π Glow Up Your LinkedIn
Your Work Wives are here to help that nerdy LinkedIn profile take off its glasses and suddenly become hot and irresistible to hiring managers. Here are the do's and don'ts when building your profile.
Get more at Ask Your Work Wife, a podcast for ambitious women who want more out of corporate America. New episodes drop Wednesdays on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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A LinkedIn Makeover
Welcome to LinkedIn! The never ending scroll of job announcements and CEO think pieces written by an intern.
It might be just as annoying as other social media, but when done right, it could get you that dream job instead of just e-validation. Let's get you paid.
Profile Pic & Background Photo
It's your first impression; fill it with personality! But keep it professional with your shoulders up and your entire face visible. Check out Episode 15 | Not Your Motherβs Resume for a deep dive into the perfect headshot.
Whatever you do, DON'T show the #OpenToWork photo frame. It reads a little desperate. Instead, opt for the notify employers and recruiters feature that doesn't publicize that information.
The background photo is an extension of that stellar personality from your profile pic. Opt for something neutral like a cityscape, nature, or work content.
Headline
The headline is important because it's the first and only thing people can see before clicking on your profile.
Write your current title and company, or just the title. That's it.
Zhuzh it up with "I help x do y," but remove the stick up your butt before writing something too pretentious.
You canβt go wrong with an HR job title. Nobody can refute it!
Pronouns. Put it there if it's important to you. Sadly, it's a bit political, so be aware of that.
Number of Connections
Doesn't matter.
BUT the strength of your connections is really important. If you wouldnβt call them and ask for a job, donβt add them.
Once you meet someone, you can add them whenever.
The strength of your network is real people.
βHolland
About Section
It's not a summary of your resume, it's not your dissertation, and it's not a cover letter. Show your personality!
Also, keep your resume private. Don't give that away for free.
Experience
Only show the last ten years. Anything before that is old news.
Value props only! What did you bring to the table? Hit em' with quantifiable points like percentages, excluding NDA-covered numbers.
Nest different roles at one company to show growth.
Education
Leave the GPA at the frat house and throw away the key.
Where you went to school only matters if youβre networking with fellow alumni.
The Other Stuff
Languages, licenses, skills, interests, and recommendations β don't matter unless it's pertinent to your industry. Convince me that it's useful. Hiring managers have 99 problems, but a skill badge ain't one.
BUT make the URL your name instead of something cute. Save cute for Instagram.
LinkedIn DM's
Keep it during business hours. I'm looking at you, east coast early birds, California night owls, and divorced dads.
Keep it professional and tactful. And remember, if a stranger approached you on the street for a job, you'd probably blow them off, and if you message strangers on LinkedIn for favors, you might not get a reply.
I needed to do something to bring attention to my resume. I went on LinkedIn, found the hiring manager, saw that he was active, and messaged him: "Hey, I just sent you two resumes. I know they're not exactly what you're looking for, but I really want to work for your team. Let me know if you got them." And it WORKED.
βVanessa
Likes & Comments
This is where most people fuck up. Everything you ever engage with will pop on your feed for all to see. LinkedIn has less user-generated content (UGC) than other socials, so they amplify the existing posts through likes and comments. Wipe the brown off your nose by not engaging with everything your CEO posts. She (more likely he, ugh) doesn't care.
And listen up, people who love their job! You don't have to post regularly or at all. Enjoy the unplugged time.
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Make LinkedIn Work for You
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Itβs time to make your move.
In the Work Wives' first-ever course, Vanessa & Holland introduce an entirely new way to think about Corporate America and give you step-by-step instructions on how to focus your energy to get what you actually want.
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