With 756 million members worldwide, Linkedin is the largest networking platform. People use the site to keep in touch with employers, coworkers, associates, and clients — but it can do much more than just keep you up-to-date with what someone’s doing at work. As a professional networking tool, Linkedin can help you unlock new opportunities, foster your professional relationships, and build credibility in your field.

Whether it’s laying the foundation for a successful career or closing a job search, there’s more to networking on Linkedin than just adding contacts. Over the past year, the platform saw a 43% increase in conversations between connections. As more people focus on connecting and engaging with people in their online community, you could be missing out on critical networking opportunities. 

‌So how do you develop relationships on LinkedIn that can boost your career? We’re sharing the best ways you can network on LinkedIn.

Create Strong Professional Connections With LinkedIn 

Websites like LinkedIn can serve as powerful networking tools, providing you with the ability to connect with employers and leave a lasting impression. 

‌Instead of waiting for the next in-person marketing event, LinkedIn allows you to network any time or place from the convenience of your smartphone or laptop. You can connect with people you’d never have the chance to meet before, including the biggest and most influential names in your industry. 

‌This kind of networking can get you concrete results. More and more, hiring managers and employers are turning to LinkedIn to find their next recruit. Three people are hired through LinkedIn every minute. 

‌Just by having a solid presence on this network, LinkedIn allows hiring managers to approach you for a potential opportunity — instead of the other way around. If you’re invited to connect with a hiring manager or recruiter, you want to make sure your profile and professional presence are in top shape. They may come to you with a job opportunity and ask for your resume, so it’s important that you’re on your A-game.

How to Use LinkedIn as a Networking Platform‌

LinkedIn offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with others in your industry — so you should treat LinkedIn like you would any other networking opportunity. This means you need to go in prepared and have an effective strategy in mind. 

‌Here are a few of the top three tips for leveraging the networking opportunities Linkedin can provide: 

Perfect Your LinkedIn Profile 

Everyone has a LinkedIn profile, but not every user takes the time that’s necessary to build it out properly. There are a few things potential employers and connections will see when they come across your profile, and it’s important to have it tailored to your professional goals. The algorithm also boosts profiles that are fully filled out. 

‌Here are a few things you need before your LinkedIn profile is polished and ready to go: 

• Add a high-quality, professional photo of yourself (preferably smiling).
• Add a background or cover image that reflects your industry.
• Mention your industry and location in the headline.
• Include a concise but attention-grabbing summary of who you are and what you have to offer.
• Include a strong resume or CV that backs up your expertise.

Think of Your Personal Brand As Your Professional Brand 

If you’re a working professional or executive leader, you have your own personal brand, that includes your personality, industry, and skills. It’s based on your personality, your identity, and your industry. Even though it’s personal to you, you should still treat it like any professional company’s branding. 

You should approach your career like a professional branding opportunity. Your presence on LinkedIn is a form of social media marketing — but instead of promoting a product, you’re promoting yourself. 

‌In addition to “promoting” yourself, you should focus on offering a consistent brand experience. Your image, personality, and even the way you talk and engage with others should align under your personal branding.

Make Personal Connections 

Once your profile is complete, it’s time to connect. Instead of sending out a flood of invitations, focus on making high-quality, personal connections. A personal touch can go a long way. 

‌When you do connect, take the time to send a personal message instead of the automated one suggested by the platform. Show them you’re thinking about your connections and you’re meaningfully engaged with your network. 

Follow up with connections on a regular basis. This could mean checking in on their job search, celebrating a new promotion, wishing them well, or even just saying happy birthday. 

‌These personal touches will help you strengthen your connections, and help you appear more authentic and trustworthy.

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile To Network Successfully

‌LinkedIn isn’t just an obligation for professionals and executive leaders. It’s a powerful networking resource that you should use to its full potential. 

‌Once you start making connections, you can build a strong network of professional relationships and take advantage of everything the platform has to offer — including new job opportunities. It might take time and dedication to get there, but the results are well worth the effort. 

‌First impressions are important, and to make the most of these opportunities you’ll want to highlight the value you can bring to a company. However, that isn’t always easy — especially in an oversaturated job-seeking market, but that’s where having your LinkedIn profile built out and your personal brand well-established helps.

Capstone Resume Services can help you showcase the best of what you have to offer with our writing services. No matter your career goals, we can help you get there with a powerful resume. Take a look at our success stories or schedule a one-on-one consultation today. 

When you’re looking for a new job, your resume is the first thing a potential employer uses to evaluate you. Listing your most relevant skills and accompanying keywords helps your resume stand out and makes it less likely to be filtered out by an applicant tracking system. But it’s possible to write yourself out of a job by including the wrong information on your resume. ‌

So, what should not be included in a resume so that you can improve your chances of getting your dream job? To create an optimal resume presentation that makes you stand out, omit the following items:

#1 Leave Out Your Irrelevant Work History

‌If you’re applying for an entry level position or if you’re new to your chosen industry, it’s easier to keep your resume under a page. For more established professionals, it’s tempting to include every position you’ve ever had along with lengthy descriptions of each job. 

‌‌More concise yet powerful resumes are easier to scan for relevant information. When describing your applicable positions and skills, stick with more details for your most recent work history (8-10 years) and highlight transferable skills from other jobs. Potential employers want to hire you based on what they perceive your current skill set to be, and that is why your experience in the last decade is weighed the most. 

#2 Check For Grammatical Errors and Misspellings

‌Before sending your resume to any job posting, proofread it for mistakes. Keep in mind that resume language is different from prose, but blatant misspellings and grammatical errors need to be corrected. Spelling and grammatical errors signal a lack of attention to detail, and they are an easy way to weed out applicants. Any kind of spelling and grammatical errors can be a deciding factor in whether or not you get an interview. 

If you’re not comfortable proofing your own resume, have someone look it over before using it to apply for jobs. ‌Reading your resume out loud can help you restructure your job descriptions and accomplishment statements so they flow. 

#3 Don’t Add Photos

‌It can be tempting to add a headshot to your resume, but it’s not necessary. Photos take up space that can be used to show your pertinent skills. Some applicant tracking systems can’t read photos, so adding one to your resume could get it tossed before the hiring manager ever sees it. 

‌‌You likely have a professional headshot on your LinkedIn profile, and if an employer is interested in you, they will probably look there (pro tip: it helps if you include a hyperlink to your profile on your resume header). Don’t waste space on your resume, and instead focus on showcasing why you’re the best applicant for the job. 

#4 Ensure Your Formatting Is Reader Friendly

Are you using big blocks of text? Or perhaps you’re trying to include too much information to ensure you have the best chances of landing your dream position? In order to ‘wow’ your recruiter, your resume should have a friendly reader experience, and wordiness will only distract from this mission. Since most recruiters scan resumes for the right skills in a matter of seconds, the last thing you would want is to cause overwhelm and confusion.

The best course of action is to use as few words as possible to demonstrate your value as an employee. Eliminate any distractions, such as competing visuals, and ensure that there is plenty of white space that acts as a border between various positions. To ensure clarity, make sure each line logically leads to the next in terms of meaning, chronology, and 

#5 Steer Clear of Buzzwords

Although your resume should include targeted keywords that match the job for which you’re applying, steer clear of buzzwords. These are words or phrases that are overused and end up cluttering your resume. Examples of buzzwords include: 

• ‌Extensive experience
• ‌Expert
• ‌Team player
• ‌Dynamic
• ‌Hard-working
• Diligent
• Strategic
• Focused
• Passionate

‌‌This is not a comprehensive list of general buzzwords to avoid. Your resume should be tailored to your desired position and adding words like those listed above just serves as fluff or filler. Instead of peppering your resume with buzzwords, use actionable language to illustrate your skills and experience. 

‌#6 Leave Out The Objective Statement

‌Whether to include an objective statement on your resume has been a debatable topic lately. Some resume experts stand by the objective statement, while others say you can scrap it in favor of a value proposition or similar language.

‌‌If you choose to keep your objective statement, don’t be generic with it. Use this statement to summarize who you are and how you can add value to the company in your desired role. Tailor it to the position you are applying for. 

#7 Avoid Generic Job Descriptions

‌When describing your previous work experience, emphasize your accomplishments and demonstrate how you achieved results for your employer. Everyone performs differently in their roles. This is a way to show what you did in the role and approached the work. Simply including a list of duties and tasks you performed at your job doesn’t illustrate your skills. Copying a job description is bland and outdated.

‌‌Include specific examples of how you contributed to your company while doing your job. Instead of writing “responsible for managing the filing system,” use actionable language and show your results. Try: “Implemented a new filing system leading to a 20% reduction in research times.” 

#8 Your Salary History

‌Most companies don’t negotiate salary until after the first interview. Including your salary history can exclude you from the applicant pool. It can also negatively impact your ability to negotiate. If your noted salary history is lower than comparable job descriptions, the company may try to start you at a pay that is too low. 

#9 Your Personal Information

As tempting as it can be to humanize yourself to your potential employer, including personal information in your resume is definitely a no-no and can paint you as someone with weak personal boundaries. Steer clear of volunteering any information about your living address, marital status, sexual orientation, political preferences, non-professional abilities, and likes and dislikes. 

Remember, resumes are tools that don’t pitch you as a person but rather your skills as a potential asset to an organization. When it comes to connecting with a new employer, do keep the boundaries between your personal and professional life clear and focus on your skills instead of who you are as a person. Once you land that job, then you can impress everyone with your personality!

How to Stand Out With Your Resume

Having been in the industry for some time, we have seen all kinds of resume no-nos and helped correct them so that our clients’ resumes stand out and help them land their dream jobs. Over time, we’ve discovered what works and what doesn’t to maximize on their hiring success. 

Here are just a few of some of our incredibly helpful resources that can help you write a stand out resume and expedite your job search:

Common Resume Questions Answered

How to Showcase Your Individual Approach and Define Your Professional Brand

What’s the Most Important Part of Your Resume? The Answers May Suprise You

Get Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile Noticed With Keyword Optimization

Craft The Perfect Resume With Capstone

‌There are many ways to structure your resume, and your applicable skills and job titles can vary based on your desired position. You may think that your resume highlights valuable skills and shows how you can benefit a company, but it might not have the right value proposition or include correct keywords for your desired role. 

We can help you decide what to include in your resume and which items to remove. Likewise, we can polish up your value proposition and help you highlight your most relevant skills for the dream position you had in mind. Schedule your consultation today with Capstone Resume Services!

Leave Out Your Entire Work History

‌If you’re applying for an entry level position or if you’re new to your chosen industry, it’s easier to keep your resume under a page. For more established professionals, it’s tempting to include every position you’ve ever had along with lengthy descriptions of each job. 

‌‌More concise yet powerful resumes are easier to scan for relevant information. When describing your applicable positions and skills, stick with more details for your most recent work history (8-10 years) and highlight transferable skills from other jobs. Potential employers want to hire you based on what they perceive your current skill set to be, and that is why your experience in the last decade is weighed the most. 

Check For Grammatical Errors and Misspellings

‌Before uploading your resume to any job posting, proofread it for mistakes. Keep in mind that resume language is different from prose, but blatant misspellings and grammatical errors need to be corrected. Spelling and grammatical errors signal a lack of attention to detail, and they are an easy way to weed out applicants. Any kind of spelling and grammatical errors can be a deciding factor in whether or not you get an interview. 

If you’re not comfortable proofing your own resume, have someone look it over before using it to apply for jobs. ‌Reading your resume out loud can help you restructure your job descriptions and accomplishment statements so they flow. 

Don’t Add Photos

‌It can be tempting to add a headshot to your resume, but it’s not necessary. Photos take up space that can be used to show your pertinent skills. Some applicant tracking systems can’t read photos, so adding one to your resume could get it tossed before the hiring manager ever sees it. 

‌‌You likely have a professional headshot on your LinkedIn profile, and if an employer is interested in you, they will probably look there(pro tip: it helps if you include a hyperlink to your profile). Don’t waste space on your resume, and instead focus on showcasing why you’re the best applicant for the job. 

Steer Clear of Buzzwords

Although your resume should include targeted keywords that match the job for which you’re applying, steer clear of buzzwords. These are words or phrases that are overused and end up cluttering your resume. Examples of buzzwords include: 

• ‌Extensive experience
• ‌Expert
• ‌Team player
• ‌Dynamic
• ‌Hard-working

‌‌This is not a comprehensive list of general buzzwords to avoid. Your resume should be tailored to your desired position and adding words like those listed above just serves as fluff or filler. Instead of peppering your resume with buzzwords, use actionable language to illustrate your skills and experience. 

‌Leave Out The Objective Statement

‌Whether to include an objective statement on your resume has been a debatable topic lately. Some resume experts stand by the objective statement, while others say you can scrap it in favor of a value proposition or similar language.

‌‌If you choose to keep your objective statement, don’t be generic with it. Use this statement to summarize who you are and how you can add value to the company in your desired role. Tailor it to the position you are applying for. 

Avoid Generic Job Descriptions

‌When describing your previous work experience, emphasize your accomplishments and demonstrate how you achieved results for your employer. Everyone performs differently in their roles. This is a way to show what you did in the role and approached the work. Simply including a list of duties and tasks you performed at your job doesn’t illustrate your skills. Copying a job description is bland and outdated.

‌‌Include specific examples of how you contributed to your company while doing your job. Instead of writing “responsible for managing the filing system,” use actionable language and show your results. Try: “Implemented a new filing system leading to a 20% reduction in research times.” 

Your Salary History

‌Most companies don’t negotiate salary until after the first interview. Including your salary history can exclude you from the applicant pool. It can also negatively impact your ability to negotiate. If your noted salary history is lower than comparable job descriptions, the company may try to start you at a pay that is too low. 

Craft The Perfect Resume With Capstone

‌There are many ways to structure your resume, and your applicable skills and job titles can vary based on your desired position. You may think that your resume highlights valuable skills and shows how you can benefit the company, but it might not have the right keywords for your desired position. 

Capstone Resumes Services can help you decide what to include in your resume and which items to remove. We can help you highlight your best skills, schedule your consultation today. 

Get Acclimated To LinkedIn’s Features

LinkedIn is adding and removing features all of the time. If you haven’t been on the site in awhile, set aside some time to peruse the various features and settings. See how your profile looks to others and check out how your connections are using theirs. LinkedIn also has a company blog where it provides current information and announcements for users.

Know Your Privacy Settings

Is your job search public or private? If you currently have a job, then you probably want to keep a lid on the fact that you’re looking for other opportunities. LinkedIn allows customization of your privacy settings to control how much of your activity others (like your boss and colleagues) can see.  To keep your job search private, pay special attention to these settings: activity broadcasts and activity feed,  those that show you’ve viewed someone’s profile,  and the visibility of your groups. Note that even if a group is not visible on your profile, your activity in a group can be seen by other group members. You can, however, respond privately to another group member’s post.  Finally, if you purchased a premium subscription, note that LinkedIn adds a “badge” to your profile. You can hide this badge (a briefcase icon) so others will not know that you have purchased the premium subscription.

Strut Your Stuff

What better way to showcase your abilities than providing specific examples?  The summary, experience and education sections of your LinkedIn profile allow you to either “Add a link” or “Upload a file.”  Use these features to create a visual portfolio and include samples of your best work for others to see.  These examples bring your job description to life and enable hiring managers to see how you’ve gone above and beyond your stated job duties.

Ask For Advice Or Information, But Don’t Ask For A Job

Networking is about building relationships, and relationships are built in steps and over time. The first step is not asking someone for a job, or asking them to pass along your resume. They might not tell you so, but your contact could be offended if they haven’t heard from you in ages and now you’re there to ask for a job. Find ways to continually engage and stay connected. We provide some tips for that below. Approach a contact to ask for their opinion or advice, or ask them if they’ll share information with you. If you’ve spent time getting to know others and provide value, in time you might not have to ask for a job or a referral, you’ll be the first to come to mind when the right opportunity arises.

Be An Active Participant

LinkedIn provides many opportunities for active involvement. Status updates provide a blank canvas for connecting with your LinkedIn contacts and staying visible in their activity feeds. You can share interesting articles, information, job opportunities, events and inspiration, or ask questions or ask for advice.

You’ll also see in your activity feed what your connections are posting and updates such as new positions or work anniversaries. You can comment on any of these posts, share your support and expertise with your network and celebrate their accomplishments with them.

Groups provide another avenue for being active on LinkedIn. You can participate in alumni groups, groups based on professional interests or specific fields.  Engage in discussions and ask or answer questions. Groups are a great way to meet, network with and stay connected to others who share your interests.

Capstone resume writers with recruiting and hiring backgrounds create affordable resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles that get results. Get started today!

Expand Your Professional Network

LinkedIn is foremost an online professional networking forum. Networking is critical to your job search, and the site allows you to do it from the privacy of your home and the convenience of your computer or mobile device.

LinkedIn lets you to connect with people you already know, see who they are connected with, and if desired, request introductions. This is a great way to grow your network, and LinkedIn makes it easy to facilitate these introductions.

You also can use LinkedIn to seek out people in your target industry who you might not otherwise know. When you invite someone to connect through LinkedIn, the site provides a generic personal note template to send with your request. If you do not know the person you are trying to connect with, take the time to write a personal note explaining why you would like to connect with him or her. Many people will be happy to connect with you when they know how you can help one another.

Find Employment Opportunities

LinkedIn is an essential tool for your online job search.  You will find many job postings on LinkedIn, and keep in mind that employers are often searching LinkedIn for qualified candidates to fill positions they have open, which might not be posted. It’s critical to have a complete and current profile so they can find you.

Utilize LinkedIn’s jobs section to search for employment opportunities, save job search parameters and job postings, and set up email alerts.  In some instances, you can apply directly to a job by clicking the “Apply with LinkedIn” button.  Your profile then serves as your resume, which again underscores the importance that you have a recent and comprehensive profile.

It’s imperative to remember that recruiters and managers are also using LinkedIn to critique you.  It’s common for employers to look at your LinkedIn profile to validate the information on your resume or to confirm what you say in an interview.

Demonstrate Your Skills

It’s easy to list skills on your resume, but to get the job, you have to prove that you can walk the talk. Your LinkedIn connections can endorse you for specific skills and provide personal recommendations for work you have done. This third party validation is a nice feature that a potential employer is not going to find on your resume.

You can also demonstrate your skills by including examples of your work, in some cases doubling your LinkedIn profile as an online portfolio. To demonstrate skills that you’re not using in your job, consider adding the volunteer work section to your profile to highlight additional skills you’ve developed outside of traditional employment.

Stand Out From The Crowd

LinkedIn is always adding features to make it more interactive and engaging. With millions of users, your LinkedIn profile alone may not always be enough to get you out in front of potential employers, but there are actions you can take to get noticed.

Try participating in the groups that are available on LinkedIn. You can find groups for college and company alumni, and groups based on interests, skills or industry.  Not only are groups a great source of information for your job search, being an active participant in them can help your profile get noticed.

Another way to stand out is to regularly publish content.  The “Share an update” feature is your opportunity to ask questions, share your thoughts and ideas, and distribute interesting articles or other information that your contacts can see in the activity feed on their LinkedIn home page. Engaging with the content your contacts are publishing also gets you out there.

Plenty of tools and resources are available online to help you create a stellar LinkedIn profile. To save time, you could hire the professionals at Capstone Resume Services to get you started with your LinkedIn profile writing so you can remain focused on being an engaged participant.