Before reading on to this article, make sure you already created your LinkedIn account which you will be taken to if you click here. If you already did then Congratulations, you made it!
If you are not signed in to LinkedIn yet, please sign in for in this article I will show you how to build your profile.
When you are singed in, you will be taken to your home page! I will be explaining everything based on the starting location of the home page. In other words as I start each section I will assume you have returned to the home page to start.
So do yourself a favor, and click around a little, get familiar with the landscape. Don’t change anything yet, I will walk you through the steps.
Ok, so you are ready to build your linked in profile? That’s what I though, let’s do it!
Take a look at the upper left side of your home page. Hover over the button titled “Profile” and click “Edit Profile”? Do you see it? Yes? Great! If not, take a look below and check out my screen-shot.
First Things first. Take a look at this screen and scan the information displayed. Some of this info is from the signup process, and can be a little “Boring” to read for potential “Connections”.
Done looking? Great! Now let’s go over the essentials that you absolutely must change or modify to your liking. Now let’s focus on the blue box with your name, position, location etc.
Refer to the image below for a visual representation of this blue box. Let us take a look at all of the fields and what should go inside of each one:
Name: Self Explanatory – Use real first and last name only – no pen names, nick names etc…
Headline: You will see something like “Car Salesman At Company ABC” this is the LinkedIn Default. You must change this. Make it catch someone’s attention. I mean come on how boring is Car Salesman at Company ABC? How about “Highly Accomplished Car Salesman at Company ABC”. You see my point right? Make it JUMP off the page.
Display Name: Make sure to use your FULL name
Country: Self Explantory
Zip Code: Enter the zip code where you live or prefer to work it is up to you
Industry: selected at time of registration, but you can change it here
When done click the “Save Changes” button.
Next step is you will need to upload Your Photo!
Now go back to the Blue box and look for a little square on the top right of the blue box. This is where your image goes! I highly recommend adding an image. This adds legitimacy to your profile.
Click on the “Edit” button under the blank box, and you will see a screen that looks like the one shown below
Once in the window, simply choose a photo using the “Browse” button and LinkedIn will handle the rest!
Make sure to use a “headshot” and not a full body shot, the box is too small to show it properly.
Once you have chosen your image please click on “Upload Photo” .
Beneath this you will see another option box for deciding who should see your image:
My Connections
My Network
Everyone
I usually leave this to “Everyone” so that out of network employers can see the profile and the image.
Well this concludes the basic Profile information setup. Let’s move on to the fun stuff, in my next post I will show steps in adding your resume information!
RELATED ARTICLES
Part 1: LinkedIn: Introduction
Part 2: LinkedIn: Creating Your Account
Part 3: LinkedIn: Connect With Contacts and Invite Friends
Part 4: LinkedIn: Building Your Profile
Part 5: LinkedIn: Add Your Resume Elements
Part 6: LinkedIn: Adding Connections
Part 7: LinkedIn: Adding Connections – Other Methods
Part 8: LinkedIn: Adding Connections – LinkedIn Groups
Part 9: LinkedIn: Adding Connections – LinkedIn Answers
Part 10: LinkedIn: For Job Hunting
Part 11: LinkedIn: For Job Hunting – Strategies
