To Create an Amazing LinkedIn Profile, Start with Your Summary
If you are ready to give yourself an edge by becoming active on LinkedIn, the first thing you’ll need to do is create a profile that will attract recruiters and impress employers. This is not as hard as you may think! The key is to write your profile summary first. Here are a few tips, adapted from the blog post 3 Stunningly Good LinkedIn Profile Summaries by Andy Foote, to help you in this endeavor:
Keep your summary interesting (and current)
Did you know that your LinkedIn summary is the first thing people who search for your name (think potential employers) or click on your photo/headline will see? Yep, and that’s why it needs to be engaging. Concerning your summary, Foote asks, “Are you in command of your narrative? Does your Summary do you justice? Or have you just copied & pasted your 5-year-old resume as a temporary measure?” Your honest answers to these questions will help you write an attention-grabbing summary.
Make it short and sweet
LinkedIn allows you 2,000 words for your profile summary. No matter what you do, do NOT write 2,000 words! (Even a 500-word summary is way too lengthy.) Instead, opt for a 200-250-word synopsis of who you are, what you bring to the table and why others should want to connect with you.
Be authentic
Since there are currently about 364 million LinkedIn members, your profile summary needs to be as authentic as possible. Andy Foote, writer for linkedinsights.com, says, “It’s not enough these days to let your experience speak for itself. You need to be your own Brand Ambassador and you need to ensure that your professional online prospectus is unique, engaging and well written. Write it in the 1st person.”
Share this Post