If you want to stand out from other candidates, both your resume and your LinkedIn profile need to have specific, tangible achievements.
I see so many resumes, which are very ‘duty-oriented’ – the candidate lists what they’ve done but doesn’t mention anything about what they’ve achieved.
Here are a few tips on how to write an achievement-based LinkedIn profile.
1. Highlight your main skills in your LinkedIn summary.
Your resume and LinkedIn profile are your personal branding tools and first impressions are important.
Highlight your skills in your LinkedIn profile just as you would on your resume.
People often say generic stuff like ‘I worked in marketing’, but that doesn’t tell me anything about what they’ve done.
What verbs can you use to stand out? What specifically have you done that would be relevant to the jobs you’re applying for?
2. Include accomplishments and quantify your results with numbers.
As a recruiter, I want you to tell me why you’re the right fit for the job, so don’t be shy about emphasizing what your skills are and how they’d help our company.
Quantify your results as much as you can (use examples which include numbers – if you’ve saved time or money – by how much?)
3. Prove that you’re a self-starter.
What is it that you’ve initiated yourself in your job? Did you start any new projects or come up with new ideas?
Highlighting projects you’ve set out to achieve on your own is a great way to show that you’re someone who takes initiative, without always being told what to do.
Writing an achievement based LinkedIn profile is a great way to highlight why you’re a great fit for the job.
For more tips on using LinkedIn in your job search and to find out about strategies to get more job interviews, sign up for my free three part video course ‘‘Smart strategies to get more interviews’’:
About the author
Margaret Buj is an interview coach who has been helping professionals get hired, promoted and paid more for over eight years. She is also a qualified Personal Performance & Corporate and Executive Coach and can help you with developing confidence and the attitude that will make it easier for you to get any job you want. Schedule a complimentary consultation with Margaret here.