What is a LinkedIn Profile?

LinkedIn is an online social network like Facebook or Twitter, but dedicated to professional networking and communication. A LinkedIn user’s profile page is similar to an online resume. Users can share their contact information, career summary, complete work history, professional skills, formal education details, and more. LinkedIn is primarily used to network with professional connections but has evolved over time into a job search platform. Recruiters use LinkedIn to look for candidates for their open positions and job applicants browse available positions.

Navigating LinkedIn and creating a great LinkedIn profile can be a bit daunting, but this writing guide makes it easy to create an optimized and interesting LinkedIn profile.

How to Create a LinkedIn Account

Before writing your LinkedIn profile, you must create an account at LinkedIn.com. Fill out your name and email address then create a password. Click “Join Now.” LinkedIn will then ask a series of questions to set up your account.

1. Location: Enter your Country and Zip Code. This information helps LinkedIn curate jobs local to you and news articles trending in your area.
2. Most recent job title, company, and industry: This helps build your profile and allows LinkedIn to offer suggestions for networking, jobs, and more.
3. If you’re a student, LinkedIn has you fill out your current school and graduation date.
4. Import Contacts: By linking your email account with LinkedIn you can see which of your contacts already have LinkedIn profiles. Sending connection invitations to your existing contacts is a great way to build the foundation of your LinkedIn network.
5. Profile Photo: Upload a professional headshot that is representative of your career goals.
6. What Are You Interested In?: Follow hashtags, people, and companies to help build your newsfeed. Select topics relevant to your industry or career goals.

At this point you can begin interacting with your connections, searching for jobs, and reading articles related to your industry.

How to Write a LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn profiles are central to modern networking, hiring, and recruiting practices. LinkedIn users can uncover opportunities by reaching out to past and present colleagues, industry peers, and potential employers. Hiring managers review and vet job applicants based on their LinkedIn profiles and recruiters search LinkedIn for new candidates. Writing a complete and professional LinkedIn profile is a critical part of applying for a job online. In order to make the most out of LinkedIn’s tools and services, your first step should be to strengthen your profile page and create what LinkedIn calls an “All-Star Profile.”

1. Add your industry and location
2. Add dates to your work experience
3. Upload a profile photo
4. Add your most recent position and job description
5. Add employment dates to your Experience section
6. Fill out the Education section
7. Add at least 5 skills to the Skills & Endorsements section
8. Add a LinkedIn summary
9. Connect with at least 50 other professionals on LinkedIn

Whether you’re writing your LinkedIn profile for the first time or trying to improve the visibility of your existing profile, completely these steps will increase the likelihood that you appear in LinkedIn search results.