How to Do a LinkedIn Resume Review?

Did you know that 95% of hiring managers use LinkedIn to find candidates? Or that you are first evaluated based on your LinkedIn profile even before you attend an interview?

In other words, in the current recruitment landscape, there is no room for you to make any errors when it comes to your LinkedIn profile. It is the first step to impressing your prospective employers as well as developing valuable professional connections. 

So it is necessary that you dedicate some time every couple of months to make sure that your profile is updated, optimized, and ready to impress. Are you wondering how to do that? Here is what you need to look for when doing a thorough LinkedIn resume review. 

1. Get an Expert Review

The process of recruitment has changed drastically over the past few years. These days, hiring managers rely on a number of digital tools to examine and reexamine resumes and LinkedIn profiles until they find the right candidate. 

As such, it makes sense for you to get an expert to take a look at your LinkedIn profile. This is even more crucial if you are looking for a job. A critical review can point out any mistakes that you might have overlooked. You can visit TopResumeReviews to find out which online services are best suited for the purpose. These platforms often have a team of experts, made up of career consultants, professional writers, and hiring managers who can review and correct the mistakes in any resume. 

2. Check Your Pictures 

When designing your LinkedIn profile, remember to pick carefully your profile picture and background photo. These grab the attention of everyone, set the tone and context for your resume. 

In fact, there are a few things you need to check when choosing the profile picture of your LinkedIn resume:

• Choose a photo that looks like you 
• Make sure your face takes up about 60% of the frame
• Be the only one in the picture
• Wear professional attire
• Use a high-resolution image

Additionally, you should also make sure that the background picture you use is not distracting. The right image can help your profile stand out, make the right impression and stay memorable. 

3. Check your Headline

LinkedIn sets your headline to your current job title by default. However, this might not be sufficient to tell the hiring manager enough about you. Instead, use this field to introduce yourself and how you see your role. You can also include indicators about why you choose this career and what you are looking for. 

Not to worry, you can scour LinkedIn itself for some inspiration to find the right headlines suited for your professional field. 

4. Review Your Summary 

Have you left the summary section of your LinkedIn profiles blank? If so, you need to revisit it.  This is an essential tool that gives you the chance to present yourself on your own terms. That said, it should not be a mere repetition of what you have already covered in the skill sets and previous work experience. 

Instead, mention your unique value proposition of why your skills matter and how you can be an asset to a team. Do not hesitate to play around with a few different styles or even get feedback from someone else. The summary is your elevator pitch, and it’s well worth the effort. 

5. Use the Services Section Wisely

Are you self-employed, running a small business, or a freelancer? If so, you should also make sure to highlight the specific services you offer. Using the right keywords for this section can boost your visibility and make it easier for any prospective client to find you. 

These appear at the top of your profile and are often among the first few things that a visitor would notice. 

6. Work on the Endorsements

One crucial aspect that will make you an attractive candidate in front of the employers’ eyes is the endorsement section. These can be extremely influential, and the more, the better. You should have at least 5 to 8 on your profile. However, if they are old, then you might want to try getting a few recent ones that are relevant. 

If you find that this is lacking upon doing your LinkedIn resume review, do not hesitate to reach out to your connections with a polite message asking for endorsement. You should also include a few key skills in the text. Also, make sure these are relevant to the career you wish to build. 

7. Stay Active 

It is one thing to make sure that your LinkedIn resume looks top-notch. But it is even better to stay active on the network. This will help for you to appear across the fees and adds value, 

Posting and sharing relevant articles is one of the easiest and accessible ways to increase your visibility. You should also engage and make sure that you are sharing posts that align with your point of view. 

8. Know Your Audience

Lastly, you should do your LinkedIn resume review by considering it as a marketing tool. So, you will need to first figure out whose attention you are seeking. Are you trying to build more connections or find a new job? 

Once you have this figured out, you can then try to go over the keywords that you need to use. For instance, if you are open to a new position, then go through a few job postings to find out which are the common skill sets required. You can then brush up your resume to include them, making it easier for hiring managers to find you.  

On the other hand, if you are a freelancer—find out what keywords are searched by your clients online. 

As you can see, reviewing your LinkedIn profile is crucial. But it is not enough that you do it once and leave it to rust. Instead, you should check how your profile comes across every now and then and make sure that it aligns with your short-term as well as long-term objectives. And like we mentioned earlier, it wouldn’t hurt to get a professional opinion on your profile – you can consider it as an investment into your career.