Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

Completion

• Profile is public and error-free.
• All sections are updated with relevant content.
• Acronyms are written out in full, as well as abbreviated.
• LinkedIn URL is customized with student’s name, or personalization.

Profile is consistent.

• Profile has a positive tone, without negative language.
• Language is correct and consistent: present tense for current duties, past tense for prior duties and accomplishments.
• Content is written in the first person and uses easy to understand language.

Summary

• First person description of the user’s abilities, including who they work with and how they contribute.
• Written with a professional but conversational tone.
• Media links to projects and other sites, including GitHub, personal websites, videos, presentations, or written work.
• Preferred contact information is filled out.
• Include a Skills section in the summary that lists 5 key skills (programming languages, software, etc.) for SEO purposes.

Profile Picture

• High-quality and non-pixelated.
• Candidate is smiling and dressed appropriate for their desired office environment.
• Background of photo is not too busy or distracting.
• Cropped around the head and shoulders.

Cover Photo

• High-quality and non-pixelated.
• Content of image is generic, or relates to their work.

Headline

• Includes the job title they are currently applying to.
• Does not reference the job search (ie: does not say "seeking roles" or "aspiring").

Articles and Activity

• Recent activity, including comments, likes, and general community engagement.

Contact Information

• Includes links to personal website, GitHub, or other pages where employers can learn more about them and their work.

Individual and Group Work

• Profile includes at least two relevant project to their job search: personal, academic, or work projects.

Project Descriptions

• Explain what the project is and briefly how it was developed.
• Utilizes industry keywords.
• Includes results, metrics, and findings.
• Links to off-site media (ie. Source Code, GitHub, Personal Site, Video Walkthroughs, Presentations, etc.).

Groups & Organizations

• Member of 3+ groups relevant to their job search.

Links

• Educational institutions and company pages are correctly linked, with logos.

Complete Work History

• Include at least 3 jobs; full-time, part-time, internship, and unpaid roles they’ve held.
• Omits negative language (ie. part-time, unpaid).
• Has start and end dates (month & year), and location.
• List awards and achievements.
• Links to media for more context; including presentations, landing pages, GitHub, video walkthroughs, etc.
• Utilizes relevant keywords to their search.

Clarity

• Between 3-5 bullet points.
• No sub-bullet points.
• Written in past tense for previous work, and present tense for current work.
• Bullet points begin with action verbs.
• Includes concrete, numerical evidence, such as # of projects completed, increases in revenue, etc.

Complete Education History

• Education is listed in reverse chronological order.
• Includes description of school, area of focus, and topics of study.
• Utilizes relevant keywords to their search.
• Udacity should be listed under Education or Experience, but not both.

Community Connections

Following at least a dozen (12) industry leaders, companies, and topics related to their search.

Optimized Keywords

• At least 10 Optimized Keywords, ordered by relevance to their job search.
• Skills listed can include both technical (ie: programming languages) and tech-relevant skills, such as "project management".
• Skills section should not include commonly-used technologies such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint.
• Skills section should not include common soft skills like "communication" or "attention to detail".