10 mistakes on your LinkedIn profile

I decided to be more professional on this post and discuss a few common mistakes that anyone can do on its LinkedIn profile.

Let’s have a look,
Of course, you may have built up your profile during the years, but did you do It on the correct way though? Recruiters or hiring manager especially they do consider LinkedIn profile as a second CV. When they see some common mistakes, then they will avoid looking at your CV in detail, or they will never call you in for an interview. Also, by making such a mistake, you may no longer appear on the job search. It is essential that your LinkedIn profile looks update and tidy regarding your education, work experience or contact details. Here are xxx some red flags to keep in mind.

MISTAKE #1: A MISLEADING HEADLINE
The headline next to your photo is one of the most valuable and vital pieces of LinkedIn. Use it intelligently, when you appear on a job search, the recruiter or the hiring manager needs to see a quick ‘’title’’ of what is your profession. If you aspire of moving up, don’t use your current title in your headline but put up something that reflects the job you want without being deceptive. For the persona looking at your profile, this seems professional and at the same time attractive, so you must be careful of what you want to show off.

MISTAKE #2: INCOMPLETE DEGREE INFORMATION
Another common mistake that can get you easily dismissed is incomplete degree information. On your degree details, you must always be tide, clear and to the point. The likely employer wants to see what your profession and what modules you have completed as well as your level of education. If you are using bullet points, they have to be the same everywhere in your profile, and they must be in a proficient language and easy to understand. Believe me, the employer doesn’t care where you have studied or in which University, but he does care on the profession and the level of your qualifications.

MISTAKE #3: INCOMPLETE EXPERIENCE INFORMATION
Same as incomplete degree information, your work experience has to be very clear, and you need to be able to pass to the reader that you have been working hard and that you know what you are doing and how to do it. Your bullet points must be short, clear, and in a professional language and tone.

MISTAKE #4: RESUME MISMATCH
If you do nothing else before your next job hunt, do this: Pull up your CV and compare it side-by-side with your LinkedIn profile. It is very embracing when someone is looking at your profile and then to your resume and they do not match, as well as the opposite. At the same time, you will give the impression that you don’t know what to write, what you are doing, or what you want to do, and recruiters or hiring managers they don’t know what to believe.

MISTAKE #5: INAPPROPRIATE PHOTO
You don’t need to shell out big bucks for a professional photo shoot. But don’t use that wedding or vacation photo just because you like the way you look in it. Again, your picture must be simple and clear, and it must seem a bit professional for a quick, budget-friendly option, dress appropriately, find a place with decent natural light, and have a friend take your photo (No selfies.)

MISTAKE #6: NO SUMMARY
The Summary at the top of your LinkedIn profile is valuable real estate. Don’t waste that real estate by leaving it blank! It is the first impression, and it is critical!
Use your Summary to tell your story. You need to write 5-6 lines to describe and present yourself at the reader. Use short sentences and be careful not to make it too long because the reader will get tired and won’t read it.

MISTAKE #7: BRANDING YOURSELF WITH YOUR CURRENT JOB
You may be a shining star at your company, but if you’re too closely identified with the brand, hiring managers may be concerned that you’re not interested in new opportunities or that you’ll remind customers of the competition. It is good to like or promote your company but don’t overdo it. You need to sell yourself not the company that you work for!

MISTAKE #8: BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE
Try to avoid common sentences like: “Results-oriented professional,” “Motivated self-starter” or “Skilled at managing cross-functional teams.” Everybody is sick and tired of this say-nothing copied language. Write the way you speak, and you like it! Your writing will be more exciting and more powerful when you do. Be Unique! This will attract the attention!

MISTAKE #9: NO ACTIVITIES OR SKILLS SECTION
You are an active person with many interests and a lot going on in your life and career. Tell us about that stuff, too! Your activities on LinkedIn tell us what you read, follow and care about. Don’t leave that information out of your profile. Also, you can list your Skills in your LinkedIn profile, and your first-degree connections will click on them so to let the audience know what you can do best.
Think about all the skills that you have. Add as much as you want there is no limitation!
As I said before, you need to sell yourself, and your Skills are an essential aspect of that. What do you want visitors to your profile to know that you do well? That’s where your Skills listing will come in handy!

MISTAKE #10: NO RECOMMENDATIONS
It is good if you have achieved to get some LinkedIn recommendations from your connections. If not, there are easy ways to do it. 1. by asking your ‘’closer’’ connections to do it! Or 2. start leaving recommendations for people you know, and then they will revert!

If you are a LinkedIn user watch out these common mistakes and you’ll eliminate some areas that might cause a recruiter or hiring manager to pass by your profile.

LeoniDimxx