Don't Write Your Profile In The 3rd Person. Here's Why...
J.T. O'Donnell
Founder & CEO, Work It DAILY | Board of Directors, McCoy | Career & Professional Development | Job Search | HR & Recruiting | Employer Branding | Recruitment Marketing | Talent Management | Executive Coaching
Last week on "Ask J.T. Anything," a viewer wanted to know if writing your LinkedIn profile in the first person was a good idea. My answer? Absolutely!
Which led to reminding viewers of this...
Writing In The 3rd Person Is A BIG No-No
If you don't want to come across distant, self-important, and full-of-yourself, then you need to write your LinkedIn profile in the first person. [This short video explains why you look pretentious when you write in the third person.]
While you might think using your own name in your profile sounds professional, you're forgetting that social media is about connecting with one another. What you write reflects your personal brand. You need to come across as sincere, transparent, likable, etc. All of those traits go out the window the moment you start waxing on in the third person like a pro football player talking about his athletic prowess. My advice: don't do it!
Now, CLICK HERE to learn the right way to write your LinkedIn Summary >>
Director, Facilities Management at Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation * Board Chair and President Options Housing, Vice President Daybreak Housing*
8 年Technically CV's are not written in 3rd person but bios tend to be e.g. bio- Norman has 25 years of leadership experience in real estate .... CV 25 years experience in real estate leadership. Linkedin is the elevator pitch so should engage on a personal level ... Hi, I'm Norman I have been working in the real estate field for the last 25 years. I think if you imagine it coming out of your mouth in a conversation and it sounds odd then it might be odd in a "getting to know you" forum liked LI. I'm convinced enough to plan personalizing my Linkedin offering for my New Year resolution..
Retired
8 年"Sorry, you're more than qualified for the job and we were going to make you an offer, but your LinkedIn profile is written in the third person, so forget it." - Said no one, ever
Education Facilitator at Ministry of Basic Education
8 年Great advice. I believe mine is all in the active voice because I am the author, the sole proprietor of everything portrayed there. The third person would have distanced me from my own profile and gave the impression that i had someone else do it for me.
Strategic & tactical marketing SME (semi-retired)
8 年I guess Mongo was an illeist? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illeism