Transform your LinkedIn profile and boost your career.
According to DMR stats, 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to vet candidates. One of the most important areas they check out is your LinkedIn summary.
That LinkedIn summary is your blank slate. It’s the place where you can create a powerful pitch without being confined by dates, titles or text boxes. There, you can break out of your one-dimensional screen presence and become a full-fledged candidate of interest.
A LinkedIn summary can help you get noticed by the people you want who have the employment you seek.
So how do you turn that blank space into the best place to find the position you’ve been hoping for? By applying the same persuasive marketing techniques used by copy and content writers. Better still, all you need is about 200 words. It’s just enough to get attention and, done right, it’s enough to keep it.
Remember, on LinkedIn, you’re just one of many.
Humbling, but true – there are over 400 million LinkedIn members. That means there are countless candidates out there just as great as you are. It’s unlikely someone will come upon your LinkedIn profile and want to hire you on the spot. More likely, they’ll scan your profile and move onto the next. They may keep you in mind if you meet their criteria. They’re still going to keep looking, though, in case there’s someone better out there.
Like I said, humbling.
So what can you do when you’re competing against so many comparable candidates? Be different. The first lesson in advertising (and personal branding for that matter) is that you’re nothing special until you do something unique.
The one advantage that too many LinkedIn members overlook is their own personality. It’s unique to you. Giving readers a glimpse of who you are as a person goes a long way in giving them a rich versus flat screen impression.
Tell stories.
I don’t mean fib. I mean tell real, honest to goodness stories. Adding an anecdote to your LinkedIn profile can humanize you and in a unique way. Stories provide a glimpse into your personality; no one can compete with your personality; and, no one has the same stories you do. It’s like a triple double espresso (that’s me, the writer, doing math).
Assuming you tell an anecdote that presents you in a positive light, then you’ll also establish likability.
Better yet, when include an anecdote that leverages one of your primary skills then “boom”, you’ve just added depth to an otherwise dull presentation.
Let’s recap five benefits of one anecdote:
- Highlights your unique personality, which makes you stand out
- Humanizes you so that the reader is left with a more vivid impression
- Makes you more memorable (because you’ve left that vivid impression)
- Makes you likeable
- Adds meaning to skill in a way that adjectives can’t
Prove it.
I’d rather see another Kardashian selfie than another LinkedIn profile with the words “demonstrated leadership” or “proven performance”. The only time these two claims could possibly be of interest is if you’ve included something notable to back them up.
The same goes for “results oriented” or “orientated” for that matter – both are bad without back up.
Listing impressive stats can make a profile both stronger and dryer. My suggestion is to begin your LinkedIn profile in an engaging way and then segue into your stats, which are best laid out in point form. Three to five will do. If you have one or two, you may want to include them in sentence form, but with space before and after the sentence so that it stands out.
Get noticed, not scanned.
The opening lines of your LinkedIn summary are comparable to headlines in ads. They need to grab attention immediately. Keep in mind that employers and recruiters read countless pitches. A strong and unique opener will jolt them from slumber.
The best way to open is to begin with your anecdote. You’ll stand out, be unique, be likeable, leverage a key skill in a memorable and grab attention – all from the start.
Go from virtually impressive to real impressive all in one LinkedIn summary.
The greatest challenge when creating any online profile is transforming a virtual impression into a real one. By treating your LinkedIn profile like a ad, you can add dimension to an otherwise flat portrayal. No one’s going to remember everything you say, but chances are they’ll remember you and your primary skill set – despite a glut of other candidates.
Get started with a LinkedIn profile writing service and maximize your opportunities.
