From Awful to All-Star: How to Dramatically Improve Your Food & Beverage LinkedIn Profile (part 2)

May 14, 2018 in Career and Job Search Tips

 

 

 

If used correctly, your LinkedIn profile can be a powerful career-building tool – helping you to expand your professional network, showcase your experience and uncover new employment opportunities.

But if you use it incorrectly? The social media platform can make you look like a bumbling wannabe.

Are you committing these LinkedIn profile mistakes?

A few months ago, our food industry executive recruiters shared some of the biggest LinkedIn blunders they commonly see on professionals’ profiles. If you missed the post, you can read it here:

From Awful to All-Star (part 1)

In today’s installment, our recruiters share more cringe-worthy faux pas they see on candidates’ LinkedIn profiles and explain how to avoid them:

It reads like a resume.

Company name. Dates of employment. Job duties. Does your profile read like an online resume? If so, you’re missing out on huge opportunities to distinguish yourself as an exceptional professional! Move beyond the stiff laundry list of responsibilities by treating your profile like a story. Create a mini narrative for each position that explains why you moved into the role and what you achieved. The additional context will make your profile more engaging, while giving recruiters a more complete picture of who you are as a professional.

It’s too sterile.

Should you post a picture of you holding a red Solo cup on LinkedIn? Of course not. But, to keep your profile from making you sound completely devoid of personality:

  • Include basic details about your hobbies, pursuits and interests outside work. Be careful, however, to steer clear of potentially contentious or divisive content.
  • List volunteer work you’ve done (LinkedIn has a dedicated Volunteer section you can add to your profile).
  • Briefly explain why you are (or want to be) in the food & beverage industry. When you clearly convey your passion for our industry, recruiters will take notice.
  • Write your profile in first person. You don’t refer to yourself in the third person in normal conversation; don’t do it on your LinkedIn profile.

It doesn’t include additional contact information.

Make it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you. Post additional contact methods, such as your email address and/or a link to your Twitter account.

You use the platform inappropriately.

LinkedIn is a robust platform you can use to advance your career. While it’s great to be proactive and outgoing, however, take care not to overstep. Keep these tips in mind:

  • Don’t send spammy InMails. Instead of sending mass, generic InMails to everyone in your network (which could lead to disconnects), stick to one-on-one communications.
  • Skip the pointless messages. Yes, you want to stay top-of-mind, but sending a message like “Have a great week!” adds no value to a business relationship. A better option for getting on someone’s radar? Go to their profile and like a recent post they published or share their content.

Related posts:

Why Are Some Food & Beverage Professionals 40X More Likely to Be Contacted on LinkedIn?

What Do Stand-Out LinkedIn Profiles Have in Common?

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Pros and Cons of Including a LinkedIn Photo

Connect with Kinsa Group on LinkedIn