How To Optimize Your Profile in 8 Easy Steps

Google, Amazon, Twitch announced layoffs this week.

It's a stark reminder: in the corporate world, employees are just a number on a spreadsheet.

You might be among the many people who only engage on LinkedIn when job searching. This passive approach isn't sustainable in the long term.

Now is the perfect time to take control of your career and future-proof your income.

In today's ultra-competitive job market, it's essential to build your brand and establish a strong network before you need it. Acting only when you are desperate is often too late.

Personal branding is for everyone -  working professionals, job seekers, and entrepreneurs. It opens opportunities, increases visibility, builds networks, attracts partnerships, boosts income, and might even lead to leaving your 9-5.

You don’t need to be an expert from the start. Begin where you are, learn, iterate, and improve over time.

In previous newsletters, I covered how to identify your niche and build your brand identity. Now, let's focus on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile.

Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Choose your platform

LinkedIn is an ideal platform for personal branding, especially if you enjoy writing. Choose a platform that aligns with your preferences, whether it’s writing or video.

For people starting their personal branding journey, I recommend focusing on one platform initially. This approach prevents overwhelm and increases the likelihood of success. Once you’ve established your voice and rhythm, consider expanding to other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter  to broaden your reach.

Pro tip: The steps are applicable across multiple platforms. 

Step 2: Get a professional headshot. 

Your profile picture is the first impression you make. A full frontal headshot with a nice smile can make all the difference. Stay away from busy backgrounds and dress professionally. You can use your phone or get a professional photographer to take your photo. If your current profile picture is more than 2 years old, it's probably time to switch it out for a new look.

Pro tip:  Use the same photo for consistency and brand recognition. 

Step 3: Craft your headline.

This is your elevator pitch  - think of it as a one liner sentence that sells who you are as a professional. Remove unnecessary filler words that do not add any real value. Communicate who you are clearly so that your target audience gets what you do immediately, without having to ask follow up questions. 

Here is a simple formula to create your headline:

Role/Title + Industry 1 + Industry 2 + Core Skill 1 + Core Skill 2 + Value Proposition + Unique Accomplishment

Or use this ChatGPT prompt :

Create a Linkedin profile headline with a character limit of 220 words maximum, using the following structure (insert the headline formula).  Remove embellishments, buzz words and repetitive information. Keep to the specified word count. The unique accomplishment should follow the formula implemented by y to do z which led to Z and incorporate numbers and measurable benefits. Integrate and highlight the most important skills for (insert job role/title). Here are the industries I have experience in (insert industry). You can also extract the relevant information from my resume (insert resume). 

Step 4:  Change your featured section and banner images. 

Your featured section and banner image are great ways to add visually appealing elements to your profile while showcasing what you can do. If you don’t have anything to showcase in your featured section, you can add a calendly link, a link to a newsletter or a recent post that you made.  Start small and build on your featured section over time. 

Click on the links below to get access to free customizable templates in Canva:

Featured section

Banner image

Pro tip: Use the colors from your branding guide. Consistency matters. 

Step 5: Optimize your about section.

Use this section to tell your story. Highlight your strengths, unique experiences and incorporate relevant keywords from your industry/niche. 

Here is a simple ChatGPT prompt: 

Create an about section for me that I can use on my Linkedin profile which highlights my unique skills and experience in 500 words. Use the template below by extracting information from my resume. Avoid buzzwords, embellishments and write at 5th grade level. Incorporate industry-specific keywords, skills, tools, and technologies related to my industry.

Here is the template: 

I am a  [Your Profession] with over (Number of Years] years of  experience in  [Your Industry or Field 1], with great knowledge of  ( skill 1)  and (skill 2). I bring a unique blend of expertise to the [Your Industry or Field] space where I have utilized (technique 1) and (technique 2) to help organizations achieve their goals (insert measurable/tangible goal).

My expertise lies in [Key Skills and Strengths from the job description]. I excel in [more Skills from the job description], consistently delivered [Relevant Outcomes or Achievements] within (x timeframes).

Some career highlights include (use the top accomplishments from my resume)

• [Mention Specific Achievement 1]: [Quantifiable Result 1]. 

• [Mention Specific Achievement 2]: [Quantifiable Result 2]. 

• [Mention Specific Achievement 3]: [Quantifiable Result 3]. 

I am a member of industry associations [Name of Industry Association] and [Another Industry Association] where I regularly share insights with peers. I frequently contribute to [Platform or Publication] on topics related to [Your Industry or Field] and  [Specific Topics] 

Let's connect. I can be reached at (insert email).

Step 6: Fill out your work experience section.

Go beyond job descriptions in your experience section. Highlight your achievements and the value you added in each role. Refrain from writing your job duties and responsibilities. Instead, use industry key words to demonstrate your impact and what you bring to the table. 

Here is a sample ChatGPT prompt:

Use my resume and create a summary for each of my work experiences that summarizes my key skills and accomplishments. Highlight any key projects, my specific contribution to the project, major tasks completed, the budget size and team size. Include 2-3 lines description of the impact using numbers, data and percentages. Add the top 5 skills used in each job role. Use first person language.

Pro Tip: Add project work/experience, volunteering experience and publications, if you have any. 

Step 7: Get recommendations

Get recommendations from your current and past colleagues and even your friends. It builds credibility and boosts your profile. The best way to get a recommendation is to give one. People often reciprocate good gestures. 

Here is a simple script: 

Hi [Name], I hope you are doing well. I know we are all busy, so I took the liberty of drafting a short recommendation based on our work together: '[Your Drafted Recommendation]'

Would you be comfortable with me posting this on your LinkedIn profile? Of course, if you'd prefer to write your own or make any adjustments to this one, feel free to do so. Thanks!

Pro tip: You can also directly ask for recommendations.

Step 8: Add industry skills to your profile. 

LinkedIn allows you to add a maximum of 50 skills on your profile - be strategic with the skills you add so that you show up at the top of search results when people are looking for a specific skill set.  Remove any irrelevant skills and make this super targeted and focused for your target industry/audience. 

Generate a list of 50 top hard skills, soft skills and tools and technologies for the role [insert target role], using information from my resume, and based on the requirements for the target role in (insert country) based on your latest training data. Remove words like 'knowledge of', ‘proficiency in’ and any other non-relevant elements.

Summary of the key takeaways:

1. Personal branding is for everyone - whether you're a professional, job seeker, or an aspiring entrepreneur, stop sitting on the fence and get started already.

2. Begin with one social media platform and expand to others as you get more comfortable and find your voice/rhythm.

3. Stand out with a compelling profile that showcases your unique skills and achievements.

Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:

 1. [60-min] 1:1 Power Hour: Pick my brain on all things job search, resume, LinkedIn, personal branding, interviewing, entrepreneurship and more. Apply here for $249.

2. Apply to join my Agile Project Management Accelerator Program: A 3 month career transition coaching program to get you hired in 3-6 months. Apply here.

Until next time,

Zainab

Remember, you are just one step away…

P.S: I would love to hear from you - what topics would you like me to share more of? I want to make sure I write about the things that matter to you.