The document provides guidance on building a professional LinkedIn profile, emphasizing the differences between LinkedIn and Facebook. Key elements of a LinkedIn profile include a headline, professional photo, education, summary, and specialties, all of which should present a professional image suitable for potential employers. It also highlights the importance of a complete profile in increasing opportunities, with a checklist for essential profile components.

1. How You Can Build a
Professional LinkedIn Profile

2. Overview
• LinkedIn vs. Facebook
• LinkedIn statistics
• Why you need a LinkedIn account
• What’s on your profile?
• Basic profile checklist

3. LinkedIn vs. Facebook
• LinkedIn and Facebook are not the
same thing!
• LinkedIn is a professional site that can help
you with your career.
• Facebook is for socializing.
• Do not mix the two sites. Do you really want
future employers looking at your Facebook
photos or wall posts?

4. LinkedIn Statistics
• 100+ million users
• Over 150 industries are represented
• 2+ million college students
• 37,000+ college and university alumni groups
– including National College!

5. Why You Need a LinkedIn Account
• It’s your professional online presence
• Opportunity to connect with other students,
alumni and local employers
• Research companies/career paths
• Explore opportunities with local employers
that may not recruit on campus
• Learn professional networking etiquette

6. What’s on your LinkedIn profile?

7. Headline
• Appears directly
below your name
• Affects how people
will find and classify
you
• Think of this as a
slogan for yourself –
How do you want
people to think of you
professionally?

8. Profile Photo
• Allows people you have
networked with to quickly
identify you
• A professional looking
headshot is very
important
• You should be the only
person in your profile
photo
• Remember, this isn’t
Facebook – pictures of
you partying are not
appropriate

9. Education
• Include information
about all schools you
have attended
• Include your program
of study and degree
or certificate
• Include any honors or
awards you’ve
received at school

10. Summary
• This should resemble the first few sentences of
your cover letter
• Allow for others to quickly learn about you
• Present your summary in short blocks of text for
easy reading

11. Specialties
• Include keywords and
phrases that a recruiter
or hiring manager might
type to find a person
like you
• The best way to find
relevant keywords is by
checking out job listings
that appeal to you and
pulling words from
there

13. LinkedIn Profile Sections
• Showcase your college
accomplishments
– Projects
– Awards & Honors
– Organizations
– Courses

14. Adding Sections
Select the section
you would like to add
to your profile (note:
you can add as many
sections as you
choose to – you will
need to select
sections one by one)
Once you have the
section selected, click
“Add to Profile”

15. Adding Sections (cont.)
To add information to
your new section,
click “+ Add a course”
Be sure to select
“Student at National
College” from the
dropdown menu

16. Your Completed Profile
• Users with 100% complete
profiles are 40 times more
likely to receive
opportunities through
LinkedIn
• You can’t build connections
if people don’t know you
exist or see what you have
to offer
• Think of your LinkedIn
profile as your online
business card, your
resume, and letters of
recommendation all in one

17. LinkedIn Basic Checklist
 Headline
 Profile Photo
 Summary
 Specialties
 Experience
 Education