Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on UnsplashLooking for a higher-paying job, or looking to network? Just getting started on LinkedIn, but unsure how to get noticed?
Highlighting your top skills can help you stand out and reach your professional goals.
1. Optimize your Headline
Your LinkedIn headline is your first and sometimes only opportunity to grab attention from potential employers, clients, and connections. In other words, it's your elevator pitch.
Image created by Kristyn Sheehy using a screenshot of her personal LinkedIn page. To hear an audio description of the image, click play on the audio player below.
There are many ways to do this, including:
Jobscan's suggested template to create an effective headline is:
[Current Role/Profession] | [Primary Skills/Areas of Expertise] | [Unique Value] | [Notable Achievement] | [Personal Passion or Career Goal]
Hubspot's suggested template for an optimized headline is:
Job Title + Company+ Benefits of working with you | keywords related to your niche | personal touch
Many companies are hiring for skills. In fact, skills-based hiring is one of the top workplace trends of 2023 and beyond. Use your headline to display the top skills employers are looking for. To choose the skills, research job listings and find the most in-demand skills for your role.
Here are some examples of optimized headlines:
Customer Service Specialist at XY | Enhance Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty | Skilled in Problem Resolution & Communication | Passionate About Delivering Exceptional Service
🌟 Brand Manager | 🎯 Digital Strategy & SEO | 🚀 Transforming Ideas into Impactful Campaigns | 🌱 Driven by Creativity and Innovation
Help Maria Finish Creating Her LinkedIn Headline
Maria was just hired for her first role as a Sales Development Rep. She needs to update her LinkedIn profile, Her goal is to build an online community of like-minded people and network.
She wants to optimize her LinkedIn headline to drive more people to her profile.
This is her current headline:
Sales Development Rep at Zuez Inc. | Skilled in Strategic Sales Initiatives and market Expansion | [Benefit of working with me] | Exceeded Sales Targets by 30% | Aspiring to Innovate Sales Strategies
Can you help her complete her headline?
Quiz
Which benefit would be most effective in helping Maria stand out? Choose two:
2. Add the Top Skills Section
To help highlight your skills, LinkedIn created a new feature: that allows you to list 5 skills in your profile.
When your skills are listed it is "easier for search engines and recruiters to uncover job candidates with a specific skill."
How to find it?
Click the pencil icon, click the add skill button, and add keywords.
Image created by Kristyn Sheehy using a screenshot of her personal LinkedIn page. To hear an audio description of the image, click play on the audio player below.
What skills should I include?
"Focus on highly sought-after skills in your industry and align them with your career goals."
Soft Skills
Communication
Problem-Solving
Leadership
Teamwork
Technical Skills
Civil Engineering
Hubspot
Marketing
Adobe Photoshop
Help Maria Select Her Top 5 Skills
Maria recently learned about this feature. She is excited to promote her skills. She is having trouble narrowing down her top 5 skills. She has researched and selected her top 8 highly sought-after skills in her Industry:
Lead Generation
Team Leadership
Sales Strategy Development
Customer Relationship Management
Communication
Market Research
Stakeholder Relationship Management
Maria is an entry-level sales representative focusing on prospecting (how sales reps engage with potential customers) daily in her current role. She is looking to build on that foundation.
Quiz
Which additional skills do you think would be the most beneficial for Maria to highlight? Choose two:
3. Enhance Your Experience Section
Don't allow your experience to be overlooked!
Highlight the skills you've gained. Focus on the impact you made in your role.
Click the pencil icon on a specific job to add skills to this portion.
Image created by Kristyn Sheehy using a screenshot of her personal LinkedIn page. To hear an audio description of the image, click play on the audio player below.
By quantifying your achievements and emphasizing your skills, you effectively show impact and results to potential employers.
For example, if Maria wants to say she prospected new clients, she could write, "Prospected and identified high-potential clients, leading to a 30% increase in qualified leads and a 15% boost in quarterly sales."
Quiz
Which skills would help Maria highlight measurable accomplishments in her experience section? Choose two:
Take Action
"By strategically using LinkedIn's features to display your skills, you can present yourself as an expert in your field, build credibility, and streamline your job search."
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