5 Things You’re NOT Doing on LinkedIn (that you should be)

Keep in mind, our team lives and breathes the LinkedIn environment on a daily basis so we are connected with thousands of commercial construction professionals and have come to learn that there are a few things “missing” from our candidate’s profiles that would make an immense difference in visibility, especially if they are looking to stand out from the crowd.

If elevating your career ranks anywhere on your priority list, trust me when I say that you don’t want to wait until you are in dire straights to address your LinkedIn Profile.  Making some simple adjustments now will open up the possibilities that you can connect with like-minded employers and colleagues in the future.

1. Include Your Project History – This is probably the most common piece of advice I give to commercial construction candidates when I first review their LinkedIn profile or resume.  It’s not enough to simply list roles & responsibilities.  Without listing your project history, it’s impossible to know if you are someone that worked on a 4-week bathroom renovation job or a 5 year, $400 Million Hospital project.  The skillset required for each is distinctly different and should be highlighted on your profile.
2. Check Your Employment Dates – I often find that the dates on a LinkedIn profile are different from a person’s resume which can create unnecessary misunderstandings, confusion or outright rejection from employers.  Comb through your profile to make sure everything is accurate.
3. Avoid Spelling Errors – This sounds so basic. And it is. Really.  Take the extra 5 minutes to run it past a friend, a spell checker or colleague.  Your LinkedIn profile is essentially your online resume.  It’s a slippery slope and employers can read many things into this including the fact that you aren’t very detail-oriented or conscientious.
4. Fill Out the LinkedIn Profile Summary –  Yeah, that empty spot that only 1 out of 10 even bother to write in – that’s what we’re talking about! The profile summary is your first introduction to the world and all of the words you put in there are can be picked up by LinkedIn’s search bar so that recruiters and employers can find you. Keep it professional but chock full of keywords like project types, software you’ve used, certifications you’ve earned and unique accomplishments (that are still relevant to your professional background). And show some personality here – this is your chance to tell the LinkedIn network who you are and what makes you stand out from the crowd.
5. Update your Photo –  Please, if your profile photo can be confused for a mugshot or a Snapchat moment that was meant to disappear, it would be better to delete it altogether.   Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to showcase a picture taken by a professional photographer (although those don’t hurt).  But it should be a clear, head-on photo where you look professional and clean cut.  The wrong photo could be holding you back from tapping into some pretty incredible connections that exist on LinkedIn.

Believe it or not, these simple adjustments are enough to make your profile infinitely better than the rest of your competition and help you get recognized by the top-ranked construction firms you are hoping to align with.