Lesson 3: Optimize your LinkedIn profile

Here’s your checklist for optimizing your LinkedIn profile (download the PDF above):

1. URL: Update your URL to your name, or a professional title, rather than numbers and gibberish. Do this by going to your profile, upper right, edit URL, then you can edit the URL for a link not already taken.

2. Photo: Add a professional photo, either a still, close-up photo of you with a solid background or one of you speaking or presenting. Have someone else take the photo, preferably professionally done. Phones do a pretty good job of taking photos, though. Wear a professional top that’s a solid color, no patterns, and take a photo with solid colored background.

3. Headline/Title: Add a headline/title that aligns with the jobs you’re applying for and add a bit of character with the way you describe yourself. You’re not just a Technical Program Manager, you’re a Strategic & Influential Technical Program Manager.

4. About: Add a description in the About section that highlights who you are, what you do, and how you do it. You can be creative here too. You may want to explain your values, or your leadership style, or your program management style, etc. Summarize your key accomplishments focusing on the impact and possibly why they are important to you. Share your future goals of where you want to be in the next 3-5 years, or beyond. What do you want people to know about you that’s not explained later in your experiences? With this free form text, you have total liberty to create.

5. Experiences: Add your experiences with your impact statements, ensuring your resume and your LinkedIn profile are consistent with each other.

6. Rich media: Add rich media that you have available, such as articles and non-confidential presentations, to your profile to demonstrate your work.

7. Education: Add your educational experiences.

8. Languages: Add the languages that you speak.

9. Training: Add relevant training.

10. Endorsements: Ask colleagues or friends to endorse different skills.

11. Recommendations: Ask colleagues or managers, current or previous, to provide recommendations on your page. You have the ability to review before they are posted.

12. Featured posts: If you have posted on LinkedIn and you’d like to call attention a specific post, you can select the post, and click the “feature on profile” selection and it’ll appear as a part of your profile.

13. Proofread: Review for typos and grammar.

14. Passion: Review for uniqueness, passion, character, and authenticity. What will help your profile stand out authentically?

Now that your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile are customized and updated, you’re ready to APPLY! All of your materials are in alignment. Take the leap and submit to a few roles!

You’ll then get into a routine of researching jobs, finding one you like, reviewing for keywords, updating your resume, creating a compelling cover letter, quick reflection on if you need to make updates to LinkedIn, thinking about if you have connections in your network, and then apply, reach out to 2nd or 3rd connections when appropriate, and then start the cycle over again until you get an interview and land a job!

What is your goal and supporting habit around researching, networking, and applying… now it’s time to get that in ACTION!