Which LinkedIn profile looks better?

I bet you picked Ayush’s profile.

Why?

Here are 4 reasons Ayush is doing much better than Adam on LinkedIn*:

1. Ayush is more “searchable”

2. Ayush’s profile seems more professional

3. Ayush is actually networking (1.9k followers 🤯)

4. Ayush shares his learning

Let’s dive into each of these reasons.

*Note: these tips were taken from our “Using LinkedIn for Your Job Search” event, which you can watch here: https://www.entrylevel.net/events/using-linkedin-for-your-job-search

1. Don’t be hard to find

If you’re trying to break into a new industry (like product management, data analysis, UX design, etc.), your profile has to contain those keywords so others in that industry can find you.

You need to become LinkedIn searchable.

Check out this example from one of our Venture Capital Analyst students:

As you can see, Johnpaul uses keywords that target his niche: Venture Capital Analyst, Web3, and Africa. His entire profile has content related to that niche.

Here’s where you can include keywords:

• Headline

• Experience

• Posts

Look at your target roles (job descriptions) and make sure these sections align with the requirements:

• Certificates

• Skills

Even if you’re transitioning industries, your previous experience can help you stand out. Just rephrase your experience using keywords from your desired industry. You can find examples in this blog post: https://www.entrylevel.net/post/how-to-fix-your-linkedin-profile-a-guide-for-career-changers-in-ux-design

2. Don’t look unprofessional

Imagine you meet someone new at a networking event. They ask for your LinkedIn profile, and you send them a URL like “linkedin.com/in/random-name-493508346904-529.”

That doesn’t look very professional, does it?

Fix it by setting up a custom URL for your profile, with just your name.

You’ll also want to clean up your profile picture and cover photo. You can easily make a cover photo using Canva. Remember to share:

• Who you are (what makes you stand out)

• What you do (your niche)

• What action you want people to take (follow, subscribe to newsletter, email you, etc.)

3. Network like your life depends on it

Christiana, one of our previous students, networked with other product managers even though she had no prior connections in that field.

Here’s how you can do the same to find mentors:

1. Go to LinkedIn search and use keywords for your niche (”product manager,” “data analyst,” “web3,” etc.)

2. Look at each person’s profile, and if they seem interesting, send a connection request

3. Important: leave a connection note

You can find a personalized connection note template here (scroll down to resources): https://www.entrylevel.net/interviews/get-a-job-using-linkedin-christianas-story

Next, you’ll want to follow the companies you want to work at. This requires some research into the company size, culture, and industry (education, finance, healthcare, etc.).

You can use LinkedIn’s advanced search to narrow it down.

Psst: give EntryLevel a follow if you’re interested in education

4. Start sharing your learning

Whether you’re taking courses or improving your resume for the job search, you’re always learning something new.

Why not share it?

Hauwa, one of EntryLevel’s students, did just that. After sharing her story on LinkedIn, she got access to so many more opportunities and scholarships.

You can check out her content here: https://www.entrylevel.net/interviews/making-the-most-of-every-learning-opportunity-hauwas-story

Even EntryLevel’s CEO, Ajay, shared a funny story that happened this week…and it became his best-performing post on LinkedIn.

Want content creation inspiration? Check out these accounts and study the type of posts they share. Notice how they write short sentences so their posts are easier to read.

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwelsh/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/weskao/

Summary

After implementing these 4 tips, you’ll be surprised how many opportunities come your way. In fact, one of our students, Christiana, had 2 recruiters reach out to her after she optimized her LinkedIn profile.

You just need to keep these in mind:

1. Don’t be hard to find

2. Don’t look unprofessional

3. Network like your life depends on it

4. Start sharing your learning

Need more guidance for each step?

Watch the recording from our LinkedIn workshop, where we take you step-by-step through the profile optimization process: https://www.entrylevel.net/events/using-linkedin-for-your-job-search