LinkedIn is great because it’s a place to show you’re value through your work and life experience. It’s also an opportunity to build your network.

LinkedIn is merit base, it’s one of the most honest forms of social media. The more active you are; posting, commenting, connecting; the algorithm pushes you to the top of searches. The more you use, the more you’re boosted. This means people will be more likely to see your job ads, post, and to connect with you. It’s all in your control.

Top Tips to make your LinkedIn profile stand out

1. Upload a suitable photograph

This may seem like an obvious start, however, you would be surprised by how many people upload inappropriate profile photographs to LinkedIn. The photograph doesn’t need to be taken by a photographer, it simply needs to be a good quality, professional image of you.

Make sure you can clearly see your face, and look happy in the photo. Even though LinkedIn is a serious platform for professionals it’s good for potential connections to recognise you as friendly and approachable from the outset.

2. Create a personal URL

When you first create your LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn will assign a line of numbers to your URL that will personalise your account. This doesn’t look great when linking to your profile, but this can be easily rectified.

• Go to your profile
• Click ‘Edit public profile & URL’
• Click ‘Edit’ under the ‘Edit URL’ section
• Choose your desired URL
• Save your changes

It's as simple as that to add a touch of personalisation to your URL. This will provide you with a link that is easy to share, and recognisable to other professionals who may be searching for you.

3. Update your profile

Updating your profile regularly is a great habit to get into. It may be just a small change, like adding in a new responsibility you’ve been given at work or uploading a new picture. Keeping your profile as up-to-date as possible will highlight your organisational skills and professional enthusiasm to potential connections.

4. Stay active on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media tool. Even though it is different from some other social platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, it is a useful tool to showcase your professionalism and interests to like-minded people. Therefore, it is important to post your own updates on your profile, as well as engaging with forums and discussions that interest you. This will expand your network and provide further insight into your capabilities and personality to potential connections who may want to learn more about you than just your job history.

5. Share your organisation’s content