What do you do with your LinkedIn profile?
Do you check it only every once in a while when a
connection request comes through? Have you linked it to your Twitter account?
Did you never quite remember to sign up in the first place?
As much as it’s convenient to merge our Facebook,
Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram accounts into one large social networking
experience, LinkedIn has a special designation: professional networking.
And there is a difference between professional and
personal networking, according to LinkedIn Career Expert Nicole Williams: “I
see the same mistakes over and over!”
And, on LinkedIn, those faux pas can damage your career.
In fact, data shows that LinkedIn is especially helpful
when it comes to landing higher-paying jobs—”informal recruitment” is a
favorite of hiring managers aiming to fill positions up there on the payscale.
So whether you’re hunting for a new job, making the most
of the one you have or just looking to learn about professional possibilities,
avoid these eight big LinkedIn mistakes.
Not Using a Picture
“One of the biggest mistakes I see is no photo,” ” Williams says. “You’re seven times more likely to have your profile viewed if you have one.
Like a house that’s on sale, the assumption is that if there’s no photo, something’s wrong.”
She also makes a great point: If you leave a networking event with a handful of business cards, intending to follow up on LinkedIn, it’s much harder for you to remember who’s who without pictures. A missing photo can easily lead to missed connections.
Putting Up the Wrong Picture
“No dog, no husband, no baby!” Williams says, adding that your photo is meant to show you at your professional—not personal—best. “Especially for mothers getting back into the workforce, a picture of their child doesn’t convey that they’re ready for a full-time job.”
Another photo blunder: Misrepresenting your appearance. “I see older people who are worried about age discrimination use a photo of themselves in their 30s, but an interviewer wasn’t expecting them to look so different. And instead of listening to your answers, the interviewer will think you’re deceptive,” Williams confides. “Unless you’re getting hired for a modeling gig, people are just looking for energy, which you can communicate through great posture, open eyes and a smile.”
