How to Create A Professional LinkedIn Profile

“You only get one chance to make a first impression,” and in today’s competitive business world, this old adage couldn’t be more true. And, when it comes to showcasing your skills, experience and personal brand to potential employers or clients, that first impression is your LinkedIn profile. At University of Arkansas Grantham, we recognize the relationship between education and professional development, and we want to make sure you don’t only get the skills – you also learn how to best share them with the world.

A well-crafted professional LinkedIn profile offers several key benefits. It can attract job opportunities, as LinkedIn is the premier tool used by headhunters, recruiters, and human resources teams to identify top candidates for in-demand roles. A well-optimized profile can establish you as an industry expert, opening doors to conference invitations, speaking engagements, collaborations, and thought-leadership opportunities. It also increases the chance that you will receive a positive response to your connection requests.

Top of the Page: Background Photo, Headshot, and Headline

So, what are the key elements to a professional LinkedIn profile? At the top of your page — and what gets seen first — are the background photo, your headshot, and headline.

When selecting a background photo for your LinkedIn profile, choose high-resolution imagery that reflects your personal brand, industry or location. Opt for clean, simple, yet evocative imagery that enhances, rather than distracts, from your profile content. Ensure that they align with and complement your headshot. Avoid using distracting and generic stock photos or personal images that may appear too casual. Definitely avoid making or implying political statements of any kind. You want to appear to be easy to get along with, right?

The importance of your headshot cannot be overemphasized. Here are a few tips:

• Choose a high-quality photo where you’re dressed appropriately for your industry.
• Ensure the image is well-lit and focused, with a clean, neutral background that doesn’t distract from your face.
• Smile naturally and maintain a posture that conveys confidence and approachability.
• Avoid using casual images, and steer clear of overly posed or overly edited photos.
• We live in color, so avoid black and white images.
• Make sure your face is clearly visible and centered, as this helps create a positive and professional impression. There’s no need to pay a professional photographer – any modern cell phone can take suitable photos.

When it comes to the headline, approach it like you would the task of writing a headline for a news story: Give the facts and build more interest. Your focus should be on creating a headline that is both specific and descriptive. Instead of just your job title, add a bit more about what you do or your professional value. A few good examples include:

• Full-Stack Developer | React, Node.js, Python | Building Scalable Web Applications
• Sales Director | Scaling Revenue for SaaS Companies | Expert in B2B Sales Strategies
• Digital Marketing Strategist | Driving ROI through Data-Driven Campaigns | SEO & Content Marketing Expert
• HR Specialist | Talent Acquisition & Employee Engagement | Creating Inclusive Workplace Cultures
• Certified Project Manager | Agile & Waterfall Methodologies | Delivering Projects On Time & Within Budget

Note how each of the headlines above provide clarity as to what the profiled person is all about. Of course, as you progress in your career, you might consider adding significant achievement, awards won, or notable employers — anything that supports and conveys the value you bring.

The top section of the profile is made complete by adding education, current employer, and location. A complete top section of the profile is what gets you past that first gate — it answers the question, “Do I want to learn more about this person?”

The About Section

In your LinkedIn "About" section, craft a compelling story that highlights your professional background, key skills, and career achievements. Here are some tips:

• Begin with a strong opening that captures attention and clearly communicates your unique value proposition.
• Use a conversational tone to showcase your personality while maintaining professionalism.
• Focus on specific accomplishments and quantifiable results to demonstrate your impact and expertise.
• Avoid jargon, slang, acronyms, cliches, or vague statements, and ensure the content is tailored to your target audience.
• Conclude with a call to action or a statement that invites further engagement.

The Experience Section

In the Experience section of a professional LinkedIn profile, provide a clear and concise overview of your roles and responsibilities for each position. Some suggestions include:

• Highlight key achievements and quantify results to showcase your impact and contributions. Avoid ambiguous statements such as “made a huge impact.” Instead, clarify the impact. For example, “Without an increase in budget, I delivered 15% sales growth in my first year.”
• Use action-oriented language to describe your duties and accomplishments and focus on how you added value in each role.
• Be specific about your skills and expertise, and tailor your descriptions to reflect your career goals and target audience. Avoid generic statements and ensure that each entry demonstrates your progression and growth in your professional journey.
• Enhance each position with skills (available when editing each experience), and add media files or links to projects you worked on. Real examples carry a lot of weight.

The Rest of It

There are other parts to your professional LinkedIn profile that you can use to paint a more detailed picture of yourself. The “Education” section is of course critical and the “Volunteering” section allows you to highlight community involvement and activities that may be of interest. Similarly, the “Skills” section can help you broadcast or highlight your capabilities.

Things to Avoid When Creating a Professional LinkedIn Profile

Now that you’re up to speed on what to do, here are some words of wisdom to consider in regard to what not to do:

• Use industry-specific jargon carefully. While it's important to demonstrate expertise, excessive use of jargon can alienate people outside your field. Aim to use jargon that adds value and is widely understood within your industry.
• Explain complex terms. If you must use specialized jargon, consider providing a brief explanation to ensure broader understanding.
• Steer clear of overused phrases. Avoid phrases like "go-getter," "hard worker," or "team player" without context. Instead, provide specific examples of your achievements and skills.
• Show, don’t tell. Rather than stating that you’re “results-oriented,” highlight a project where you delivered significant results.
• Spell out acronyms on the first use. Not everyone may be familiar with the acronyms you use. For example, write "Customer Relationship Management (CRM)" before using just "CRM."
• Use common acronyms sparingly. Only use acronyms that are widely recognized in your industry, and avoid overwhelming your profile with them.

Finally, remember these sure-fire ways to cut through the fog:

• Clarity is key. Your LinkedIn profile should be accessible to a wide audience. Use language that is clear and easy to understand.
• Always tailor your profile to your audience. Consider who will be viewing your profile — whether recruiters, potential clients, or industry peers — and adjust your language accordingly.

By being mindful of these elements, you can create a LinkedIn profile that is both professional and engaging, while still appearing to be appealing to a broad range of viewers. Once you’ve considered these tips, you can sleep well at night knowing that opportunity might soon be knocking.