5 End-Of-Year LinkedIn Updates You Need To Make

With a user base of millions of recruiters and companies, LinkedIn remains one of the strongest social networking platforms. Most of us view LinkedIn as a handy “virtual resume” where we can connect with others and find jobs. But, what if we are not using this platform to its full potential?

Update your profile with these 5 changes before 2024 hits, and you might just be welcoming the new year with an inbox full of recruitment and networking offers! Read on, and see which ones you might have missed.

Customize Your “About Me” Section.

Invest time in writing an accurate, impressive, and direct introduction. The About section is the first thing potential employees will see when they check your profile, so make sure to make yourself look good without filling it with fluff. Keep it to a few paragraphs, highlight your main skills, and add your email address so people can contact you off the site.

You can also beef this section up by adding a timely win. It can be an award or a breakthrough that boosted your company. This shows that you’re still interested in further growth along with all you’ve accomplished this year. LinkedIn is the best site to talk yourself up and recognize your value as an employee, so use it!

Update Your Headline

Your title (also known as your LinkedIn headline) is a one-liner that can help give other folks on the site an idea of who you are, what you do, and what job you’d be a great fit for. According to the experts behind Hubspot, your headline determines your profile’s first impression and can lead your dream company to you through the keywords you include.

A great rule of thumb when writing your title is your job title and a short sentence describing how you help your target audience. Here’s an example from a recent article I wrote:

Formula: Current (or future) title | Key skills and industry keywords | Big career win

Example: SEO Lead at ABC Company | Driving Digital Growth & Conversions | Boosted Website Visits by 300% through Organic SEO Strategies

Be specific, be tailored for the role you are going for, and use keywords that will help recruiters and hiring managers find you.

Update Your Skills

It’s a smart idea to update the ‘skills’ part of your LinkedIn profile every time a new year rolls in or you get a promotion. This way, you can show potential managers and your connections just how much you’re growing in your career. Not to mention, staying active with these skills is a great way to get noticed by LinkedIn’s search tools!

While you’re at it, get comfortable asking your managers and peers for recommendations. Real-life recommendations from people in your industry can be a recruiter’s final nudge to forward your application to their bosses.

Quoting Catherine Fisher’s LinkedIn article, “Profiles that update their skill list and fill out the necessary information are 31 times more likely to get selected by recruiters and contacted by interested members.” And with LinkedIn being used by more than 900 million members, that 31-point boost could come in handy in a competitive industry!

Personalize Your Photo And Header

We all know first impressions are everything and especially on LinkedIn — your image matters. The right profile photo and header can make you look more professional and add a layer of personality that could make people stick around and read more. Use photo editing platforms such as Canva to streamline the process with their header templates, or start from scratch and make one that connects with your brand.

Personalizing your LinkedIn header to include your public social accounts is also a neat way to lead viewers to more of your work history without overloading your headline with links. This can be a way to network with fellow creators on the website without looking desperate through spam-messaging them just to connect.

Sign Up For Job Alerts

Here’s a tip that is often overlooked: Make sure to sign up for job alerts that fit your career interests. It’s a helpful way to see who’s hiring and what the job market is like in your field. Now, LinkedIn lets you choose how you get these alerts. Either directly on their site or sent to your email. So, just pick the option that works best for you!

With the right approach, LinkedIn can pave the way to your dream job. Master its features, showcase your strengths, and build connections with individuals who share your professional interests. Take some time over the holiday break to make these LinkedIn updates, and you’ll be networking and connecting with your target companies in no time! Happy holidays!