How to Build Your LinkedIn Profile

Article

By Brandi Britton, Executive Director, Contract Finance & Accounting, Robert Half

For anyone starting a job search, a polished LinkedIn profile is a crucial first step to open avenues for networking and connecting with other professionals who could be helpful to know. I use LinkedIn frequently to find and screen finance and accounting candidates and see details about their education, qualifications and career journey.

Nowadays, every professional — jobseeker or not — needs a LinkedIn profile. And now that the platform has more than 1 billion members in 200 countries and regions, it's important to make your profile stand out. And it's never too early to make an online impression — you can start developing and curating your LinkedIn profile even as a college student with limited work experience.

Here are tips from a recruiter's perspective to help your LinkedIn profile make a good first impression and make it easier for recruiters to find your profile and get to know your skill sets, personality and professional background. By optimizing your profile, you can increase your visibility for job listings, internship opportunities and other career opportunities.

Tips for Building an Impressive LinkedIn Profile

Complete the "About" section
Upload a high-quality profile photo
Highlight your credentials
Proofread for spelling and grammar errors
Don't stress if you lack experience
More LinkedIn tips and tricks

Your summary is a personal introduction for recruiters, so start with a great headline and opening statement. The recommended formula for your introduction summary is to say what you are, say who you are, say why you make work/life better and give proof that substantiates it.

It's also the best place to add keywords — specific terms or phrases to identify your skills, qualifications, industry insights or professional attributes relevant to your career or job search. Keywords make it easier for human recruiters and automated screening tools to evaluate your essential qualifications. Consider what types of roles you're looking for and appropriately highlight your skills. Finance and accounting professionals might work in terms like "Advanced Excel" or "advanced modeling techniques," for example.

According to LinkedIn, profiles with a photo receive 21 times more views, 36 times more messages, and nine times more connection requests. You don't necessarily need a professional headshot, but you will want to upload a high-resolution photo that includes only yourself (no family photos, company logos or photos with a drink in your hand) and projects a professional image. Remember to dress professionally — business attire preferred — and cover bare shoulders with a blazer or another option with sleeves.

Most mobile devices can take high-quality photographs, so a friend or family member can easily serve as your photographer. Even AI can assist with this.

One common mistake users make is using the "Experience" section of their profile to talk about previous titles, positions and responsibilities in those positions. Instead, use this area to advertise yourself and your personal brand and to highlight your professional achievements and accomplishments.

For example, if you're working toward your CPA license or certified management accountant (CMA) certificate, include that effort. If you managed a project that positively impacted your team or organization in a quantitative way, include that data.

Your LinkedIn profile should get the same attention to detail as your resume when it comes to error-checking. One minor mistake could cost you a great employment opportunity.

For college students and recent graduates without a long work history, you can showcase your coursework, technical and nontechnical skills, and academic achievements. Round out your LinkedIn profile with certifications you earned, languages you speak fluently, and volunteer projects to give potential employers a picture of who you are, your interests, career goals and skill sets you have to offer. This can help you land internships and entry-level positions to kickstart your professional development.

The LinkedIn platform isn't just for being found — it's a two-way street, excellent for actively building your visibility, reputation and brand. Here are more ways to make it work for you:

Create a custom URL for your profile. A URL with your name or other custom working makes your profile link easier to share and looks more professional when included on resumes or business cards. You can edit your URL in your public profile settings.

Utilize the "Featured" section strategically. Add links to your publicized achievements, thought leadership or portfolio pieces in this section to immediately grab visitors' attention and highlight your successes and expertise.

Use LinkedIn's advanced search to refine your profile. Search for your desired job title and analyze the top-ranking profiles. Use these insights to tweak your own profile and improve your search ranking.

Ask for recommendations. With a quick click under the "Recommendations" section, you can invite a colleague to leave a good word about you, your skills and your professional relationship. Don't be afraid to approach past and present colleagues for recommendations and endorsements this way. It will strengthen the content on your profile and "verify" your skill set.

Engage with LinkedIn's other features. Using tools like LinkedIn Live, LinkedIn Audio Events and other newer features bring opportunities to increase your visibility and demonstrate expertise in your field.

Finally, if you are looking for a job or career change, you can use your LinkedIn profile to upload your resume to the Robert Half website and maximize your hiring chances.

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