With over 300 million monthly users, LinkedIn as a social networking site gives you a platform to showcase yourself to a wide audience. LinkedIn is a professional network that gives you exposure to people and organizations who can give you career opportunities. These opportunities include jobs and professional partnerships. LinkedIn helps you showcase your academic qualifications and professional skills. It is therefore important to structure your LinkedIn profile in a way that showcases your best abilities in the best language. This article outlines ways to structure your LinkedIn profile professionally.

Importance of having a LinkedIn profile

 A LinkedIn profile is like your digital format resume as it highlights your academic qualifications, work experience, and your skills. LinkedIn is specifically a professional networking site and it, therefore, showcases you to potential employers and partners. A great LinkedIn profile will open many career opportunities for you. The following are reasons why having a LinkedIn profile is important:

1. You can position yourself as a professional

 You should use your LinkedIn profile to showcase relevant academic qualifications, certifications in relevant fields, as well as past job experiences. You should also post the latest updates on areas of interest and comment on peoples` updates on various topics. This positions you as a knowledgeable person and a professional in your field.

2. Great networking platform

 With millions of professionals globally using LinkedIn, this is a great opportunity for you to build and nurture relevant relationships with like-minded individuals. If you create a good profile, people will reach out to you for connections. You should also make an effort to reach out to people with whom you share career and professional interests. LinkedIn is a platform made specifically to build professional connections and you should therefore not be afraid of reaching out to people who share similar interests as yours. These connections will be beneficial in your long-term career development.

3. It opens job opportunities

 Your potential employers are on LinkedIn and if you are not active on this platform, you are missing out on many career opportunities. Your LinkedIn profile is the online version of your resume and it is normal for employers to search for potential candidates on LinkedIn. It is therefore important for you to put your best skills and abilities to stand out.

 During the hiring process, employers usually look at potential candidates` LinkedIn profiles to learn more about them. Most of the decision-makers in companies have LinkedIn profiles showcasing their roles and more about their companies.

 Search for your dream company on LinkedIn and look at their employees who are on LinkedIn. Learn more about them and connect with them. This might give you insights into their hiring policies and information about their job vacancies.

4. Getting updates on industry insights

 You can use LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest industry trends. Industry experts on LinkedIn as well as industry-specific publications post the latest trends and insights on LinkedIn. By following such people, you will be able to follow up on their posts and this will help you get information about the latest trends in your industry.

How to structure your LinkedIn profile effectively

1. Professional photo

 Your profile picture on LinkedIn is what dictates people`s first impressions about you. It is therefore important to have the right profile picture. Make sure you use the most recent photo that looks like you. Dress well for the picture and use a good posture. Your face should take at least 60% of the photo. Avoid using long-distance shots as you might not be well visible.

 Your cover photo is also as important and it is the photo that appears above your profile picture. It should capture people`s attention and should represent what you stand for and what matters most to you. A great cover photo helps you stand out and remain memorable in the minds of your viewers.

2. Contact information

 You should include your contact information in your profile so that interested connections can reach out to you. Include your phone number and email address that you usually use and check often so that you don`t miss out on important contacts.

3. Account type

 LinkedIn gives you the option to use its free version and a premium version that is paid. The premium version comes with extra features including exposure to more opportunities. The premium version includes a free trial after which you proceed with the payment. Choose the option that suits your needs between the free and premium versions. Although the premium version is recommended, even the free version can be helpful if utilized well.

4. Professional/Employment status

 Your professional or employment status indicates what you are currently doing including your current job and other professional engagements. It helps people learn more about you and your career journey and this gives them an idea about how they will engage with you professionally.

5. Work experience

 Describe your work experience including your past employments and consultancies. If employed, indicate the name of the company and your job roles. Also, include your achievements in those jobs.

6. Skills

 Your skills include hard skills, academic skills, and soft skills. List all these skills in your LinkedIn profile as they may be seen by a potential employer who might be interested in people with those skills.

7. Headline

 This is the description that appears at the top of your profile. It does not have to be just your job title.  Use this section to highlight what you do and what makes you a perfect match.

8. Summary

 Make sure you have a LinkedIn summary. This is a chance to tell your story. Use this section to highlight your skills and why they matter and what difference they will make to the people you work with. Invest more time, make a few drafts, and settle on the one that stands out.

9. Customized URL

 Use a LinkedIn link customized with your name for example https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsmith/.  This helps you easily get discovered on Google search. People might search your name or organization`s name on Google and having a customized URL will increase your chances of getting discovered on Google.

 Creating a great LinkedIn profile is one thing and knowing how to use it the right way is a different thing. Your LinkedIn profile will not make you a star overnight but will take time to build your profile. Your profile should not be static but should be updated regularly to highlight your newly acquired skills, your new job, and other professional achievements.  To grow your network, you should also reach out to people and also recommend others and they might recommend you back.

 You need to use LinkedIn appropriately. Although it is a social profile, it is strictly for professional purposes. Therefore, avoid posting inappropriate photos and using abusive words. You should use LinkedIn for professional development and nothing more. Focus on building meaningful professional relationships on LinkedIn and you will get the best out of it.