5 Deadly LinkedIn Mistakes

Several years ago I published a post about deadly LinkedIn mistakes that became very popular – 29 Biggest LinkedIn Mistakes. The post included some of the worst things executives in job search do, or neglect to do, on LinkedIn.

In revisiting and updating that post, I’ve compiled here what I consider to be the 5 worst mistakes. I still see my clients and others make them all too often.

Avoid These 5 Deadly LinkedIn Mistakes

Mistake #1: Anemic, Skimpy Profile

3 reasons a too-brief LinkedIn profile can actually hurt your executive job search:

Lacks personal branding and chemistry
Marks you as out of date with social media
Decreases your “findability” online

Mistake #2: Neglecting SEO and Keywords

Executive recruiters and hiring decision makers at your target companies search LinkedIn for candidates using relevant keywords.

The more of the right keywords your profile contains, the more likely your profile will rank higher with LinkedIn’s search engine. This boosts the likelihood you’ll be found and considered by these key people.

Mistake #3: Boring, Generic, Short About Section

Use as much of the space allowed (2,000 characters and spaces) to increase your LinkedIn search ranking. More content also helps generate chemistry and differentiate your unique ROI for your target employers.

Mistake #4: No Professional Photo

Most people looking for candidates like you will see your LinkedIn profile before they see anything else about you. Put yourself in the shoes of these people assessing you through your LinkedIn profile.

The first thing they’ll notice when they land on your profile is your photo . . . or lack of one. If you have NO photo, their initial thought could be “What is this person trying to hide?”