New Year, New LinkedIn Etiquette
LinkedIn is not just any other “social network”
If you’re a college student or working professional, you more than likely have an active LinkedIn profile. If you don’t, exit this screen right now, set up an account, and then continue reading.
LinkedIn is such a great tool for networking, job hunting (which I’m currently doing!) and generally keeping an online portfolio. I love the site because I can include so many more details that simply won’t fit on a one-page resume.
However, I see many people using LinkedIn the wrong way. Like very wrong. I often cringe when I see select content on the site, and I wonder why folks think it is acceptable. I honestly wish more universities taught students how to properly network and use websites like LinkedIn.
Let’s dive in and discuss the changes I hope to see from my current and future connections in 2017:
Stop with the selfies
I can’t tell you how many people add me on LinkedIn with a selfie as their profile picture, or worse, no photo at all. A low definition car selfie that you took with your Samsung is not acceptable for LinkedIn. If you have nice photos on Instagram that could possibly resemble modeling, then there’s no excuse for not having a nice headshot on LinkedIn. Let’s fix that:
- Get a friend with a nice camera to take a headshot for you. Simple enough.
- No friend with a nice camera? Head to a portrait studio and get a photo taken there. If that’s also out of your budget, stand in front of a white wall with good lighting and get a friend to snap a photo on a phone with a decent camera. It’s better than a selfie.
- Wear clothes that match the job you’re trying to achieve in your photo. If you’re looking for a job in the financial industry, a white t-shirt won’t work. Dress for success.
- Photos that actively display what you do, or want to do, are also acceptable on a case-by-case basis.
Why is your headline in all caps?
All caps = yelling, and I don’t want to connect with someone who likes to yell. It may stand out to some people, but for the wrong reasons. Here are some headline tips:
- Don’t make your headline a full sentence. Keep it somewhat short, but still informative.
- Remember that your headline doesn’t have to be your job title. At work I’m technically a Communications Specialist but my headline says Communications & Social Media Specialist because I’m obsessed with social content. Give yourself a title to attract the job you want.
Complete your profile
Your profile should never be bare. If it is, then LinkedIn may not be the place for you.
- Start by adding in your college information, past internships, current jobs and any volunteer roles you’ve had. I always add descriptions of what I’ve done at each place of business, but some people leave them out.
- If you’re a college student, include past internships, current club membership / leadership roles and volunteer opportunities. Don’t worry about adding too much as some of the smaller roles can be removed once you graduate.
- Don’t forget to fill in your summary section! That is your space to truly shine and discuss exactly why people should get to know or hire you. Treat it as a mini cover letter and add in details that could get buried further down in your profile.
Quit adding strangers without an explanation
I can’t tell you how many LinkedIn requests I have from people I do not know. A lot of people love seeing their connection numbers go up, but it really doesn’t mean anything if there’s no offline relationship. Quality over quantity:
- Consider only adding people you know.
- If you must add someone you don’t know, or someone you think won’t remember you, add a note to the request explaining why the connection is necessary. Do not use LinkedIn’s default add settings!
Use LinkedIn to your advantage — Post more!
I know a lot of people out here doing amazing things and they never post about them on LinkedIn. Yeah Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are great platforms for spreading the word, but LinkedIn is the best place to do it because there’s a big pool of professionals paying attention! You never know if your future boss, business partner or investor is watching.
- Consider posting a status update about news from your day job, personal business or your interests once a week and always ensure your posts are of significance.
- If you have a personal blog, try cross promoting your content on LinkedIn by publishing an article with only the introduction to your blog. Then add a link to “read more” that directs to your site.
- Remember to be cautious of what you post, share and like on LinkedIn. I often see my connections liking posts that probably should have remained on Facebook.
Stop giving endorsements with no value
While I thoroughly enjoy receiving endorsements on LinkedIn, I can’t help but think how pointless they are coming from people who I have never worked with. How do you know I’m good at photography if you’ve never seen me take a photo or publish any professionally?
On the other hand, I often receive endorsements for social media, communications and marketing because I write blogs (like this one!) and discuss those topics online. See the difference?
- Don’t give random endorsements just to get them back in return. That’s not how it works.
LinkedIn is not a dating site
It is 2017. We have Tinder, Bumble, Match, Black People Meet, Christian Mingle and a host of other dating sites. Notice that LinkedIn is not on the list for a reason. It is very inappropriate to contact people looking for a date, relationship or anything other than a professional conversation.
- Do not send sexual compliments / comments to people in messages. Also do not blatantly ask people for their phone number or ask them out for drinks / dinner with no context.
- If you do end up finding someone you would like to get to know romantically, try reaching out to them on another platform.
- Don’t be this guy:
What’s your biggest pet peeve on LinkedIn? Let me know in the comments.
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