LinkedIn Profile Optimization

Profile
Optimization
brought to you by
Bruce A. Bennett
Career Coach Corner
April 28, 2021

2
Notes and Outline for session
General Notes for Today
My contact info is on last slide
Red Arrows
Outline
What & Why LinkedIn
Different elements for your profile
LinkedIn actions and nuances
New LinkedIn Features
Mobile App

3
Goals for session
Learn how to create and post content
Understand how & why to use the # and @
symbols
Identify opportunities to market yourself
Learn the advantage of using the LinkedIn
mobile app

4
LinkedIn - What is it
Over 740 million professionals in more than 200
countries use LinkedIn to connect, exchange
information, ideas & opportunities!!
Create an Internet Presence
Business Networking Site
Research Individual or Company
 Norm Galvin at InsightsNow
Find Employment Opportunities
Networking, networking, networking!

5
Why LinkedIn is more than a resume
Virtual Resume
Not limited to 2 pages
Elements include visual stimuli
 Photos and/or videos
 Examples of creative content, proposals, Excel, etc.
Recommendations
 Co-workers, manager, direct reports
 Vendors, clients
Network connections are your advocacy group
Validation for a Company’s hiring decision

8
LinkedIn Profile Important Elements

9
LinkedIn Profile Important Elements
1. Custom Banner
2. Profile photo - passport format
3. Headline features skills or descriptive & accurate
4. About section with call to action
5. Featured section showcasing relevant info
6. Dashboard with current activity
7. Work Experience with details & preferably metrics
8. Education
9. Skills & Endorsement section
10. Recommendations

10
Custom Banner
Providing a custom banner enhances a profile
Use relevant image for your profession or brand

11
Custom Banner
Use Google images to search for relevant image

12
Your photo should have a professional appearance
Passport format with headshot
Any digital photo can be cropped to fit
Rename photo file for SEO before uploading it
e.g. Bruce Bennett Fishing Guide.jpg
Profile Photo

13
Headline
Headline can have 220 characters

14
A. B2B Sales at MNO Company
B. Bilingual B2B Sales Professional at MNO Company
C. Fluent Bilingual B2B Sales Professional Helping
French and American Companies expand their
International Presence
A. Marketing Manager at XYZ Company
B. Successful Marketing Manager of Brands at XYZ
Company
C. Internet Marketing Expert | Looking For New
Business Partnerships That Need Help
With Marketing... Lets Connect!
Headline Alternative - UVP

15
The About section can have 2500 characters
First paragraph should be about your skills, job
titles, work experience and passion
Second paragraph should relate how you added
value for a previous employer(s) - tell a STAR story
Final paragraph should tell how you can solve a
company’s problems or issues
Close with a call to action; “let’s connect….call me
if…or contact me if…
About Summary

16
Featured Section
Great for posts, articles, links, documents and media

17
Your profile status is displayed on your Dashboard
Are you an All Star, Intermediate and Beginner?
LinkedIn will make recommendations to reach next level
Dashboard - All Star Profile?

20
Work Experience
Title, Skills, Keywords, Company logo & Metrics

21
Education
College degrees, Continuing Education & Learning

22
Education
Many options to showcase your education & knowledge

23
Three skills are featured but you can have 50 skills
You can add a new skill by clicking the hyperlink
The skills can reordered by clicking on the blue pencil
Skills & Endorsements
2
1
3
47 more

24
LinkedIn Skills
You choose which three skills to feature

25
LinkedIn Skills
Start typing a new skill to identify best fit
LinkedIn auto populates & defines key skills

26
LinkedIn Skills
It is imperative to add all your skills to your profile
You might ask yourself why is it so important?
This Is Why I Emphasize Skills

27
Skills Nuance
Strategically place skills in your work experience
Job Title (then list skills used in that position)
Insert key skills again in the detailed section

29
LinkedIn Recommendations
They are an important element to your profile
You should have three to four recommendations
How does the process work?
A two way street, i.e. quid pro quo
Write recommendations to others
You receive a notice a recommendation was written
for you
You review it to approve and post or ask for a
revision
Are your recommendations current?
Quote recommendations in your work experience

30
LinkedIn Actions and Nuances
1. Important Message setting
2. LinkedIn URL customized
3. Contact info completed
4. Open to work photo arc
5. Create relevant job search agent(s)
6. Posting activity
7. Using # and @ symbols
8. Follow companies
9. JobScan.co for LinkedIn Optimization

31
Important Messaging Setting

32
Customize Your LinkedIn Profile URL

33
Delete computer generated digits & Save

34
Use on resume, cover letter, business card, job
applications, email signature

36
Editing Your Profile Contact Info

37
LinkedIn Job Search Agent
LinkedIn suggestions based on profile, skills, company, etc.

38
Update career interests for recruiters & connections
LinkedIn Open to Work

40
Search for relevant jobs posted on LinkedIn
Use a job title & location to start a search

41
Searches can be filtered on many criteria & saved

42
All job filters allow for expanded searching by
Date posted, Experience level, Company and….

43
All filters allow for expanded searching by
Job type, Remote, Features, Distance and….

44
Location, Industry and….

45
Job function, Title, Salary and….

46
Salary and Benefits

47
Apply button redirects you to company website
LinkedIn Job Applications

48
Use Easy Apply if NOT listed on Company Website
LinkedIn Easy Apply Application

50
Your LinkedIn Activity
Sharing content is a one way to get noticed

51
Creating a post is an easy process
Start on the home page and click on Start a Post

52
Click on the Anyone drop down menu to select who
receives the post

53
You can send to Anyone, + Tweet, connections only,
or LinkedIn Group members

54
You can select a LinkedIn Group to post your message

55
Type message and add @ or # to target recipients

56
Content is complete and ready to Post

57
Post is successful confirmation, click view to see it

58
Hashtag & At Symbol
The hashtag # symbol is a powerful tool
Use it to reach a larger audience
Gain more visibility and/or marketing
Appropriate use is #LinkedInTips
Those individuals following #LinkedInTips
will have it appear in their feed
The at @ symbol allows you to reach, market to
or recognize a specific person
Appropriate use .e.g. @MaureenMueller or
@BruceBixler
Both symbols work with other social media
Can A Company Use # and @??

59
Hashtag & At Symbol
Enter in a topic to find variations of the theme

60
Hashtag & At Symbol
LinkedIn indicates how many followers a topic has

61
Hashtag & At Symbol
Start with the @symbol when typing a name,
Then click on the person in the dropdown list

62
Hashtag & At Symbol
LinkedIn completes the name for you & hyperlinks it

63
Hashtag & At Symbol
Complete typing your comments and click the Post
button to complete the action
The individual will receive a notice that you
referenced them in a post

64
Hashtag & At Symbol
A company
receives notice
that you
referenced them
in a post

65
Strategic Guideline - Follow Company
Keep current with your Interests & target companies
LinkedIn enables you to easily view news & jobs

66
Follow Companies
LinkedIn company page features many details

68
Follow Companies
Like, Comment or Share to engage with a company

70
JobScan.co for LinkedIn
Compares your resume to job description

71
My resume scored 35% when compared to Echo job

72
Details require a JobScan premium service

73
New LinkedIn Features
1. Interview Prep
2. Resume Builder
3. Skills Assessment
4. Streamlined Search
5. Career Explorer
6. LinkedIn Blog – an oldie but a goodie
7. Name Pronunciation on Mobile App
8. Live video, Story, Reactions, Polls and more

74
Interview Prep provides sample Q & A with video & tips
Interview Prep

75
Categories button offers additional questions
Interview Prep

76
Play video to understand framework & read tips
Interview Prep

77
Select a question and view video suggested answer
Interview Prep

78
LinkedIn allows for verbal and/or written practice
Interview Prep

79
LinkedIn will create a resume from your profile
Or you can upload an existing resume
Resume Builder - More in Job Tab

80
Skills Assessment
Take Skill Quiz is a feature that is getting traction
You might ask yourself why is it so important?

81
Skills Assessment
Take Skill Quiz
offers several
categories to
test your
knowledge.

82
Skills Assessment
Once you pass
the quiz, a
badge is
featured next
to the skill.

83
LinkedIn Searching
Find people, companies, jobs, groups using search

84
LinkedIn Searching
Use LinkedIn’s array of search filters to fine tune results

85
LinkedIn Searching
All people filters allow for searching by Connections of,
Location, Companies, Industries, Schools, and…

86
LinkedIn's Career Explorer
Career Explorer identifies transferable skills
https://linkedin.github.io/career-explorer/

87
Begin by identify a job title
LinkedIn makes suggestion based on key words

88
Change default setting from high to low
Find jobs on LinkedIn that match your skills

89
LinkedInBlog https://blog.linkedin.com
Learn about new features and tips on a regular
basis by subscribing to their blog

90
LinkedIn Mobile
High level of functionality
Instant communication
Record audio message
Tool for networking events
#Networking

91
LinkedIn Mobile App
LinkedIn mobile makes it
easy to network and stay
connected with your
network.
The mobile app version has
great tools to facilitate it.

92
LinkedIn Mobile App
LinkedIn mobile allows you
to add your name
pronunciation.
Click on your profile
settings to add name or
brief message.

93
LinkedIn Mobile Adding a Connection
You can personalize a request
to connect on LinkedIn mobile.
1 Go to their Profile page.
2 Click the MORE button.
A new screen will be displayed.
1
2

94
LinkedIn Mobile Adding a Connection
Select Personalize invite and
write your invitation to connect.
Limited to 300 spaces.

95
LinkedIn Mobile Messaging
Messaging offers instant
communication with your
network.
1 Go to the Home page.
2 Touch the symbol.
2
1

96
Messaging offers ability to
search messages.
Green circle indicates they are
active on LinkedIn
1 To search for a message.
2 To create a new message.
1
2

97
You can send more then a
plain text message.
Use regular keyboard
controls on Smartphone to
add emoji, gifs, or other
media.
Or send a short audio
message by selecting the
microphone.
1
1

98
LinkedIn Mobile App Networking Tools
LinkedIn has made it easy
to share your profile with
others at networking
events.
1 Go to the Home page.
2 Touch the symbol.
A new screen will be
displayed.
2
1

99
1 You can scan another
person’s code.
2 Add saved code from gallery.
3 Scan QR code to display
their profile.
1
2
3

100
Profile from scanning my
laptop screen is displayed!

101
1 You can scan another
person’s code.
2 Your code is displayed
for scanning.
3 Share your code via
email, tweet, Facebook, etc.
4 Save Qcode to your
phone.
2
1
3
4

102
McHenry County Workforce Network
May Career Workshops & Services
McHenry County Workforce Network Website
Personalized Job Search Assistance Services
To sign up, request the professional directly by email
LinkedIn Critiques
60 minute session Virtual Session is a one on one
profile review and/or Q&A about LinkedIn usage
Email me to set up an appointment: mcwnbennett@hotmail.com

103
Upcoming Webinar Events
Resumes, Cover Letters and Applying Online
Monday May 10, 2021 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Network to Success Job Club
Savings Fitness
Wednesday May 12, 2021 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Guide to a Winning Interview
Monday May 17, 2021 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
LinkedIn for Your Job Search
Wednesday May 19, 2021 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Network to Success Job Club
Revitalizing a Stalled Job Search
Wednesday June 12, 2021 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

104
Success Stories
Terri A. – Accounting Professional
Improved her profile after workshops & 1on1 critique to negotiate new job
Richard S. – Project Manager
Attended workshops and incorporated learnings to get hired
Maria A. – Change Agent
Incorporated my recommendations, found on LinkedIn and offered job
Liz Z. – Graphic Design
Attended my workshops, used LinkedIn effectively and offered job
Rick P. – Sales Professional
Improved his profile after workshops & 1on1 critique
I want to add your name to the list!!

Feel free to follow up or
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Bruce A. Bennett
Mobile: 815-302-9552
Email: BABennett73@gmail.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bruceabennett
Career Coach Corner Blog: http://bruce73.wordpress.com/
https://bruce73.wordpress.com/upcoming-presentations/
Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/b-squared-linkedin

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