Tips for writing an effective LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn has become the No. 1 recruiting source for just about every industry and profession. Whether you’re just getting started or enhancing your existing profile, here are some essential tips.

• Get noticed. Write a profile headline that instantly communicates “who” you are – some examples might be “Talented Logistics Professional Who Increases Productivity” or “Electrical Engineer with 0 Percent Systems Downtime.”

• Sell yourself. Optimize your summary by filling it with important achievements, relevant keywords, notable positions and other distinguishing information. The summary section holds up to 2,000 characters (including spaces), so use this section wisely.

• Get endorsements and recommendations. Few descriptions carry the weight of third-party input on your talents and accomplishments. Recommendations have been part of LinkedIn for years, but endorsements of specific skills are new. Build those sections.

• Write achievement-focused job descriptions. Just as with your résumés, be certain that your LinkedIn job descriptions don’t just list responsibilities. That information is important, and most powerful when coupled with your accomplishments. Be comprehensive.

• Join LinkedIn groups. There are thousands of them. Find groups in your industry and profession, then join so that you can share your knowledge, build your visibility and, most importantly, get to know others. These individuals may be able to open doors to opportunities that you might not otherwise know about. Many of these groups also post job openings.

• Build your network. There is nothing more valuable than building a strong and diverse network on LinkedIn. The more people you connect with, the larger and faster your network grows. Your 1st-degree contacts are people you know. However, 2nd- and 3rd-degree contacts are useful for generating interviews.

There is a great deal more to know about LinkedIn, so get online and start learning.

Wendy Enelow is co-author of “Expert Résumés for Military-to-Civilian Transitions” and “Executive Résumé Toolkit.”