Guest Post = 8 Ways to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out

This week, we invited a friend of Do-Gooder to share information that could helpful for your clients, members, employees, and even yourself. Krystal Lamb is a human resources professional, LinkedIn certified, and Founder/CEO of Career Tips with Krys. We would love to hear how these tips have helped your LinkedIn experience!

Krystal Lamb

With all of the different tools available to find a job, searching online has become the most convenient route. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home and you can privately apply to any company at any time. You can upload your resume to these job search sites and apply with just one click. There are many different job search sites available but the top site, in my opinion, is LinkedIn.

For the past 5 years, I have been a huge advocate of LinkedIn. The popularity has soared and millions of companies have joined looking for top talent. As a Certified LinkedIn Professional Recruiter, I am constantly sourcing and finding the best candidates, whether they are looking for a new job right now or not! Since I am logged on all day, I can spot the best LinkedIn profiles easily. Here are the top eight ways to have an All-Star LinkedIn profile!

1. The Headline is Creative and Stands Out
   One surefire way to have a company contact you on LinkedIn is to have a great headline. You should make sure to include keywords about your specialty. Keep it short and sweet!
2.  A Professional Photo
   Your LinkedIn photo should be a headshot. You should be the ONLY person in the photo and it should be clear and recent. I understand this is social media but this could be your first impression to your next employer!
3. Make Connections
   It is a great idea to make tons of connections on LinkedIn! The point of connecting is to make sure that you show up in LinkedIn searches. You also may be able to network with a 2nd or 3rd degree connection at that dream job you want!
4. Brag About Everything
   LinkedIn gives you the ability to add items to your profile such as Certifications, projects, volunteering, past or current school courses and patents! There are employers who are very interested in knowing what type of interests you have outside of work.
5. Tack on Those Recommendations
   You have the ability to add recommendations to your profile from past employers and colleagues. If you left on good terms or worked with an awesome team, connect on LinkedIn and ask for a recommendation. Be prepared to write one in return!
6. Add Contact Information
   An employer or recruiter should not have to conduct a deep investigation to find your contact information. Make sure you have an email address and/or a phone number near the top of your profile. Adding your different social media connections are an option as well.
7. Join LinkedIn Groups
   These are great ways to connect with other like-minded individuals. There are many conversations happening daily in these groups. Make sure you join groups that are relevant to your interests and specialty.
8. Stay Up-to-Date and Current
   Share articles that you read, like different posts on your timeline and keep your work history up-to-date. You must stay engaged in order to be seen. Think of your LinkedIn profile as your resume. If it’s outdated, how will you ever find your dream job??

 
Krystal Lamb is a Sales Recruiter/Human Resources Representative at a Telecommunications company in Chicago, IL. She is also the Founder/CEO of Career Tips with Krys, where she provides resume editing, resume writing, career counseling and interview etiquette services. Contact her through email at krystherecruiter@gmail.com , on Instagram @careertipswithkrys or Like her www.facebook.com/careertipswithkrys/