87% of employers use LinkedIn to vet candidates before hiring. The first place they land is your profile to evaluate your competence and professional outlook. As a student looking to venture into the world of work, you must use LinkedIn as a branding platform.

A profile captures your basic information. You have options to add other elements like interests, achievements, and a personal statement. You have a responsibility not to appear obvious. How do you create a competitive profile that will secure you a job? Here are expert LinkedIn tips by 123Homework on creating the best profile for this professional social media platform.

Choose the right profile picture

Human beings are extremely visual. The first element to capture the attention of a person when he lands on your LinkedIn page is the profile picture. It becomes the foundation for building an impression about you. It will later determine how we relate.

Add a recent and professionally taken photograph. While mobile phones have advanced enough, you need a studio image that depicts a serious professional. It may help if you are in a work setting like the lab, class, sporting field, and such other areas. Smile in the picture. It gives the impression of a competent, friendly professional who is ready to start work.

Work on the headline

The headline is more than a job title. It is not cast on the stone that the description that appears at the top of your profile should be a job title. Everyone can put a mundane job title. Make it different by saying more about you and the role you intend to take while working for someone or with someone.

The headline should say more about your skills and competence. What makes you a better candidate than any other person who has similar qualifications? Let it be an inspiration to the recruiter to pick you over anyone else. Look at the headlines of the most successful salespersons and marketers They depict more than a job title.

Tell a story using your summary

Human beings are storytellers and also love listening to stories. Tell one and recruiters will be camping at your profile. A lot of people leave the part blank yet you have a chance to connect with a potential recruiter at a personal level.

A story brings the skills you possess to live. It also shows that you are more than the skills, enabling a potential recruiter to connect with you. Indicate the difference you can make in the lives or workplace where you apply the skills.

Go slow on Buzzwords

Buzzwords are generic terms, titles, and expressions. They are so common that they become useless. Anyone can talk about ‘specialized’, ‘leadership’, ‘innovative’, ‘creative’, and ‘certified’, among other words. Such words do not add any value to your profile.

However, the words show your competence and are necessary. You add value to these words by substantiating them. For instance, if you are certified, add the certification number and what you have achieved through that certification. When you mention ‘accomplished’, add figures by which you grew the numbers of the last social media account you were managing, and such other tangible details. It is these details that qualify the buzzwords.

Grow your network on LinkedIn

One of the most effective ways to grow your profile is by linking your email to the profile. It enabled LinkedIn to suggest friends. It is these friends who will enrich your profile by building a strong network of like-skilled professionals.

You have the power to veto the suggestions made. You use the opportunity to follow meetings and discussions happening within the network. By keeping the connections alive, your profile will appear top during searches.

Use publications to showcase your thought-leadership

Create features that capture the attention of peers in the industry. This is one of the least used features on LinkedIn. Your content will be picked and shared by professionals in the area. It also ignites debates on the platform and beyond. The archive will help you to assess your growth in the industry.

A strong LinkedIn profile makes you a competitive professional. You capture the attention of peers and potential clients alike. It increases your chances of securing a job from the 87% of recruiters using the profile to assess candidates before hiring.