5 Mistakes That Are Killing Your LinkedIn Profile

Not Using The Headline To Its Fullest Potential

In your LinkedIn headline, list your skills after your current job title and company. These skills are keywords that will help you show up in search results on LinkedIn.  This will allow recruiters and hiring managers to find you, and they'll be more likely to click on your profile if your 

Not Using The Headline To Its Fullest Potential

LinkedIn headline is optimized with relevant skills, the skills they're looking for in a job candidate, and potential employee.

Not Having Recommendations

Recommendations are crucial to establishing credibility on LinkedIn.  A few sentences singing your praises by a former boss or colleague can do more for you than paragraphs of self-congratulatory prose.

Rehashing Your Resume In The "About" Section

One of the biggest mistakes you can make on your LinkedIn profile is not including your personal branding statement in the "About" section.  You need to communicate how you create value, how you save or make companies money as a business-of-one. What is 

Rehashing Your Resume In The "About" Section

your specialty? Then, after your personal branding statement, list your core skills and accomplishments, which will further increase your chances of being found by recruiters and hiring managers.

Not Including Personal “Hooks"

If someone feels like they know you, or that you share a major interest, they're much more likely to pursue a connection.  Here are some sections you can fill out on LinkedIn to provide those personal "hooks": – Volunteer Experience (avoid inserting anything polarizing here, such as 

Not Including Personal “Hooks"

religious or political activities) – Causes you're interested in – Joining non-professional LinkedIn Groups (ex. Awesome Mountain Biking, Women in Photography) – Personal Interests

Adding Non-Relevant Skills And Endorsements

On LinkedIn, search for people who have the job you want. Bring up the first few profiles that come up (these are usually the most visible professionals on the site) and review their "Skills and Endorsements" section.  Make a note of skills they're frequently endorsed for which

Adding Non-Relevant Skills And Endorsements

you possess. Then, add these skills to your profile.

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