

Six Ways To Boost Your LinkedIn Profile Visibility
You hear it all the time. "If you want to be successful in your job search, you have to be on LinkedIn." ~90% of recruiters are on LinkedIn seeking candidates to fill positions. Every day, you hear someone say they found their latest job through LinkedIn. But with 660+ million users on the platform, how do you make sure that your profile gets the right level of visibility and doesn't get lost in the shuffle? Is it really possible to stand out? While the task of setting yourself apart in an endless sea of LinkedIn profiles seems daunting, I've got six tips to help get you started!
How To Improve Your LinkedIn Profile Visibility
1.Work Your Introduction Card.
In building your LinkedIn profile, you want to make sure it stands out and draws readers in. It's not enough to have your education and work experience sections filled out. LinkedIn calls the very top of your profile "the introduction card". This section includes:
- Name
- Profile photo
- Background photo
- Headline
- Current position
- Education
- Location
- Contact info
It's the very first thing people see when they come to your profile, and that can be the reason that people either click off your profile or continue reading further. So take the time to optimize your introduction card. Make your profile photo a professional headshot or have someone take a formal photo for you. No selfies, please.
Step away from the standard blue LinkedIn background photo, and use another photo that shows more of your personality and is relevant to your field.
Create a compelling headline. If you're a marketing manager, spice it up a little bit. Nothing is wrong with the standard "Marketing Manager at XYZ Co". But as an example, you can also try "Marketing Manager at XYZ Co. | Social Media Marketing | Digital Strategy | Campaign Development". See the difference? Not only is this headline more powerful, it also includes keywords to be searched by recruiters and hiring managers.
2.Build an Outstanding Summary. THIS IS IT.
The major draw of your profile. After someone looks at your introduction card and clicks on your profile, the very next thing they will focus on is your summary. As a result, take the time to create something intriguing. Don't lazily copy and paste the qualifications summary from your resume. Remember the goal is to grab the reader's attention. So this is a place to tell your story.
Showcase not just your accomplishments and accolades, but also your values and passions. Highlight your special sauce, i.e. what makes you different from any other candidate someone may come across. Essentially, this is your profile's sales pitch, so make it count!
3.Show Them What (Skills) You Got!
Updating your skills section is another way you can add relevant keywords to your profile to ensure it's searchable for the roles you are looking for. Identify the key skills that are pertinent to your industry and those that are incorporated into the job descriptions you want to apply for. Once you have all the skills listed, you can also reorder them within the section to make sure the most desired/marketable ones are at the top.
4.Join Groups and Start Discussions.
There are LinkedIn groups for just about every industry and discipline. Utilize LinkedIn's search functionality to identify groups that are relevant to your profession. You can even join groups that are specific to your geographic location. Also join your school's Alumni groups so you can connect with fellow alumni who may work at companies you are interested in.
But don't just join the group and ghost. Check out some of the existing discussions and make your own contributions to the conversation. And you don't have to stick to the active discussions. If you find a discussion that may have gone cold, but you can make some key points, go ahead and comment and restart the dialogue! Members will get notified and rejoin the conversation. Then when you're ready, start a discussion of your own! You can show off your knowledge and expertise while building connections with key decision-makers and like-minded professionals.
5.Write Articles.
LinkedIn offers the feature where you can write native articles on the platform. If you want to get hired, people need to be aware that you really KNOW your stuff. Articles provide a great opportunity for you to share the depth of your experience and knowledge with the world. You can share your perspective on industry trends and changes. But be sure to promote your articles. Share them not only in public posts, but also share them in the groups that you are a part of. If you aren't connected to everyone in the group (yet), they may not come across the article right away so putting the link directly in the group can help drive more traffic not only to the article itself, but also to your profile.
6.Do the Little Things!
There are so many small changes you can make on LinkedIn that can help boost your profile's visibility. Make your profile public. Customize your profile URL (and then include a clickable link on your resume and cover letter). Switch on the feature that lets recruiters know that you're open to new opportunities. Secure recommendations and endorsements to be added to your profile. Update your certifications and accomplishments. Little tweaks to your profile like these can also prove helpful in getting more eyes on your profile.
For more information about Julia Rock, check out Rock Career Development or follow her on Instagram.
Featured image by Shutterstock
Article originally published on March 30, 2020
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Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Victoria Monét Opens Up About Feeling ‘Validated’ Months After VMAs Turned Her Down To Perform
Victoria Monét has had an incredible year. Thanks to the success of the widely popular “On My Mama” that went viral, the singer/ songwriter’s Jaguar II album debuted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. She also went on to headline her own sold-out tour. So, when the MTV VMAs happened in September, everyone was surprised to learn that Victoria’s team was told that it was “too early” for the “Smoke” artist to perform at the award show. However, a couple of months later, the mom of one received seven Grammy nominations, including “Best R&B Album” and “Record Of The Year.”
Victoria is currently in London and stopped by The Dotty Show on Apple Music and shared how she feels “validated” after being dismissed by the VMAs.
“It really does feel nice and validating because, in my head, the reason why I wanted to be a performer at the VMAs or award ceremonies like that is because I felt like I am at the place where I should. I would work really hard to put on the best show that I could, and I was excited to do so,” she said.
“And I guess the best way to describe it for me is like when you're like on a sports team, and the coach is like, ‘No, you gotta sit this one out.’ When they finally put you in, and then you score all these points, and it feels like that feeling. You're like, yes, I knew it wasn't tripping, but I knew I worked hard for this, and so it's been super validating to just have these accolades come after a moment like that, and I know the fans feel vindicated for me.
While her fans called the VMAs out on their decision, the “Moment” singer kept it cute and is still open to performing at the iconic award show. “I feel no ill towards them because it's just maybe that's just truly how they felt at the time, but I hope their mind has changed,” she admitted.
Aside from recognition from the Grammys, she has also received praise from legendary artists such as Janet Jackson, Kelly Rowland, and Usher.
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Feature image by Amy Sussman/WireImage for Parkwood