It’s no surprise that LinkedIn is one of the most valuable resources in a job search. In fact, it is said that if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, you don’t exist from a professional point of view. 

But how do you make an impact on LinkedIn if you have been out of work for an extended period of time? What updates should you make if you haven’t touched your profile for years? And how do you prioritize what needs to be done if you only have a few minutes a day? 

Follow these three small steps to make a big impact with your LinkedIn profile.

Address Your Visual Impact

Your professional image and banner image are the first impression of your LinkedIn profile, make sure they match your goals and personal brand. 

  • Use a professional headshot. If you are actively looking for work, consider investing in professional shots like these. Look up your local resources as many women’s business organizations offer free headshot days. 
  • Use a program like Canva to source an industry-appropriate banner image. Whether you are a freelance writer, a sales professional, or in the finance industry, your header image should relate to your desired industry.

Maximize Your Headline and Summary Statement

  • Your headline has a 120 character limit—use every available character.
  • Research common terms in desired job descriptions and use these in your headline and/or statement. This section of the profile shows up in a recruiter’s search results so it should be relevant to your desired work. 
  • Highlight both soft and hard skills in your summary statement
  • The summary statement can be fluid to reflect where you are in your career journey.

Engage on LinkedIn

  • It only takes five minutes a day to stay caught up on your LinkedIn feed. Use this time to comment and celebrate your colleague’s successes and ideas.
  • Share relevant content to your desired field of work.
  • Keep your profile current!

Start small and keep momentum with these simple suggestions and watch your LinkedIn interest (and profile) mature.

Need more? Our LI profile review can help tailor your profile to fit your past experience and future interests.