“Instead of using LinkedIn as a passive billboard, you can use the platform to build connections with other professionals in your niche.”
A LinkedIn profile is an important professional material. All students should have a LinkedIn profile to be competitive in the job market. This profile can be used as a more complete record of skills and achievements than the resume; to network with other students; and for students to be visible to recruiters.
The Basics
As with all professional documents, ensure that your LinkedIn profile has:
- Accurate spelling and punctuation
- Consistent tone throughout
- Working links
Compelling Introductory Information
- Professional profile photo
- Customized background image
- Catchy headline that incorporates your target role.
In this screenshot of Michelle Jones’ profile, we can see that her profile picture is zoomed in on his face, that her background shows a relevant illustration, and that her headline includes her industry and area of expertise.
Contact Information
Ensure that all of your contact information is accurate and up-to-date. In addition, ensure that you list your professional email.
Summary Statement
A compelling summary statement is written in clear language, speaks to your experience and background, and demonstrates your professional qualifications.
Michelle Jones’ Sample Summary Statement
Paid search analyst bringing skills in WordPress, social media, and content gap analysis. Creative, quick learner able to generate content with fast turnaround times. BA in English and recently completed a digital marketing boot camp at Columbia University to stay up-to-date on technical skills.
Experience
This section should be listed in reverse chronological order.
Each entry should include the following:
- Job title
- Company name and location
- Dates of employment
Your experience section should include your accomplishments, not just your job duties. Use results-driven bullets to highlight previous project management experience.
Michelle Jones’ Sample Experience
Business Development Specialist
Farmers.Co
Jan 2019 – Present
Everywhere, WY
- Acquire new regional customers, outpacing peers by at least 15% each quarter for four quarters.
- Identify trends in campaigns to create innovative acquisition strategies on mobile platforms.
- Build monthly and quarterly reports for storytelling sessions with key stakeholders.
Customer Service Representative
Medicine.com
Feb 2017 – Jan 2019
Anywhere, AL
- Collaborated with marketing team on customer channel
planning from customer perspective. - Data management of 1,000+ customers – tracking client satisfaction & service response time.
Education
Like the Experience section, this should be listed in reverse chronological order. Include your boot camp listed as a certificate.
Michelle Jones’ Sample Education Section
Skills
Your skills section should include at least 20 skills and interests. The skills should be a mixture of technical and transferable, and the interests should be a mixture of personal and professional.
Michelle Jones’ Sample Skills
Industry Knowledge
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
- Marketing Strategy
- Digital Analytics
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Digital Advertising
- Web Strategy
- Web Analytics
- Email Marketing
Tools and Technologies
- Agile Methodologies
- Google Ads and Analytics
- Adobe Photoshop
- Tableau
- Excel
- Google Sheets
- Salesforce
- WordPress
Interpersonal Skills
- Adaptable
- Innovative
- Customer-Centric
- Strategic
Other Skills
- Basic Programming HTM/CSS
- Social Media Platforms
- KeyNote
- Photography
Projects and Recommendations
Include at least 2-3 projects or features with working links. Also include at least 2-4 recommendations that attest to your skills and work ethic.
Michelle Jones’ Sample Projects and Recommendations
Michelle has included three working projects, as well as a recommendation from a former teacher and a former fellow boot camp student.
Former Teacher
If you were to ask any of the other members of our cohort who has helped them the most, they would all unanimously say Michelle. She is always first in line to put her knowledge to the test and solve problems. Michelle is also a natural leader, yet humble enough to join the ranks, pulling her fair share of heavy duties.
Former Fellow Boot Camp Student
Michelle is highly organized, a strong communicator, and fantastic at managing projects. I got to work with her on several of her projects, and I loved collaborating with her. Her expectations and deadlines were always crystal clear, and her feedback was always positive and actionable.
