Making the Most of Your LinkedIn Profile

If you are on LinkedIn you want to make sure you arelimited to 120 characters, your summary 2,000 and
utilizing every available feature so that you canyour specialties 500. The status update has a 140
optimize your profile and enhance your job search.character limit.
Here are a few tricks and tips you may not haveMAKE SURE THEY CAN FIND YOU
known about.OK, I'm on the fence about this one but it has been
COMPLETE YOUR PROFILEsuggested that you should include common
The word on the street is that the more completemis-spellings or phonetic variations of your name. This
your profile, the better your chances of showing upway if someone is trying to find you and doesn't know
higher in the search results. Since no one wants to behow to spell your name you have a better chance of
buried at the bottom of the results here is what youbeing found. Where to put this information is where the
need to do to get a 100% complete profile: you needproblem is. I've heard you should include it in your
to have a profile summary and specialties, a photo, asummary. But that not only takes up valuable space it
current position and at least two past positions, thealso will look odd. Another option would be to include it
education section must be completed and you need atat the bottom of your profile in the additional
least three recommendations.information section. You can add it to the interests'
BRAND YOURSELFarea or the honors and awards section. This way it
Put some power words behind your name, it could bewon't be as noticeable.
your title, a short description etc. It will make you standPRIORITIZE
out. Go to edit profile and edit your name. After yourYou also want to make sure that your best
last name put a comma and whatever keywords orinformation is listed higher on your profile page. It is
descriptors you want to use. Now your name willvery likely that someone will not read all the way
appear like this: Jane Smith, Dedicate Animalthrough to the bottom of your profile so to get the key
Advocate. You are limited to 40 characters so youinformation up front you can drag and drop the
might need to get creative.sections to reorder them.
LIMITATIONSWith these easy tips you'll make the most out of your
Speaking of character limits there are some othersprofile and stay one step ahead of the competition.
you should know about. Your professional headline is