1. Creating an Effective
LinkedIn Profile
Carolynn Friesch
Director of Employer Relations

2. What is LinkedIn?

3. Eleven Sections of Your Profile
• Headline
• Summary
• Education
• Experience
• Organizations
• Volunteer
Experience
• Skills
• Honors/Awards
• Courses
• Projects
• Recommendations

4. Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Display a professionally appropriate photo

5. Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Create the right headline
 Tell people what you’re excited about and
what you want to do
 Use keywords that will attract recruiters
 Example: Skilled Social Media User, Aspiring
Public Relations Professional
 NO: Student at Carthage College, Barista at
Starbucks

6. Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Write a keyword-rich summary that “sells”
your skills and experience
 Be concise, specific, and typo-free
 Describe what motivates you, what you’re
skilled at, and what’s next
 Write the summary in the first person
 Include a link to a blog, portfolio, etc

7. Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Get strong, helpful recommendations
 Professors, employers (i.e. current supervisor),
and internship supervisors
 BEFORE you send a request, make sure that
you speak to the recommender first
 No minimum or maximum number of referrals
 One of each category would be helpful

8. Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Add samples of your work
 Course PowerPoint Presentations, Prezi, blog,
e-portfolio, senior thesis
 Sections: Summary, Education, Work
Experience

9. Five Golden Rules of LinkedIn
 Tie your LinkedIn profile to your other
efforts
 Personalize your LinkedIn URL
 Example: www.linkedin.com/in/carolynnmfriesch
 Add the URL or badge to your email signature
 Example:
 Include the URL on your resume
 Business cards

10. How to Customize Your URL
1.Move your cursor over Profile at the top of your
homepage and select Edit Profile.
2.Click the URL link under your profile photo. It will be an
address like www.linkedin.com/in/yourname
3.Under the Your public profile URL section on the right,
click the Edit icon next to your URL.
4.Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box.
5.Click Save.

11. Completing the Experience Section
• Include all of the jobs and internships from
your resume
• Focus on your accomplishments
• DO NOT retype your resume
• Example: Assisted in the implementation of
new donor outreach program OR Helped to
raise $200,000 for XYZ program
• Include an example of your work, if possible

12. Completing the Education Section
• Include all of your educational programs,
as well as, summer programs
• List your major and minor
• Include your GPA if you want to

13. Completing the Skills Section
• Add at least 5 key skills
• Your connections can endorse you for
more skills
• Professional tip: Endorse others for their
experience

14. Completing the Course &
Projects Sections
• Add courses that show off your skills and
that you are most excited about
• Talk about class projects that you led
include what you did and how you did it

15. Additional Ways to Enhance
Your Profile
• Add additional sections: Language, Test
Scores, Publications, Certifications, Posts
(i.e. blog)
• In edit mode, drag sections to re-order
them; most important sections first
• Add Twitter link if appropriate to contact
information section
• Industry & location – aspirational or current