You’ve Graduated! Now Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile for Success.
Congratulations on completing your studies and graduating! Now is the time to start optimising your business profiles and leveraging LinkedIn’s benefits
LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building your career and connecting with valuable professionals. At JAM Management, we believe a well-crafted business profile can often be the first impression for many professionals you connect with. This step-by-step guide will help you optimise your LinkedIn profile and maximise career opportunities.
1. Craft a Compelling Headline & Summary
Headline: Go beyond a basic job title. Highlight your expertise and aspirations. For example, “Marketing Graduate with a Passion for Social Media & Analytics” or “Recent Graduate | Skilled in Python & Blockchain Development.”
Summary: Tell your story in 2-3 sentences, be as concise as possible! Focus on unique skills, career goals, and what you offer. Here’s an example: “Highly motivated Business Administration graduate eager to leverage market research experience in a fast-paced digital marketing environment. Skilled in SEO and content creation, seeking an entry-level role to contribute analytical and creative skills.”
2. Showcase Your Education & Skills
Education: Detail your degree, relevant coursework, modules and exceptional projects. Don’t forget to mention any impactful extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, or volunteering you have taken part in to illustrate well-roundedness.
Skills: Include specific and field-relevant skills. Target keywords recruiters use. For example, “Social Media Management,” “Data Visualisation,” or “Project Management.” Regularly update this section to reflect your growing expertise in the field and with software that you learn and use.
3. Highlight Relevant Experience & Internships
List internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer roles you have undertaken that are aligned with your career goals. Ensure you emphasise the impact you had in these roles and the skills you gained, even for short experiences. Use bullet points and quantify achievements (e.g., “Increased website traffic by 15% through targeted SEO strategies”).
4. Leverage the "Featured" Section
Showcase your accomplishments! Upload articles, presentations, or projects that you are proud of, make sure you have the consent from each organisation before doing this. You can also consider linking to blog posts or online versions of your work.
5. Network Strategically
Connect with classmates, professors, internship supervisors, and industry professionals. Personalised invites gain more traction – a simple message like “Hi [Name], I’m a recent [degree] graduate interested in [industry] and would love to connect as I begin my career journey” goes a long way.
6. Boost Credibility with Endorsements & Recommendations
Request endorsements for relevant skills from professors, internship supervisors, or past colleagues. Positive recommendations add weight to your profile and help to validate your skills.
7. Engage with Industry Content
Follow companies, thought leaders, and groups related to your field. Share posts, comment on industry updates, and occasionally post your own thoughts and insights related to your field. This shows your active interest and knowledge of current industry trends.
8. Professionalise Your Profile URL & Settings
- Create a custom professional URL (e.g. linkedin.com/in/yourname for easy sharing on resumes and business cards.
- Ensure your profile is set to “public” so recruiters can easily find and interact with you.
9. Stay Active & Relevant
- Regularly update your profile with new skills, certifications, or volunteer experiences.
- An active profile shows recruiters you’re engaged and ready for new opportunities.
10. Enthusiasm & Confidence Are Key
Throughout your profile, from the summary to the skills section, express your passion for your field and career goals. Employers value candidates who demonstrate a positive outlook and eagerness to learn.
Ready to Launch Your Career?
By following these steps, you’ll build a compelling LinkedIn profile that attracts recruiters, showcases your unique talents, and positions you well for success in your chosen career path. At JAM Management, we wish you all the best on this exciting journey!
