LinkedIn is a useful professional tool that can be used to network, find a job, and learn more about your industry. Using the site incorrectly, however, could ruin some professional opportunities for you. Double-check that you’re not making any of these common LinkedIn mistakes so that you can take full advantage of what the website can offer you professionally.
1. Misspellings and grammar errors
You should be treating your LinkedIn profile like your resume rather than a traditional social media profile. There should be no grammar mistakes or misspellings, so ensure you proofread a few times before you update your information. A misspelled name of a company or person will look especially bad, reflecting a lack of attention to detail and general sloppiness. If you wouldn't have spelling errors, colloquialisms, and other slang in a professional email, CV, or cover letter, then your LinkedIn profile shouldn't feature them either.
2. Lacking detail in your profile headline
Being vague and writing “Student” or “Unemployed” in your profile headline doesn’t communicate anything that matters to a potential employer. Even if you are still studying or don’t have a job, relate your profile summary to your professional aspirations, goals, or experience so that a potential employer can get a sense of what kind of professional you will be. “Marketing graduate with international social media experience” is way better than “recent graduate”, for example. The more information you can provide about your professional experience and goals, the more appealing your profile will look to possible employers.
3. Being a lone wolf
LinkedIn is all about the connections that you make. Take advantage of the different ways in which you can connect with fellow professionals on the website. Join alumni groups, search for alumni with the “find alumni” option, and browse through connections to add. Be sure to accept connection requests as much as possible. You can even find and connect with professionals in companies and organizations you have a passion for, even if it's not necessarily part of the career field you want to be in, as this will give you a broader scope of what's happening in the professional world and could even spur new ideas. This is as easy as networking gets.
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4. Leaving your summary blank
If you want your profile to show up in search results, it is crucial to have a descriptive summary written out. Use searchable keywords in your summary that are related to your career so that you can be more easily recruited. If your profile is blank or limited in content, you won't show up when recruiters are searching for people who might be interested in a position with them. You could be missing out on fantastic opportunities by leaving out your top skills and details on your profile!
5. Staying private
If you decide to make your LinkedIn profile public, you’ll have more opportunities to connect with other professionals. If you’re private, you can’t see the information of people who have looked at your profile. If you’re public you can – the only catch is that if you’re public and stalking someone’s profile, they can see your information and how many times you’ve viewed the profile, so make sure to stalk responsibly.
6. No photo
Your LinkedIn profile is 14 times more likely to be viewed if you’ve uploaded a profile photo, Business Insider reported. It should be one of the first things that you add to your profile. The photo should be professional, with a plain background featuring you alone, dressed in professional attire and smiling. It can even be a nice work selfie – just as long as you’re not making a goofy face and you’re looking nice. To get the most from your LinkedIn photo, look professional and friendly. Your photo on LinkedIn is usually the first time people are putting a face to your name, if you've applied for jobs or internships, so you want to make a good impression!
7. Not taking advantage of profile sections
If you list your experience into the different sections offered through LinkedIn, it can help break up your profile so that it is easier to read. A recruiter will be able to navigate more quickly on your page and jump to relevant experience for the role they're hiring for. A chaotic profile that doesn't utilize sections could mean people miss the most important things to know about you!
8. General inactivity
LinkedIn offers great opportunities to connect. If you’re not using it to search for jobs, interact with your networks, list recognized skills, or request recommendations, you’re not getting the most out of the experience. If you're not using it regularly in these ways, you could be missing out on great opportunities or advice that could take you further in your career.
9. Not staying connected to people
Under the relationship tab on your connections’ profiles, you can manage your professional relationships with others. You can write down a note (that only you can see) that reminds you how you met this person and what their interests are. There’s also a way to set a reminder to yourself to remember to reach out to this person on a certain date. Keeping in contact with your network will ensure you stick out in people's minds when new opportunities arise as someone attentive and keen to learn more.
