Designing Your LinkedIn Profile

Employers use social media to target applicants and learn more about them. Make sure your social media presence is professional and targeted.

PHOTO

▪ It doesn't have to be fancy – just use your cellphone camera in front of a plain background

▪ Wear a nice shirt and don't forget to smile!

HEADLINE

▪ Short, memorable, professional phrase that highlights your skills, accomplishments or goals

▪ Describe what motivates you, what you're skilled at, and what's next

▪ Make it genuine and authentic to YOU

▪ Add any job, internship, research or leadership experience that is relevant or significant

▪ Include the names of the organizations, job titles, dates, and locations

▪ Use bullet points to describe your accomplishments

▪ HINT: If you have done a great job on your resume, copy / paste the bullets directly into LinkedIn – work smarter, not harder!

▪ List all of your institutions of higher education, including study abroad and transfer schools

▪ Include your Degree, Field of study, Dates attended, and Activities and Societies

▪ Include both hard and soft skills

▪ Research phrases most associated with certain industries and highlight key words

▪ Endorse people you know well or have worked with for their skills – they may return the favor

▪ Join the Bentley University Community group

▪ Follow companies of interest to learn more about the company, stay up-to-date on company news, find jobs, and review connections at the company

Take your LinkedIn profile to the next level by including any of the following sections that are applicable:

▪ Highlight your passions and how you like to give back

▪ Include the names of the organizations, position titles, dates and locations

▪ Use bullet points to describe your accomplishments

▪ Showcase your expertise with any relevant credentials you are pursuing or have earned

▪ Can include Publications, Courses, Projects, Honors & Awards, Languages, Organizations and more

▪ Ask managers, professors, or classmates who've worked with you closely to write a recommendation –this gives extra credibility to your strengths / skills

When editing your profile, just below your picture and headline, click on “Open to”, then “Finding a new job”. Add or update your job preferences, including titles, locations, etc. Then, “Choose who sees you’re open” and select between “recruiters only” or “all LinkedIn members”.