Linkedin to get noticed

If you're hoping to get noticed and build credibility for yourself in the corporate world, having an eye-catching, detailed and updated Linkedin profile is a prerequisite. Your Linkedin page allows you to advertise your unique skills, achievements, work experience, etc. to relevant people in your network, such as other professionals, potential recruiters, etc. Here are a few simple tricks to create a profile that can impress.

The visuals

According to statistics, viewers are 14x more likely to go through your profile if there is a good profile picture. So choose a clear, professional picture that doesn't have too much going on. When it comes to your cover photo, you can pick the one that shines a positive light on your professional life, for example a photo of you in a corporate setting or a public speaking event. You can also add links and media of anything else you want to share; this can include accolades you've received or anything else you might want showcased.

An interesting headline

This is the little section that's right under your photo, and instead of just writing your job title, feel free to use it to express something about yourself in a way that sparks interest, such as talking about your special skills, interests and how you use them in your field of work.

For example, "Marketing enthusiast with a passion for data analytics and digital campaign creation" or "Financial manager at XYZ with specialisation in asset management" are good headlines.

A powerful summary

Your summary gives you 2000 words to talk about what you bring to the table; a good tip is to keep it short (keeping in mind the reader's short attention span), but also insightful. Talk about your past experiences, what you do, how your skills help in your job and what you can bring to a prospective employer.

A completed profile

Fill up all the sections in your profile. Noting down work isn't enough, use a few short bullet points to talk about what you had to do, and include accomplishments or leadership roles you may have handled. Write about any relevant accolades you have, with a short description of your role. Write about skills, and don't forget to get them endorsed from coworkers, peers or supervisors.

Connect & make regular updates

Connect with other people, see what they are posting, and engage with posts you find helpful. Also keep updating your own profile by sharing your own professional experiences, accolades or helpful articles. Another tip is to join groups that reflect your interests and network with like-minded people.

Use keywords

To make sure your profile gets seen, identify and use certain keywords and industry terms in your experience and achievement sections when making your account, so that your profile comes up when people are searching for those words. This is a great way to be seen by recruiters or professionals who are searching for people who match your skillsets.

Tashfia Mamun is a final year business student from IBA, DU and an avid dog lover. Reach her at tashfia.mamun@gmail.com.