10 Ways to Upgrade Your LinkedIn Profile as a Nigerian Student

If you’re reading this, then you must have prepared yourself for the career world with your LinkedIn profile. Congratulations! But have you been upgrading your profile? 

No?

As you progress in life, it’s important for you to update your profile and your professional network because you never know who would be interested in working with you.

Updating your LinkedIn profile is essential, and below are 10 tips on how to go about it.

1) Add a background photo to your profile

Having a great picture is good. But a background picture makes it even greater. You can put a picture of your dream workspace or any professional or eye-catching display. This makes your profile pop amid many others.

2) Have a target audience in mind

Before you set up your profile, you must have the target audience in mind, ie, the users or organizations whose attention you’re trying to get. So make sure that whatever information you’re putting will be enlightening and interesting to them.

3) Don’t just put a job title in your headline

A major way to get the attention you want is through your headline. And it doesn’t have to be a job title alone. You can also input your specific position, an interesting fact about you, qualities you value, and even the role you’d like to have

e.g. Copywriting Intern at SmartBukites /Passionate reader/Aspiring Content Manager at ALB. Here are more headline examples you can use. 

4) Have an interesting summary

Instead of just listing your work experiences and skills, why not include how those experiences have shaped you, and how your skills can bring value to an industry? You don’t have to write every experience down though, just pick out the significant ones that are sure to grab a recruiter’s attention. And if you have none, just highlight your skills and how you’d contribute to an organization.

5) Make your profile content easy to read

While you want to input as much as possible into the headline and summary, don’t forget to be straightforward and specific about your content. No one likes to read something that you could have easily written in fewer, clearer, words.

6) List your relevant skills

With or without work experience, your skills should shine through in your profile. And if you feel you don’t have enough, don’t be shy to mention the skills in demand you’d like to learn.

7) Engage with your networks’ posts

Don’t be a stranger to your network, one that only engage when they want something. Even if you don’t comment, try to like the post at least. So someone can engage yours in return. And if you get tagged in a post, don’t hesitate to respond. You need your network to grow, as do they.

8) Get LinkedIn recommendations

To do this, reach out to your old/current boss(es) or colleague(s) and ask them to write down just a few words about their experience working with you. And if you have none, you can reach out to organizations or programs you’ve volunteered for. 

9) Say yes to endorsements

Endorsing your member’s skill(s) is one of the best ways you can grow your network and strengthen your connection. 

So once you get a request from a member to endorse one or two of their skills, don’t hesitate to do so. You can also ask them to reciprocate, and go through your network to see those who deserve an endorsement from you and vice versa.

10) Update your profile regularly

As you grow, your professional status, experience, and skillset grow with you. So be sure to update your profile as you progress your career ladder. 

Note that LinkedIn is a competitive space. So if you want to stand out, you’d have to be patient and keep looking out for opportunities to grow. Don’t just get into groups with nothing to offer you simply because you want your profile to look good. And don’t give false information about yourself or your skills.

Did you find this post helpful? If yes, please share with your friends and family. Good luck.