Resumes and Cover Letters: LinkedIn

Top Tips:

1. Clear, Crisp Graphics

   • Your banner should relate to your industry.  

   • Your photo should be full-face, looking at the camera, no sunglasses, no alcohol or tobacco use EVER, and not a personal shot (like vacation or with your children).

2. Great headline and Summary

   • Use similar wording to common job listings in your industry.

   • Make your headline tag very descriptive.

3. Ask for Skill Endorsements

   • Instead of asking classmates to add you on Facebook, ask them to add you on LinkedIn. 

   • Ask instructors and your supervisors to endorse you on specific skills.

   • Both types of connections will help you gather professional references later.

Because it's a commercial company, LinkedIn is not meant to replace your resume and cover letter.   However, you can use it rather than a social media profile on a site like Facebook or Instagram to grow your business connections and develop some links to others in your industry.

• Treat LinkedIn like a professional version of a website.

  • People see it in search results from engines like Google.   Be sure to include your full name and your industry, as well as the most recent place you worked.

  • You wouldn't post personal photos, events, or ideas here.

  • Update it often.  You can easily let 6 months or a year pass by, and then your most recent work profile is out-of-date.

  • Connect with your boss, supervisors, and co-workers.  Connect with your companies.

• You will include corporate or nonprofit information that you find on a resume: educational history and job history, as well as volunteering connections.   

• Other people can endorse your skills.   These endorsements don't replace references, but they can help you reach out to people for professional references.

• The site could disappear at any time or the free version could leave.   If it's free, it can leave quickly.  Make sure you keep your resume and references updated.