Don’t Do These Three Things on LinkedIn
August 31, 2012 8 Comments
You have only a few seconds to grab someone’s attention and get across a clear message. That’s true whether you’re selling a product or service, or if you’re selling yourself in the job market.
That’s why you want your LinkedIn profile to be a help, not a hindrance. Here is an example of three things you should NOT do when describing yourself to potential suppliers (note: all identifiers have been removed):
1. DON’T position yourself as a jack-of-all-trades. It’s your responsibility to be decisive about who you are and what you’re seeking. Have a definite headline!
2. DON’T just talk about yourself – tell us what you can do. Save the “I am such-and-such…” for dating sites. Potential employers and customers are looking through one lens only: WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?).
3. DON’T pretend to have a baker’s dozen (actually, 15) specialties. Bullet-point lists like this give one message: “Will work for food!” If you have a bunch of competencies, then package them into one or two directions that someone can more easily digest.
Those three points above? The very same things apply for company positioning also.
LinkedIn can be a great friend to your career development, if you use it to tell your story. Seek to make an immediate impression in the first few seconds. Use word pictures. Say something – clearly. It’s up to you to decide what you want to do when you grow up!
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Do you have a clear story and direction? Hire Steve Woodruff for Clarity Therapy!
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Hey Steve, Is there a Facebook profile that you love? Yours maybe??
Betsy, I actually see Facebook profiles as completely different exercises than LinkedIn profiles. Generally, the audience and purpose is very different. I’m not sure I’d even want to try to hold up any Facebook profile as an example, particularly in the realm of job-seeking.
OMG meant LinkedIn! (soc media overload!)
My LinkedIn profile is here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/swoodruff – Since I am actually operating two distinct businesses simultaneously, it is a bit more complex to make mine succinct. I’ll leave you to judge if it communicates clearly!
Thanks
will take a look!
B
Amen. Well done with this article. I was guilty, many years in the past, of doing the second “no” being illustrated here.
I have begun to grow a little disenchanted with the bulk of LinkedIn due to the sheer lack of effort on the part of users. It feels like we have promoted LinkedIn as this awesome resource and tool for people, but that they simply are not getting it and not bothering to learn how to.
It becomes tedious weeding through the people who deal in generalities when it comes to their professional image.
Perhaps it falls on us as Social Media promoters who have not provided enough training tools, perhaps it is simply the same truth that the job market runs on; that some will thrive and some will not based on their own efforts and presentation.
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