Contents  
 
Introduction  .................................................................................................................................................  3  
The  Basics  ....................................................................................................................................................  4  
Name  ........................................................................................................................................................  4  
URL  ...........................................................................................................................................................  4  
Photo  .......................................................................................................................................................  4  
Background  Photo  ...................................................................................................................................  4  
Headline  ...................................................................................................................................................  4  
Location  ...................................................................................................................................................  5  
Industry  ....................................................................................................................................................  5  
Contact  Information  ................................................................................................................................  5  
Experience/Position  Description  ..............................................................................................................  5  
Publications  ..............................................................................................................................................  5  
Summary  ......................................................................................................................................................  6  
Additional  Profile  Sections  ...........................................................................................................................  8  
Skills  .........................................................................................................................................................  8  
Education  .................................................................................................................................................  8  
Honors  &  Awards  .....................................................................................................................................  8  
Volunteer  Experience  &  Causes  ...............................................................................................................  8  
Connecting  With  Others  ..............................................................................................................................  9  
Connections  .............................................................................................................................................  9  
Groups  .....................................................................................................................................................  9  
Status  Updates  .........................................................................................................................................  9  
Find  a  Job  .................................................................................................................................................  9  
Staying  Visible  ..........................................................................................................................................  9  
Conclusion  .................................................................................................................................................  10  
 

   

  2  
Introduction  
You  probably  already  know  that  LinkedIn  is  the  single  most  powerful  online  platform  for  finding  your  
next  job.  Yet,  it  comes  with  a  caveat:  since  there  are  more  than  394  million  professionals  who  use  the  
social  network,1  you  need  to  complete  your  LinkedIn  profile  (only  50%  of  people  complete  their  LinkedIn  
profile  according  to  LinkedIn’s  only  stats)  AND  you  need  to  put  your  best  foot  forward  with  your  digital  
brand  so  that  you  stand  out,  and  in  a  good  way.    

Most  professionals  know  that  they  need  to  distinguish  themselves  from  other  potential  hires.  It  should  
be  easy  –  you’re  a  unique  individual  with  a  specific  set  of  strengths,  talents,  and  experience  that  
inherently  sets  you  apart  from  the  sea  of  others,  right?  While  that  may  be  so,  there’s  no  guarantee  that  
hiring  managers  and  other  professionals  from  potential  employers  will  notice  these  aspects  of  your  
profile  –  unless  you  present  them  in  the  right  way.    

It  goes  without  saying  that  we’re  all  short  on  time  these  days.  So,  your  goal  on  LinkedIn  is  not  just  to  
make  a  powerful  impression,  but  to  do  so  as  efficiently  as  possible  so  that  executives,  hiring  managers,  
other  recruiters,  and  any  other  potential  connections  will  notice  you  right  away.    

Not  only  will  these  tips  boost  your  “Who’s  Viewing  Your  Profile”  metrics,  but  they’ll  help  you  achieve  
results  that  matter.  Whether  that’s  getting  noticed  by  recruiters  at  your  dream  company  or  opening  
doors  into  a  new  career  field,  the  optimization  of  your  LinkedIn  profile  can  get  you  there.    

Also,  don’t  worry  if  you’re  not  a  professional  writer.  The  reason  these  tips  are  so  effective  is  because  
they  use  a  specific  formula  to  precisely  target  the  audience  you  want  to  reach:  recruiters,  hiring  
managers,  and  connections  who  can  get  you  in.  When  you  follow  these  tips,  you  can’t  go  wrong.  You  
won’t  find  any  intricate  writing  processes  here;  we’ll  focus  only  on  the  most  effective  fundamentals  that  
will  catch  the  eyes  of  the  professionals  you  want  to  get  noticed  by  most.  Besides,  throughout  this  entire  
process,  you’ll  be  writing  about  the  person  you  know  best  –  yourself!    

We’ll  take  this  process  step-­‐by-­‐step,  and  with  just  a  little  time  and  thought,  you’ll  have  a  professional,  
attractive  LinkedIn  profile  optimized  to  stand  out  in  your  target  industry.  As  an  individual,  your  unique  
blend  of  skills,  knowledge,  and  experience  is  what  makes  you  a  potential  asset  who  can  offer  significant  
value  for  the  right  employer.  Now,  it’s  just  a  matter  of  putting  the  spotlight  on  those  skills  and  
experiences  so  that  you  can  make  a  powerful,  unforgettable  first  impression.  

If  you’re  ready  to  get  started,  I  recommend  that  you  grab  any  information  you  might  need  (including  
dates  of  past  employment),  and  set  aside  a  few  hours  during  which  you’ll  be  able  to  work  uninterrupted.  
Keep  in  mind  that  putting  in  the  extra  effort  now  is  what  can  make  the  difference  between  getting  the  
job  you  really  want  versus  having  to  settle  for  something  less.    

We’ll  start  with  the  basics  and  move  on  from  there,  so  that  everything  from  your  profile  name  to  your  
status  updates  are  optimized  to  best  attract  the  people  with  whom  you  want  to  connect.  If  you’re  ready  
to  begin,  then  let’s  get  started!    

                                                                                                                       
1
 http://www.statista.com/statistics/274050/quarterly-­‐numbers-­‐of-­‐linkedin-­‐members/,  November  2015.  

  3  
The  Basics  
When  it  comes  to  optimizing  your  LinkedIn  profile,  there’s  nothing  that’s  off-­‐limits.  In  other  words,  with  
every  single  aspect  of  your  profile,  there’s  an  opportunity  to  capitalize  on  those  seemingly  insignificant  
character  counts  so  that  you  can  truly  make  your  profile  stand  out.  Let’s  take  a  look.  

Name  
This  step  is  as  simple  as  it  gets:  your  name  has  a  60-­‐character  maximum,  and  it’s  the  most  basic  form  of  
identification  you  can  include.  For  this  portion  of  your  profile,  keep  it  short  and  simple  –  include  your  
first  and  last  name,  and  avoid  using  any  nicknames,  contact  information,  or  keywords  in  this  area,  as  it  
could  make  you  appear  inauthentic.    

URL  
Don’t  overlook  the  URL.  Optimizing  this  portion  of  your  profile  gives  it  a  neat  appearance,  and  more  
importantly,  makes  it  easier  for  others  to  share.  Customize  your  URL  so  that  it  appears  this  way:  
linkedin.com/[yourname].  If  your  name  is  already  taken,  consider  incorporating  some  other  
distinguishing  characters,  but  don’t  include  a  ton  of  numbers,  nicknames,  or  any  other  unprofessional  
content.  

Photo    
Each  day,  it’s  estimated  that  45  million  profiles  are  viewed  on  LinkedIn.  One  way  to  ensure  that  your  
profile  gets  included  in  that  number  is  to  incorporate  a  professional  photograph  –  this  makes  your  
profile  seven  times  more  likely  to  be  viewed.2  If  you  can,  go  for  professional  headshots;  if  not,  make  sure  
that  the  image  of  you  is  professional  in  appearance  (business  attire,  plain  background,  and  no  selfies!).  

Background  Photo    
Part  of  having  an  eye-­‐catching  LinkedIn  profile  is  making  sure  that  you’ve  achieved  100%  completeness.  
While  you  might  not  consider  the  background  photo  (a  feature  that  was  added  to  LinkedIn  in  June  2014)  
to  be  of  significant  importance,  this  is  an  opportunity  to  personalize  your  page  a  bit  more  and  gain  the  
attention  of  professionals  in  your  industry.  Keep  in  mind  that  it  should  still  be  professional  –  if  you’re  in  
accounting,  why  not  choose  an  image  with  numbers?  You  can  get  a  little  creative  yet  still  choose  an  
image  that  fits  with  your  niche  and  helps  you  get  noticed  in  a  good  way.  

Headline  
In  just  120  characters,  you  have  to  sell  yourself  as  the  most  captivating  potential  hire  that  recruiters,  
hiring  managers,  and  your  network  of  connections  won’t  be  able  to  forget.  Essentially,  your  headline  
should  reflect  your  personal  brand  promise  –  it  should  say  who  it  is  that  you  help,  what  value  you  can  
deliver  as  a  professional,  and  why  you’re  the  best  choice  (what  makes  you  unique).  Here’s  where  you  
can  include  relevant  industry  keywords  that  describe  your  role  and  key  skills  that  hiring  managers  are  
seeking.  What  words  do  you  hope  to  get  found  for  when  your  potential  employer  does  a  search?  Include  
those  in  your  headline  –  but  make  sure  that  the  verbiage  still  flows  naturally.  In  other  words,  don’t  make  
                                                                                                                       
2
 Mauney,  Brad.  LinkedIn  Blog.  (Jul.  29  2013).  Retrieved  from  http://blog.linkedin.com/2013/07/29/five-­‐simple-­‐
ways-­‐to-­‐boost-­‐your-­‐professional-­‐brand-­‐on-­‐linkedin-­‐infographic/  Nov.  26  2015.  

  4  
it  obvious  that  you  planted  those  keywords  in  your  headline;  make  sure  that  they  fit  into  the  overall  
message  of  your  personal  brand  promise.  

Location  
Like  your  name,  this  aspect  of  your  profile  is  pretty  straightforward.  But  before  you  move  on  so  quickly,  
consider  this:  if  you  live  on  the  outskirts  or  within  commuting  range  of  a  big  city,  it  may  benefit  you  to  
list  that  city  as  your  location.  This  can  improve  your  odds  in  search  results,  and  is  especially  beneficial  if  
your  dream  company  is  located  in  a  major  city.  

Industry  
In  addition  to  optimizing  your  location,  you  need  to  tailor  the  industry  section  of  your  profile  so  that  it  
effectively  attracts  the  recruiter  or  manager  that  you  want  to  connect  with.  To  target  your  potential  
employer,  ask  yourself  this:  what  would  he  or  she  search  for  in  the  “industry”  section  to  find  me?  If  you  
have  a  paid  profile  (and  thus,  have  access  to  the  “Who’s  Viewed  Your  Profile”  insights),  then  you  may  
want  to  experiment  with  incorporating  different  words  into  your  “industry”  section.  After  a  few  tries,  
you  should  be  able  to  find  out  which  phrase  is  resonating  best  with  your  target  employers.  

Contact  Information  
You’re  on  LinkedIn  to  make  connections,  so  make  sure  it’s  super  easy  for  anyone  who  views  your  profile  
to  get  in  touch  with  you.  If  you’re  only  a  third-­‐degree  connection  or  beyond,  it’s  likely  that  someone  
who’s  interested  in  connecting  with  you  won’t  bother  to  send  an  introduction  or  buy  an  InMail  to  get  in  
touch.  You  can  still  make  it  easy  for  people  to  reach  you  by  optimizing  your  contact  details.  You  can  
include  up  to  three  websites  as  well  as  a  Twitter  handle.  Don’t  forget  about  the  “Advice  for  Contacting”  
section,  in  which  you  can  incorporate  any  information  that  makes  you  easy  to  reach,  such  as  an  email  
address  or  phone  number.    

Experience/Position  Description  
Here,  you  have  2,000  characters  to  describe  your  role  and  your  significant  accomplishments.  Envision  
the  skills/experience  that  would  define  you  as  a  key  player  in  the  role  for  which  you’re  seeking  
employment.  How  can  you  illustrate  the  ways  in  which  you’ve  grown,  made  key  accomplishments,  and  
truly  benefitted  your  past  or  current  employer(s)?  Don’t  be  afraid  to  incorporate  numbers  here.  Most  
importantly,  show,  don’t  tell!  If  you  can  provide  links  to  past  projects  or  include  any  eye-­‐catching  media  
such  as  videos,  images,  presentations,  or  documents  to  your  experience  section,  then  do  so.  Whenever  
possible,  let  your  work  speak  for  itself.  Also,  be  sure  not  to  rattle  off  past  projects,  duties,  and/or  
responsibilities  in  a  resume-­‐like  format.  Your  goal  is  to  make  your  profile  stand  out  and  come  to  life.  If  
you’re  questioning  the  readability  of  your  Experience  section,  then  run  it  by  a  couple  of  friends  or  family  
members  to  see  if  it  needs  any  edits.    

Publications  
Like  the  Experience  section,  Publications  has  a  2,000  character  limit.  Here,  you  should  include  any  
examples  of  work  you’ve  done  –  from  blog  posts  to  papers  and  any  other  published  written  content,  any  
work-­‐related  content  you’ve  completed  in  the  past  will  exhibit  credibility  in  your  industry  for  anyone  
who’s  viewing  your  profile.  

  5  
Summary  
The  LinkedIn  Summary  is  of  monumental  importance  when  it  comes  to  getting  noticed,  and  optimizing  it  
is  what  will  give  you  an  edge  over  your  competition.  Some  people  fail  to  bother  with  their  LinkedIn  
Summary  altogether,  which  is  a  big  mistake.    

Your  LinkedIn  Summary  is  so  important  –  perhaps  the  most  crucial  element  of  your  entire  LinkedIn  
Profile  –  that  I’ve  dedicated  an  entire  section  of  this  eBook  to  it.  Most  likely,  you’ll  spend  the  most  time  
working  on  your  profile  summary.  While  it’s  only  2,000  characters,  the  part  that  can  be  most  difficult  is  
taking  advantage  of  those  characters  and  using  them  to  your  best  ability  so  that  your  summary  gives  a  
well-­‐rounded,  captivating  description  of  you  as  a  professional  without  being  overly-­‐detailed,  or  
conversely,  too  nondescript.    

The  summary  has  a  2,000  character  limit,  and  it’s  in  your  best  interest  to  use  those  characters  up.  
Specifically,  research  suggests  that  profiles  with  summaries  of  40  words  or  more  are  more  likely  to  be  
featured  in  employers’  search  results.3  That’s  a  great  reason  to  put  a  little  extra  thought  into  your  
summary.  

One  of  the  easiest  ways  to  get  started  on  your  LinkedIn  Summary  is  to  revisit  your  headline.  Remember,  
your  headline  should  reflect  your  promise  of  value.  It  indicates  why  (and  how)  you  could  be  a  valuable  
asset  for  a  potential  employer.  To  create  your  summary,  you’ll  simply  build  on  that  statement.  Here  are  
a  few  questions  to  consider  when  writing  your  summary:    

• What  would  you  like  to  communicate  to  recruiters  and  potential  employers  about  yourself?    
• What  type  of  impression  do  you  want  to  make  on  people  who  view  your  profile?  
• What  qualities  are  you  known  for?  Think  of  ways  in  which  you  can  illustrate  how  your  work  
embodies  your  core  values,  skills,  and  talents.  

Also,  there  are  some  words  you  may  want  to  consider  avoiding  altogether.  One  of  the  most  commonly  
over-­‐used  phrase  (according  to  LinkedIn  themselves!)  is  “motivated.”4  You  might  think  that  this  would  
be  a  strong  adjective  that  any  recruiter  would  consider  important,  but  the  truth  is  that  nearly  everyone  
includes  this  word  in  their  profiles.  Instead  of  using  these  adjectives,  focus  on  explaining  the  things  that  
set  you  apart  as  a  viable  candidate.  How  did  your  motivation  drive  better  results  in  a  past  role?  Did  you  
use  your  motivation  to  find  a  creative  solution  to  an  ongoing  dilemma?  Remember  the  rule:  show,  don’t  
tell!  

As  for  some  other  words  to  avoid,  the  remaining  list  of  “the  most  overused,  underwhelming  buzzwords”  
and  phrases  of  2014  according  to  LinkedIn  includes:  passionate,  creative,  driven,  extensive  experience,  
responsible,  strategic,  track  record,  organizational,  and  expert.5  Keep  in  mind  that  these  aren’t  
necessarily  “bad”  words,  they’re  simply  overused.  The  reason  they’re  overused  is  because  nearly  all  
                                                                                                                       
3
 Cavazos,  Nicole.  ZipRecruiter.  (2015).  Retrieved  from  https://www.ziprecruiter.com/blog/optimize-­‐your-­‐linkedin-­‐
profile-­‐in-­‐7-­‐easy-­‐steps/  Nov.  27  2015.  
4
 Fisher,  Catherine.  LinkedIn  Blog.  (Jan.  21  2015).  Retrieved  from  http://blog.linkedin.com/2015/01/21/brand-­‐you-­‐
year-­‐how-­‐to-­‐brand-­‐yourself-­‐without-­‐sounding-­‐like-­‐everyone-­‐else/  Nov.  27,  2015.  
5
 Fisher,  Catherine;  see  above.    

  6  
employers  want  to  hire  candidates  who  fit  these  descriptions.  The  secret  is  showing  how  you  fit  these  
descriptions  (although  you  shouldn’t  pick  all  of  them;  target  a  few  of  these  or  other  key  adjectives  that  
fit  best  with  your  unique  professional  history),  instead  of  just  listing  the  qualities  you  exhibit.  

Your  summary  should  also  have  an  organized  structure.  You  shouldn’t  rattle  off  past  accomplishments  
or  try  to  woo  potential  employers  by  taking  on  a  salesy  tone.  The  summary  should  have  a  logical  flow  
that  highlights  a  few  specific  past  accomplishments  and  successes  of  note.  You  can  also  discuss  the  
things  about  which  you  are  passionate  (as  long  as  they  pertain  to  your  industry)  and  any  special  skills  or  
experiences  you  have  that  set  you  apart.  Your  tone  should  be  100%  genuine.  Don’t  forget  that  you  can  
always  ask  friends  or  family  members  to  proof  your  work  and  provide  any  suggestions  for  improvement.  

Essentially,  the  summary  section  affords  you  the  opportunity  to  tell  the  story  of  you.  While  it  should  be  
professional  and  the  focus  should  be  on  your  career  (avoid  details  about  your  personal  life,  of  course),  
you  don’t  have  to  make  it  sound  too  formal  or  forced.  Be  sure  to  write  your  summary  in  the  first  person,  
and  always  begin  by  building  on  your  promise  of  value.  

Here  is  an  example  of  some  feedback  I  recently  provided  for  a  client  about  optimizing  the  introduction  
of  his  LinkedIn  Summary,  or  what  I  refer  to  as  “the  personal  brand  statement”:  

“Helping  [target  employers/clients]  do  [role/deliverables]  so  that  they  can  have  
[benefits/results].  I  am  especially  good  at  [list  differentiation]  which  is  why  I  am  known  as  the  
[ultimate  brand  position  e.g.,  Career  Happiness  Coach].  I  stand  for/am  committed  to  
[values/things  you  and  your  brand  to  stand  for  100%  of  the  time].”  
 
Please  keep  in  mind  that  your  personal  brand  statement  needs  to  include  the  top  keywords  that  are  
best  optimized  to  attract  employers  from  your  target  industry.    

Some  other  details  you  might  want  to  consider  including  in  your  summary  are  the  amount  of  years  for  
which  you’ve  worked  in  your  industry;  or,  if  you’re  making  a  significant  career  shift,  the  reasons  why  
you’re  switching  career  paths  and  what  past  experience  makes  you  a  unique,  valuable  candidate.  

If  you  are  struggling  in  organizing  your  summary,  consider  first  making  bullet  points  to  address  
experience,  strengths  and  talents,  noteworthy  accomplishments,  and  skills.  You  can  always  build  upon  
these  points  and  draft  a  cohesive  summary  from  there.  Or,  conversely,  you  may  want  to  choose  to  keep  
some  of  your  summary  in  bulleted  format.  For  instance,  I’ve  found  that  listing  key  
values/differentiations  in  a  bulleted  list  is  effective  and  helps  draw  the  eye  down  the  list.  Remember,  
readability  is  an  important  part  of  having  a  LinkedIn  profile  that  gets  you  hired.  So,  you  might  want  to  
include  key  values  such  as  “Commitment  to  applying  new  learnings  to  day-­‐to-­‐day  responsibilities  to  
optimize  performance  in  the  workplace”  or  “A-­‐Player  who  collaborates  well  by  capitalizing  on  strengths  
and  aligning  goals  across  teams  and  departments”  in  a  bulleted  list.  

Finally,  don’t  forget  to  include  a  call-­‐to-­‐action  at  the  end  of  your  summary.  You  need  to  make  profile  
visitors  feel  as  if  they  should  get  in  contact  with  you  now.  This  is  the  part  where  you  essentially  “seal  the  
deal”  and  do  your  best  to  convince  recruiters  that  you’re  the  candidate  they’ve  been  looking  for.  

  7  
Additional  Profile  Sections  
Now  that  you’ve  completed  your  most  challenging  profile  section  (your  summary),  completing  the  
remaining  portions  of  your  profile  will  feel  easy  in  comparison.  Resist  the  urge  to  skip  them  altogether;  
though.  Remember,  a  LinkedIn  profile  that’s  100%  complete  is  more  likely  to  get  noticed  and  picked  up  
during  search  results.  

Skills  
It’s  recommended  that  LinkedIn  users  list  at  least  10  core  skills.  You  can  receive  endorsements  from  
others,  and  in  return,  you  can  provide  endorsements  for  them  as  well.  Even  without  a  premium  profile,  
you  can  list  up  to  50  skills.  I  recommend  listing  as  many  as  possible  –  this  is  one  instance  in  which  more  
is  better.  Think  of  it  this  way:  the  broader  your  skillset,  the  more  likely  you  are  to  appeal  to  a  recruiter  
who’s  searching  for  a  candidate  with  a  specific  skill.  Don’t  forget  to  check  off  that  you’re  interested  in  
receiving  endorsements  for  your  skills;  and,  once  you  begin  receiving  them,  be  kind  and  return  the  favor  
for  others.  More  than  10  million  endorsements  are  given  every  day  on  LinkedIn,  but  the  average  user  
has  only  five  endorsements.  6    This  is  one  area  in  which  you  can  easily  surpass  your  competition  by  
increasing  your  number  of  endorsements  beyond  the  average.    

Education  
Many  LinkedIn  users  stick  to  the  basics  in  this  section,  but  the  Education  portion  of  your  profile  provides  
yet  another  opportunity  to  capitalize  on  your  history  to  attract  recruiters  and  connections.  One  thing  to  
keep  in  mind  when  writing  your  education  section  is  to  expand  on  your  degree  so  that  it  includes  any  
relevant  keywords.  You  have  100  characters  for  this  section,  so  feel  free  to  use  them!  Also,  avoid  listing  
information  about  your  high  school  education.  Even  if  you  are  a  recent  college  graduate,  most  
employers  simply  don’t  look  at  this  portion  of  your  education.  Keep  in  mind  that  you  have  1,000  
additional  characters  to  expand  upon  your  education  in  the  Education  Description  section  –  discuss,  
using  keywords,  how  your  schooling  is  relevant  to  your  target  industry  and  career.  

Honors  &  Awards  

Don’t  leave  this  1,000  word  section  blank.  Even  if  you  feel  as  if  you’ve  “never  won  anything,”  there  must  
be  some  point  in  time  during  which  your  efforts  were  recognized.  Use  this  section  to  highlight  superior  
performance,  and  if  possible,  tailor  it  to  fit  with  skills  and  talents  that  would  help  you  excel  in  your  
target  employer’s  industry.  

Volunteer  Experience  &  Causes  

In  many  instances,  volunteer  experience  can  be  likened  to  career  experience;  in  fact,  42%  of  hiring  
managers  polled  in  a  LinkedIn  survey  say  that  they  consider  volunteer  work  to  actually  be  equivalent  to  
formal  work  experience.7  Not  only  does  it  emphasize  your  values  and  your  ability  to  work  well  with  
others,  but  it  also  rounds  you  out  as  a  professional  with  a  vision  and  purpose.    

                                                                                                                       
6
 Schaffer,  Neal.  Maximize  Social  Business.  (Aug.  28,  2015).  Retrieved  from  
http://maximizesocialbusiness.com/professional-­‐linkedin-­‐profile-­‐tips-­‐checklist-­‐9648/  Nov.  27,  2015.  
7
 Mauney,  Brad;  see  above.    

  8  
Connecting  With  Others  
Once  you’ve  tailored  your  LinkedIn  profile  using  the  strategies  discussed  so  far,  you  can  begin  optimizing  
your  profile  through  the  connections  you  make  with  others.  Take  a  look:  

Connections  
How  many  connections  should  you  have  on  LinkedIn?  While  the  simplest  answer  might  be  “the  more,  
the  better,”  here’s  one  benchmark  for  which  you  can  aim:  multiply  your  age  by  10,  and  try  to  achieve  
that  many  connections.8  Having  a  low  number  of  connections  might  not  give  you  enough  exposure  on  
LinkedIn,  so  be  sure  to  think  back  to  past  business  relationships  so  to  build  up  your  network.  

Groups  
LinkedIn  Groups  are  an  ideal  way  to  get  connected  with  other  professionals  in  your  industry,  which  can  
certainly  include  recruiters  and  hiring  managers.  When  you  join  a  group,  other  group  members  become  
able  to  contact  you  through  the  messenger  (essentially  bypassing  the  first-­‐degree  connection  stage  
altogether).  The  majority  (81%)  of  LinkedIn  users  belong  to  at  least  one  group,9  so  be  sure  to  use  this  
tool  to  your  advantage  and  join  as  many  groups  as  you  can  manage.    

Status  Updates  
Being  an  active  user  on  LinkedIn  is  just  as  important  as  building  a  compelling  profile.  You  can  publish  
status  updates  to  draw  attention  to  yourself;  just  be  sure  that  it’s  business-­‐oriented.  If  you’re  feeling  shy  
about  sharing  your  thoughts,  consider  writing  posts  that  are  helpful  and  relevant  in  your  industry,  or  
even  sharing  articles  that  might  be  interesting  to  your  connections.  

Find  a  Job  
This  is  the  part  you’ve  been  waiting  for!  Once  you  have  built  an  effective  LinkedIn  profile,  gotten  
connected  with  others,  and  use  the  platform  regularly,  it’s  time  to  search  LinkedIn  Jobs.  You  can  used  
the  “advanced”  feature  to  search  using  title,  industry,  keyword,  location,  experience  level,  company,  
and  more.  You  can  also  complete  a  brief  survey,  which  will  then  help  LinkedIn  to  provide  you  with  
positions  for  which  you  might  be  an  ideal  candidate,  based  on  the  preferences  you’ve  provided.  

Staying  Visible  
Being  active  on  LinkedIn  increases  your  visibility.  Updating  your  status  once  per  weekday  is  
recommended,  and  based  on  research,  may  help  you  connect  with  about  60%  of  your  target  audience.10  
It’s  also  recommended  that  you  continue  to  update  your  information  regularly  –  only  42%  of  users  do  
so,  and  it’s  one  way  that  you  can  stand  out  against  other  potential  hires.11  You  can  also  rearrange  your  
profile  sections  and  continue  to  monitor  your  profile  activity  to  see  what’s  most  effective.  

                                                                                                                       
8
 Schaffer,  Neal;  see  above.  
9
 Schaffer,  Neal;  see  above.  
10
 Knight,  Warren.  LinkedIn  Pulse.  (Sept.  26,  2014).  Retrieved  from  
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140926175351-­‐938929-­‐the-­‐social-­‐media-­‐frequency-­‐guide-­‐how-­‐often-­‐should-­‐
you-­‐post  Nov.  27,  2015.  
11
 Schaffer,  Neal;  see  above.  

  9  
Conclusion  
The  steps  listed  in  this  eBook  serve  as  the  fundamentals  for  how  you  can  create  an  effective  and  
compelling  LinkedIn  profile.  Optimizing  your  LinkedIn  profile  is  one  of  the  best  ways  to  get  hired,  as  
networking  online  is  critical  for  getting  noticed  by  recruiters,  hiring  managers,  and  other  professionals.    

With  that  being  said,  it’s  only  one  of  the  ways  in  which  you  can  optimize  your  visibility  and  get  hired.  In  
my  experience  as  a  career  coach  and  brand  strategist,  I  have  come  up  with  dozens  of  other  ways  in  
which  you  can  take  your  skills,  strengths,  talents,  and  experiences  and  use  them  to  your  advantage  to  
get  hired  in  the  role  and  industry  you  most  desire.  For  more  information  on  how  you  can  create  your  
most  fulfilling  career,  visit  www.InspiredWork.com.    

  10