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Mentorship July 3, 2018
These are the mistakes women make on LinkedIn and how to avoid them.
In our digital world, social networking is something people of all ages and backgrounds must accept whether they like it or not. As someone who falls into the latter category, I attest that perhaps the most intimidating of the social platforms is LinkedIn. With 300 million users, creating a public LinkedIn profile can feel like the toughest interview of all.
LinkedIn was founded in 2003 and became globally successful in 2008. Today, over 90 percent of recruiters rely on the platform to find candidates for jobs.
The platform can be helpful to those on the job hunt, but women are at a disadvantage. LinkedIn functions as a microcosm of the workplace, so a lot of those same biases cross over digitally.
The concept of confidence in the workplace is a typically masculine trait, so using a platform based on that same confidence can feel daunting for women. In fact, studies found that 56 percent of LinkedIn users are male. While that is an improvement from the early days of the site, it remains imbalanced and perpetuates women’s insecurity on the platform.
So, if you’re looking for a boost of confidence, here are some tips on nailing your LinkedIn profile.
Appearance in the workplace is an extremely fraught issue, particularly for women. Posting a LinkedIn profile photo can stir up feelings similar to getting dressed on the first day of a new job.
When it comes to the photo, it’s like making that same decision for millions to judge for months on end. Some women may find it easier and less stressful not to post an image at all. This is a mistake.
LinkedIn career expert Blair Decembrele told Time Magazine that profiles with pictures get “21 times more views and up to 36 times more messages.”
LinkedIn profiles with profile photos gain far more connections than those without. The photo should be professional, or at least look professional. It should be a headshot or something similar and it should be simple. Most importantly, it needs to be authentic. Lots of career events are based on meeting future employers who have only ever met you through LinkedIn. Choosing a photo that looks nothing like you can leave interviews and events as awkward as a blind date. Don’t catfish your future employer and make your profile stand out in searches.
The experience portion of the LinkedIn profile is arguably the most crucial section. Some users may find this section difficult to complete since you have to do a level of professional bragging.
While listing off your specific set of skills and amazing achievements can feel a bit embarrassing, try letting your work speak for itself.
One of the best tips I received from a supervisor was to always keep track of my numbers. Take note of how many pieces you write, how many meetings you hold, how many calls you answer — whatever it is you do, keep track. This will make writing your resume and experience so much easier.
Using those numbers in your experience not only makes speaking about yourself easier, it makes you stand out. Being able to read an exact number rather than a lengthy statement describing your skill makes it that much easier to read your profile and understand what you can do.
Perhaps even more difficult than proving yourself through experience is summing yourself up as a person and a worker in a few short sentences.
Some users may find a boost of confidence by writing in the third person. This may help you feel a distance from the subtle arrogance inherent in a personal summary. While it might help at first, it’s a mistake in the long run.
“First-person is more intimate. It’s like having a conversation with the reader – making it easier to build an emotional connection,” writes career expert William Arruda on LinkedIn.
The summary is your chance to insert a bit of your own voice into your profile, so use the first person and be yourself. Whether your personality shines could be an indicator of whether a company wants to hire you.
While you should refrain from being too casual, remember that this is an opportunity to weed out employers who won’t be a good match. If they don’t like your tone or sense of humor, you probably shouldn’t work for them, anyway.
The best way to personalize your Linkedin profile is not on your profile at all. It’s in the messages and how you communicate. Many of us are used to platforms like Instagram and Facebook which rely mostly on stalking those you follow and more casual language. This is not the strategy on LinkedIn.
Actually, stalking like you would on Facebook can hurt your success since users are notified when you look at their profiles. Somebody who interests you, maybe a career role model, is someone you should be reaching out to, not silently following.
Don’t be afraid to take the leap and message somebody whose career you admire. Connecting, after all, is what the platform is all about and anybody on the site should feel comfortable connecting with other like-minded individuals.
If you’re worried about feeling pushy, always remember to bring the conversation back to them. Make it clear that all you want is advice, no favors, or strings pulled (even if maybe you do).
Also, make sure to remain professional in your correspondence.
One of the most common mistakes is not including references or recommendations on your LinkedIn profile. Of course, in order to get some, the most daunting task of all is required: asking for them.
If you never forged a close bond with a past boss or supervisor, requesting a letter of recommendation can be very intimidating. Here’s a big secret though: they aren’t the ones who write the letters.
When asking for a letter of recommendation, always offer to send a draft. No matter how much they appreciated working with you, they may not have the time or the clear memory to write a letter about every task you excelled at. It may seem presumptuous, but they will appreciate your help. They also want you to do well, and you’re the one who knows what your future employer is looking for.
When it comes down to it, this is just another example of being forward when it feels unnatural. In a culture where women are expected to be quiet and composed, aggressive behavior can seem completely wrong. However, it’s not a lot of the time. You know yourself better than anyone else and you know what you deserve. Now go get it.
