What is a LinkedIn Profile?
Your LinkedIn profile is the landing page that your connections, recruiters, and others see when they view your information on LinkedIn. Your profile includes details on your job qualifications, employment history, education, skills, experience, volunteering, articles you have posted, and content you have commented on or liked. Think of your LinkedIn profile as an online resume. Like your resume, it should demonstrate your abilities, work experience, and education. However, a LinkedIn profile can do even more than a traditional resume. It can include a photo of you, links to your work, references from colleagues and employers, and more. Know how to create a LinkedIn profile that acts like a resume, only better. With a strong profile, you increase your chances of impressing an employer.
The Importance of Your LinkedIn Profile
One of the most important parts of LinkedIn is your profile. Your profile is what you use to connect with people in your network. It is also how you get found on LinkedIn by potential employers. When you apply for a job, the employer might also check out your LinkedIn profile to learn more about you. A ResumeGo study reports that resumes that include a link to a comprehensive LinkedIn profile have a 71% higher chance of getting an interview than a resume without a link or a resume with a link to a barebones profile. In addition, your LinkedIn profile can increase your visibility online and help you build your professional brand. Your LinkedIn profile may show up in Google’s search results. This means that anyone looking for information about you will find everything they need to know at a glance – skills, employment information, recommendations, etc. For all these reasons, it is important to make sure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and detailed. In fact, you can consider your LinkedIn profile as your online resume. It should have the same information that is on your resume and, if you’re looking for a new job, you will want prospective employers to be able to review your credentials for employment, including your qualifications, experience, and skills.
Download Your Profile as a PDF File
It’s easy to save your profile as a PDF file to use as a resume. Once you’ve saved it, you can print out a copy to review.
Click the …More icon in the top section of your profile, to the right of the photo and to the left of the EditSelect Save to PDF from the drop-down menu, and your profile will be saved to your computer. You can open it, then print.
Convert Your Resume to a Word Document or Google Doc
The PDF version of your resume can be converted to a Google Doc or a Microsoft Word Document for editing. Keep in mind that you’ll most likely need to edit the formatting to turn it into a traditional resume. There are several options for converting it, including using Adobe PDF to Word Converter, uploading the PDF file and then opening it as a Google Doc, or editing it in Microsoft Word. There are also sites and apps that you can use to convert your profile into a professional resume for a fee.
How to Use Your LinkedIn Profile as a Job Search Tool
What’s the best way to create a LinkedIn profile that will catch the eye of hiring managers and professional networkers? LinkedIn offers users a number of ways to build an impressive profile. Here are some tips on how to make your profile into a strong online resume that will help you job search on LinkedIn:
Get detailed. When creating your profile, include all of the information that you list on your resume, and more. One benefit of a LinkedIn profile is that it can be longer than your resume. If you left any information out of your resume (such as a previous job), you can put it in your profile. However, don’t get carried away. If your profile is several pages long, no one is going to read it. Add a professional photo. Unlike a resume, which often does not include a photo, LinkedIn users expect you to include a photo. Include a professional headshot. You can also change the background image to make it appropriate to your interests. Don’t include a photo that’s too casual. LinkedIn is all about professional networking, not socializing with your friends and family. Include a catchy and concise headline. Even if you don’t have a resume headline, include a headline on your LinkedIn profile. You want to make it concise and catchy. For example, instead of “Teacher with 10 Years of Experience,” try “High-Tech, Award-Winning Physics Teacher.” If you don’t currently have a job, here are tips on how to write a headline when you are unemployed. Write an engaging summary. The summary section on LinkedIn is a great place to highlight, in a few sentences or bullet points, what makes you stand out as an employee or job candidate. This should read like a summary statement on a resume. Use appropriate language. A resume is usually quite formal. You can be a bit more casual on your LinkedIn. For example, many people write their profiles in the first person (“I have ten years of experience in healthcare marketing”). It’s okay to be a bit more casual or personal in your LinkedIn profile – in fact, it can help engage a recruiter. Include keywords and skills. Unlike a resume, you are not tailoring your LinkedIn profile to fit a specific job listing. However, you can still use keywords from your industry in your profile. This will make it easier for employers to find your profile when searching for potential job candidates. Include values. Like a resume, include numbers to demonstrate how you have added value at work. For example, you might state how much money you saved a company through your cost-saving solutions, or explain how you completed a task within a certain period of time. Add content and accomplishments. You can upload documents or include links on your LinkedIn profile. Take advantage of this – include papers, presentations, projects, personal websites, and other materials that demonstrate the quality of your work. This is a great way to show, rather than tell, employers about your strengths. Get recommendations and endorsements. To a potential employer, a LinkedIn recommendation is a reference in advance. Try to boost your profile with LinkedIn recommendations from your connections. Also be sure to endorse people in your network, and hopefully they will endorse you back. Create a custom URL and share your profile. You want people to see your profile, so be sure to make it as visible as possible. Make sure your profile is public (check your LinkedIn settings to make sure you are visible to people outside of your network). Also consider customizing your URL so that you have a link that’s easy to share. Mine, for example, is https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisondoyle. You can include this URL in your email signature so that people can easily access your profile. Grow Your network. Another way to share your profile is to connect with other members and build your network. The more connections you have, the more opportunities you have. Of course, you should only connect with people you know. If you don’t know someone but would like to connect, be sure to send a private message introducing yourself. Update your profile regularly. Don’t forget to update your profile when you change positions or companies. Also add links to new articles, projects, etc., as you complete them. Your profile should be dynamic and up-to-date. Spend a little time every month, even if you don’t have major changes reviewing it and freshening it up.
