8 Mistakes You May Be Making On LinkedIn
If your LinkedIn profile looks like an exact carbon copy of your resume, stop and and take some notes because 9 times out of 10, your profile isn’t where it needs to be.
If you didn’t know, LinkedIn is the top social network for job recruiting, and most recruiters use it to source and review candidates. There are over 400 million people that have LinkedIn, but only about half are using it to its fullest potential. Sometimes we as LinkedIn users unknowingly make mistakes on our profile that in return can cost us our next interview or job.
Below are 8 common mistakes that I have seen many people make. Remember your LinkedIn profile is a representation of you so treat it with the best care and attention.
1. You and your endorsements are all over the place
There are so many things that we need to let go in 2017, one of which is letting people endorse you for any and everything (and letting it show on your profile). On your profile, you can delete endorsements and you can also rearrange them so that your best endorsements are listed first, and the basic ones are listed last.
When I am reviewing candidates and look at their profile, if Microsoft Word and PowerPoint are the first few endorsements that I see, I immediately roll my eyes. Nowadays everyone is able to use Microsoft Word, so the fact that you know how to use it is not impressive.
2. You put all of your classes on LinkedIn
In school I took so many classes that were literally a waste of time. Although they were “required” for my degree program, I don’t use most of the information learned in my current career. On the same note, every class that you have taken is not important enough to put on your LinkedIn. I know this sounds harsh, but it is true. When you are adding “courses taken” on your LinkedIn profile, only include courses that are critical to the career that you have now (or are seeking). If you are looking for a career in human resources, your recruiter won’t care about the class that you took in Art Design or Music.
3. Your LinkedIn looks like your Instagram selfie
On LinkedIn, I have seen too many professional selfies from both women and men. A professional selfie is a photo of yourself with professional clothes on from the waist up. You may also add a few filters on the photo for special effects and your makeup is slightly on fleek for a nice, subtle look.
I recommend finding a photography student or aspiring photographer and get some nice headshots taken. More than likely the photographer won’t charge you a lot, and you will only need to 1-2 photos.
4. Your verb tense usage is confusing
Similar to your resume, when you are describing your current and past work experience, you need to make sure you are using the correct verb tense. If you are discussing your past work experience, be sure to put your action verbs in past tense, and your current experience in present tense. In addition, your verb usage should be consistent as well. Here are two examples of consistent and inconsistent verb usage
[Tweet "#xoGem: Use the correct verb tense on your LinkedIn profile."]
Inconsistent
- Provided customer service to new and old clients
- Meets area and regional goals
- Marketed brand to community leaders
Consistent
- Manages social media accounts and analyzes data
- Conducts market research on competing brands
- Leads and develops a marketing and branding team
5. You don’t have any data to backup your experience
As the saying goes, women lie, men lie, but numbers don’t; it is the same when it comes down to your LinkedIn or resume. It is always a must to quantify your experience by providing real numbers and data. In return, it will further solidify you as an expert and it will show that you know what you are talking about in regards to your experience.
6. You simply cut and pasted your resume into your profile
On LinkedIn, you have the opportunity to add visuals and links - something that cannot be done with a traditional resume. When you are creating or updating your LinkedIn, don’t just copy and paste your resume into your profile. Take time to provide visuals and a portfolio to your profile. The more visuals and information that you provide, the more appealing your profile will be.
7. You send those “default” messages that look like spam
When I use LinkedIn from my phone, I get notifications when my connections publish a post, get a new job, has a work anniversary, etc. Once I get this notification, I am able to send a pre-designed message to them. This default message is very bland and boring and honestly it looks spam-ish. When you are communicating or connecting with others, take the time out to customize your message. It will appear more genuine and it will give you the opportunity to start a meaningful conversation with your connections.
8. Your LinkedIn url isn’t SEO friendly
For the highest search rankings, simplify your LinkedIn url as much as you can so that when people look for you online, your profile will easily appear. In this article, there is a simple guide on customizing your URL and you can do it in literally one minute. If you use your Twitter or Facebook in a professional manner, you can also customize your LinkedIn url to match your other social media profiles for a higher SEO ranking.
What are some other mistakes that you think you could be making on your LinkedIn? Let us know and we may have an idea on how you can fix it!
Brittani Hunter is a proud PVAMU alumni and the founder of The Mogul Millennial, a business and career platform for Black Millennials. Meet Brittani on Twitter and on the Gram at @BrittaniLHunter and @mogulmillennial.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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When you think of a Virgo, you think of Beyoncé, Zendaya, Idris Elba, Keke Palmer, and more. You think of the type of celebrities that have made their presence known through their tact, dignity, and work ethic. Individuals who own their skillset, yet also embrace a humble sort of approach to how they choose to express themselves and all they have done and accomplished.
Virgos are the type of people who will dedicate their whole lives to their careers but won’t sacrifice their vision or their personal taste in the process. They are the taskmasters of the zodiac, and the success of this earth sign is not only earned, but it is highly admirable.
Have you ever wondered why Beyoncé seems to do more in 24 hours than the average person? We have all heard the saying, “What Would Beyoncé Do?” when debating on how to move forward with something, and that is because Virgos can see solutions and the time it will take to execute said solution within seconds after presenting them with something. Virgos are the type of people you want on your team or leading the team altogether because they know what it takes to get the job done. In addition to making her mark in the haircare game with CÉCRED, Beyoncé has released three works of art within the past five years, each album its own entity and its own piece of her.
Beyoncé celebrates the launch of her hair care line, CÉCRED, with an intimate gathering.Julian Dakdouk/Parkwood Media/WireImage via Parkwood
Virgos are a mutable sign, once you think you fully understand them, they will do something that keeps you on your toes. Hence, Beyoncé's newest work of art, her country-inspired album, Cowboy Carter, has fully shaken the music industry and changed the way we look at different genres and what is possible for its artists.
If you ask a Virgo what it means to be a Virgo, they’re going to say, “Beyoncé is a Virgo.” They know the weight those words hold and that by saying that alone, you get the full picture of what it means to be a Virgo.
"That Beyoncé, at 42, having worked in the entertainment industry since she was a teenager, is still conquering new charts is a testament to her work ethic, longevity and sheer cultural staying power," @KarenAttiah writes. https://t.co/o9wbBTcdyh
— Washington Post Opinions (@PostOpinions) April 7, 2024
No one is more proud to be a Virgo than Beyoncé, and no other zodiac sign is more proud to share a sign with a celebrity like Beyoncé than other Virgos. Her songs, "Virgo’s Groove," "Spaghetti," "Gift from Virgo," and the classic, "Signs," all showcase Beyoncé's love for the Virgo Maiden.
Virgos own their presence and stand by the work they do because they don’t do anything that doesn’t align with who they are. Virgos are perfectionists, but you can’t help but admire the fact that someone cares enough to want to make something perfect in the first place.
This dedication to their work is commendable, which is often why people look at these Virgo celebrities like Beyoncé in complete awe.
Virgos are so lucky.
— Issa Rae (@IssaRae) July 29, 2022
A Virgo’s mind is like a computer, they are constantly analyzing information, figuring out what serves and what doesn’t, and making sure they have all the details. Virgos pay close attention to everything, and a lot of this has to do with the fact that they are Mercury-ruled as Mercury is their planetary ruler. Being a Mercurian is being someone who is ruled by the mind, and who is constantly receiving and seeking new information and insight. Virgos are organized, pragmatic, hard-working, intelligent, and love to help and be of service to others.
In Astrology, Virgo rules the 6th house which is the area of life that has to do with daily routine, lifestyle, work, health, colleagues, acts of service, and overall wellness. They do everything at 100% and you can see it in the results they bring.
Virgos don’t miss a beat, and you can look at all of Zendaya’s work and runway looks to support that statement.
Zendaya attends the World Premiere of 'Dune: Part Two' in 2024.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
The roles she has played throughout her career have all been vastly different, yet she has excelled in everyone and has created her own space in Hollywood. Virgos take one project and will not only accomplish it but will then look to top it and see how much further they can evolve from there.
Zendaya began her career in acting and has now produced for Euphoria, the Netflix film, Malcolm & Marie, and has goals to step into the director chair one day. This is the progression of Virgo.
Denis Villeneuve and Spielberg talking about Zendaya and how Denis could see her as a director 😊 pic.twitter.com/zPQCA0FUOM
— Justin (@jerstonfilm) March 26, 2024
Following the success of this year'sDune: Part Two, Zendaya’s new movie, The Challengers opens another new door for Zendaya and showcases the wide range this powerhouse is capable of. A Virgo is always trying to do better than who they were yesterday, and people close to them can attest to this.
So many fellow peers and colleagues who work with Zendaya rave about her work ethic and how much dedication she puts into what she does, and that energy translates on screen and to her fan base as well. Virgos are highly involved in everything they do and Zendaya’s press tour looks whenever she is working on a new project highlights that.
Zendaya’s red hair during the Spider-Man press tour, something seemingly so small, had such an impact because of her attention to detail. Or any of Zendaya’s Met Gala looks which always make the top list of best-dressed celebrities. Her attention to detail might even extend to her beauty choices as the starlet even once said toVogue Australia that she preferred to do her own makeup because, "I’m a Virgo and I know what I like."
Zendaya attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Met.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for New York Magazine
Virgos have a way of making efficiency look easy, effortless even. You give them a task, they are going to understand the assignment. These are the type of people who will work enthusiastically with you, and who love to feel like what they do or what they say, can truly have an impact on people. Virgo celebrities showcase this earth sign well, and their high standards translate into quality work. They think through everything, and their professionalism is often what leads them to success in life.
Just know, while you are sleeping, there is a Virgo out there who is working or thinking about their next move, and this is a sign that deserves all her flowers.
Honorable Virgo Celebrity Mentions:Jennifer Hudson, Taraji P. Henson, Tyler Perry, Michael Jackson, Kat Williams, Cassie, Jada Pinkett Smith, Wiz Khalifa, Justine Skye, Jodie Turner-Smith, Sanaa Lathan, Angela Simmons, Ava DuVernay, Ludacris, Nas, Sofia Richie, Metro Boomin, Lil Yachty, Damon Wayans, Dave Chappelle, and more.
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Featured image by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage