There are a number of elements that tend to weaken the power of your LinkedIn profile. However, with a few tweaks here and there, you can be the proud owner of a LinkedIn profile that pays huge dividends:
1. Incomplete or outdated profiles:
The year is 2023, and you have been working at SPDC for two years now, but your LinkedIn profile shows that you are still at Nestoil. Incomplete profiles or profiles with outdated information can make it look like you're not invested in your career or don't pay attention to details.
2. No profile picture or an unprofessional one:
I am sure you’re familiar with LinkedIn photographs in which you can barely see the face of the person. I am sure you have also come across many profiles with no photograph. Once I come across such profiles, I often just pass them over. I don’t invite them or respond to their invites. Not having a profile picture or using an unprofessional one can make it difficult for people to connect with you and can give off a negative impression. Personally, I believe the person doesn’t use LinkedIn that often, so there is no use in trying to connect.
3. Not highlighting technical skills and achievements:
LinkedIn is an ideal platform to showcase your technical skills and achievements. Failing to highlight these can make it harder for potential employers or clients to find you. LinkedIn also provides sections where you can add your key skills and what you talk about. You can use these sections to highlight your skills.
4. Being too vague about work experience:
What exactly do you do at Zenith Bank? What are your duties as a manager in the credit risk department? What skills can you transfer from that role to the new role that you want to have as a business development manager at First Bank?
Being too vague about your work experience can leave potential employers with a lot of questions. Please be specific about what you've done, what you're capable of, and what you'd like to do.
5. Using jargon that isn't universally understood:
You might be a lawyer, so you're familiar with legalese. Or you may be an academician, and therefore your speech is seasoned with a healthy dose of academese. However, if you want the person reading your CV, possibly overwhelmed by a large pile of CVs before them, to read your CV and select you for an interview; you may want to tone it down a few notches. You can replace most jargon with simple, direct language and still retain the meaning of your sentences.
Using industry-specific jargon can be a turnoff for some potential employers or connections who may not be familiar with it. Use clear language that's easy to understand.
6. Overusing buzzwords:
Certain people have certain buzzwords that they are truly fond of. It’s like they discovered these words and they just can’t use them enough. The words make them feel important, in the know, and even give them a sense of belonging to some special clique; so they use these words at every opportunity that they get.
Overusing buzzwords like "synergy," "disruptive," or "thought leader" can come off as insincere orunoriginal. Be authentic in your writing and avoid buzzwords where possible.
7. Not engaging with others:
If you feel guilty about this one, you’re not alone. I need to do a lot of work here too. Some of us are super busy so we tend to only hit LinkedIn as part of our work or when we need to search for someone. At the time of this writing, I have several messages in my LinkedIn chat that I need to catch up on.
LinkedIn is a social platform, and engagement is key to building relationships and growing your network. Failing to engage with others can make it harder to build connections and could even turn potential employers off.
By avoiding these common mistakes, engineers can build a strong and professional LinkedIn presence that showcases their skills and experience and helps them connect with others in the industry.