LinkedIn Profile Advice Thread

[deanwebb]

Also last week I had some notifications that some people were viewing my linkedin. I noticed that even with my best efforts, my linkedin page doesn't look as professional as some. When someone visits my Linkedin I want them to know I mean business. I've even wondered if there are people you could pay money to, to re-vamp and professionalise your linkedin page. I'm not looking for employment currently but I think Linkedin is kind of like your online CV these days. I think it's good to keep it up to date. But I get a bit lost with that when I try.

Excellent discussion-starter.

First of all, set your profile to view as from your connections. This can be done by clicking the "View Profile As" button and selecting "Connections". Now you can see what everyone else sees when they arrive at your profile after linking to you, as most recruiters are going to do.

It's also what outsiders will see, but without a bunch of annoying links that LinkedIn inserts on the page.

Your picture is important. Look professional and smile. If you can take the picture outside on a sunny day while under a shade tree, that is best for lighting. Head shot is best, but not a do-or-die thing. If you crop the head shot tightly, keep all the chin in the picture and trim the forehead, but not past the eyebrows.

Job history: keep it accurate and professional. Some self-employed people will put down "Head cook and chief bottle-washer at (company)". This is never appropriate. Job titles communicate your professionalism.

On the other hand, you can select ways of presenting your job to guide potential offers along lines you prefer. If you worked at a small shop, for example, you could be either a network administrator or sysadmin, depending on where you want your career to go.

SUMMARY: First section. This is where you put your best foot forward. List only the technologies that you want to work with most as your expertise. Sure, you have other skillz, but these are the ones you WANT to work with. Brief statement about total experience with your specialty.

"10 years in IT, emphasizing Network Security" = good

"10 years in IT, 16 in teaching, skilled with Microsoft Windows, Exchange email, social studies, networks, and network security" = BAD: this is NOT a summary. The line above, now THAT is a summary.

I used the first line and then said my expertise is in NAC, dot1x, and firewalls. I do expand abbreviations for the benefit of algorithms that are scanning for either the words or the acronym.

Experience is next, and I list what I worked on at my employers - IF IT IS RELEVANT. Do I mention that I ordered toner cartridges at one employer? No, I do not. My 16 years of teaching is mentioned in passing. Yes, that hurts, but that's life in the big city. I want to work in network security, so I'm only going to mention network stuff and security stuff. Experience should go all the way back to 20 years. Anything older than that is available upon request. Honestly, it's that job or three at the top of the list that anyone's going to focus on. Nobody cares about the token-ring network you installed in 1994. They want to know about the MPLS WAN that you put together last year.

Certifications follow: I believe most current should be on top. Get the logo with it, looks cool.

The rest? Meh. Put in what you have to put in, but there's no need to detail hobbies or social interests or stuff like that. This is a professional dossier, so keep it professional.

Endorsements ARE good. And we need to start endorsing each other for what we've seen ourselves do here, in the way of offering our expertise to each other.  That, however, is a matter for the IANSP board to address. 

Hope this helps, and I know it's only just a start... I update my LinkedIn every 3 months, and that keeps things fresh there.

[Nerm]

Maybe we should do a LinkedIn profile peer review?

[deanwebb]

Maybe we should do a LinkedIn profile peer review?

I like that. That's a great function for the IANSP.

[Reggle]

I'm in!

Also, my piece of advice about LinkedIn: update it around once a month. Not more, not less. Whether you're looking for a job or not. Reasons: every time you update, it will be higher in search rankings, keeping you constantly visible for recruiters, while at the same time your current employer can't see whether you're looking for a new job or not because the once-a-month-update is your default behaviour under all circumstances.

[NetworkGroover]

I'm in!

Also, my piece of advice about LinkedIn: update it around once a month. Not more, not less. Whether you're looking for a job or not. Reasons: every time you update, it will be higher in search rankings, keeping you constantly visible for recruiters, while at the same time your current employer can't see whether you're looking for a new job or not because the once-a-month-update is your default behaviour under all circumstances.

Truth - particularly the last bit.