Five things to do after you create your LinkedIn Profile

How we choose to present ourselves online can make a lasting impression, especially when it comes to our careers. On LinkedIn, that means thoughtfully curating a Profile that demonstrates and showcases your best strengths, expertise, and knowledge. Not sure where to start, or need to refresh? Read on. Here are a few steps you can take to get the most out of your Profile as you look for that new job, learn new skills, and build your LinkedIn network.?

Tip 1: Add a Profile photo?

Your Profile photo is often the first thing people see when they click on your page, so post one if you don't have one, or update it to make sure people are seeing the current you. Think of it as your virtual handshake and a simple way for friends, colleagues or former classmates to discover you as you’re building your network.?

And remember: “Professional” is defined however you live it. Gone are the days when you needed a professional headshot in a power suit. Find a simple background (any white wall will do) and ask a friend to snap a few photos on your phone. It’s really that easy.?

Next up, start filling out your experiences, education, skills and awards. ?Career Expert Tip: Use real-world examples of how you have leveraged your skills and the impact you’ve had.?

Tip 2: Verify your Profile

An important part of building your Profile is verifying your information , which is a great way to help you find opportunities and build your network. You may have noticed a gray badge icon next to some Profile names. This badge confirms a member verified their identity and/or where they work.?

As a part of our work to bring verification to more of our members on LinkedIn, today we’re starting to roll out a new way to verify. If the college you're attending or currently work for has an official page on LinkedIn, you may be able to verify your association with them using your institutional email as this feature becomes available. Learn more about how to verify your info here .

Tip 3: Share more about you

The ‘About’ section is where you should tell your professional story. Think of it as your “elevator pitch,” an opportunity to capture potential hirers’ attention and to summarize your career goals and interest for fellow connections. Don’t forget to try and weave in some keywords that are related to your craft! For instance, in my About section, not only do I list out the areas of expertise I have, but I also get personal with the reason I’m passionate about my work! Mine says: “I get my energy from culture, understanding how to deliver what the consumer wants, and doing it in a way that is authentic to the brand. I love building and leading cross-functional teams that deliver business impact and provide people with the opportunity to continue to learn and grow in their career.”

This is also the time to update any experience in your Profile, and don’t forget to include some key strengths and accomplishments. This can be volunteer work or any side hustles you’re doing!

Tip 4: Spotlight your Skills Now this is a SUPER important part: Make sure to spotlight the skills you bring to the table on your Profile. More than 50% of companies rely on skills to identify job candidates on Linkedin. Take a moment to think about the five most relevant skills that you have for the job and add them to your Profile in the About section, which you can learn more about here .

Don’t forget, life skills count too! Think about the skills you’ve gained from life experiences—from school projects to babysitting, to a summer job or working in a restaurant. All these jobs offer transferable skills like leadership, time management, communication, customer service, teamwork, etc. Sometimes our strongest skills come from the most unconventional places.?

One of my colleagues, for instance, first learned management and customer service skills while running an interactive butterfly habitat at their high school each summer—you never know where you’ll learn your new skill, or how it can be used to elevate you in the future.

Tip 5: Signal that you’re open to work?

If finding your next career opportunity is one of the reasons you joined LinkedIn, adding the “Open to Work” feature on your Profile is a way to privately signal to recruiters that you’re open to new opportunities. Plus: Turning on this feature can increase your likelihood of getting a recruiter message by 2x!

And once a recruiter sees all the unique and exciting insights you’ve shared on your LinkedIn Profile, they’ll be more intrigued to reach out and learn more about what you can offer their companies. Or if you’re ready to share with the broader community, you can put an #OpenToWork photo frame on your newly added Profile photo.?

I hope these tips I’ve shared today will help you with the next step in your career, and remember, your career is a long game, and it may take lots of twists and turns. Think about what you can gain from these experiences and how you can leverage them for your next opportunity. Good luck!