The LinkedIn summary or ‘about’ section is among the most under-utilized features by users. All too often, people either leave it blank on add in a short tagline that doesn’t do much to benefit their professional profiles. We have also found users adding their resume summaries to this section. All of these just undermine your professional brand and make you look unprepared to the LinkedIn community.
It is important to realize that the LinkedIn about section is precious real estate and should be treated like it. LinkedIn is a platform with 90 million senior-level managers and 63 million specialists in decision-making positions. With exposure to such a vast professional audience on a global scale, you need to ensure every part of your LinkedIn profile is highly optimized for lead generation.
The 2,000 characters available in your LinkedIn summary offer you an ideal space to strengthen your career profile and show recruiters your personality on an executive level. That is why you need to get to work on fixing it up right away and incorporating our top tips to create a banging summary that stays in peoples’ minds long after they’ve scrolled away.
Tips for the Perfect LinkedIn Summary
Give a Strong Introduction
The LinkedIn summary is your chance to say hello to the LinkedIn community and make a lasting impression. By default, viewers will only see the first three lines and will need to click for more. So, these lines must be carefully designed with a strong introduction to entice people to read further.
The first 290-300 words work as your elevator pitch. They should be written with a catchy hook that directly talks to the reader and highlights the single most important thing that you’d want recruiters or hiring managers to know.
Make It Keyword-Rich
Keyword optimization is your best friend on any part of LinkedIn, but it is particularly important for your LinkedIn summary. Since recruiters quickly scan profiles for job titles, talents, skills, and other important keywords, peppering your summary with all the relevant keywords will ensure they find you a valuable candidate.
Dive Briefly Into Your Career
Your LinkedIn summary isn’t a cover letter or resume; therefore, it shouldn’t be treated as such either. However, it is a great place to add some context to your career path and highlight what makes you excel at what you do. Prospective employers will appreciate a brief overlook at your professional life.
Don’t Forget to Mention Your Ambitions and Passion
Instead of putting all the focus on your past accomplishments and awards, focus more on who you are as a professional and where your passions lie. Recruiters turn to LinkedIn to get a clearer perspective on the person behind the impressive resume, so deliver precisely that! Talk about your ambitions and what is next for you!
Final Words
In the end, the best LinkedIn summary presents who you are creatively. So, stay true to yourself and remember to use keywords smartly for a polished and professional look. All the best!