faults, but in the online world your first impression is made with your face - your profile picture. And yes, your facial expression also matters. Please smile with teeth, make eye contact and dress for your role.

2. Not being strategic

This is a common mistake people make while writing their roles and responsibilities in 'Experience' section. Only mentioning your duties does not help. I strongly recommend you to add numbers in your role description. It helps recruiters really picture the impact you’ve made in your position, and it frankly just sounds more impressive.

See for yourself. Which person would you hire?

• Person 1: Duties included taking field measurements and maintaining records, setting up and tracking project using Microsoft Project, and developing computerized material take off sheets.
• Person 2: Initiated and managed tracking systems used for the Green District water decontamination project, saving $125,000 on the overall project through a 30% decrease of staff allocation time.

Exactly.

3. Not writing posts, articles or status updates

On Twitter and Facebook, people have a pretty good idea of what you're up to socially. But your LinkedIn status is the right place to update your network about your professional accomplishments and progress. You could be updating about a colleague getting a promotion or sharing a great article you wrote. Every few days, put something in your status to keep it fresh, and show you’re active and engaged. Remember, no one will know what you’ve done if you’re not showcasing it.

Plus, those people you're updating in your LinkedIn network are valuable. If you’ve got a great following, it’s part of the assets you bring to the table.

4. Not customizing the default connection request

Don’t use the standard connection request! People think that LinkedIn is like Twitter, where it’s about quantity over quality, but you’re supposed to be building valuable professional relationships to leverage into career opportunities.

Even if you're reaching out to someone you've never met, the right move is to do a little research on that person, and tailor your connection request. Customize your message to make the recipient take notice, like writing, "I read this article you wrote [and had these thoughts]. I'm also building a career in [this field], and I would love to be connected to you."

5. Skipping the summary

Once upon a time, people were encouraged to write about their careers in an "objective" summary on a resume. That has gone out of fashion ... but not on LinkedIn. Since you're writing online, you actually have more space than you would on a traditional paper resume. Think of the summary as a way of selling yourself - it's an opportunity to express your voice and personality.

Remember to add or link external documents, certificates, photos, sites, videos or presentations. Since so many people are competing for the same jobs with similar educations and qualifications, filling out the summary properly can give you an edge with a prospective employer.

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Final recommendation: You must join groups related to your domain/field, follow companies on LinkedIn and keep an eye on who's coming and going - when you see someone leave a company you want to join, it's the perfect opportunity to reach out to their HR department.

Go ahead and make the most of your professional life.

Good luck and do share this article!