One of the most important parts of your #LinkedIn profile is your “About” section.
Are you using this section effectively?
When I work with clients on their #resumes and #LinkedInprofiles, I spend a decent amount of time helping them with their resume Summaries and LinkedIn About sections. I always tell them to think of these as elevator pitches.
When I explain how to construct one, I tell the client to include three main parts:
1. Describe WHO YOU ARE (professionally)
2. Explain WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT (related skills and accomplishments) and
3. WHY THE READER SHOULD CARE (What impacts have you had on your company, clients, industry, or the world? Or what contributions will you make to a new employer?)
Once readers know the WHO, WHAT, and WHY, they can read further for relevant details on WHERE, WHEN, and HOW. As such, the summary is a “reading guide” to the rest of the resume or LinkedIn profile. You start with the “big picture,” and then you reinforce those critical takeaways through the bullets for each job. In those bullets, you can also explain WHAT you achieved, HOW you achieved it (skills you used), and WHAT your specific achievements were. (Quantify everything you can and qualify everything you can’t!)
This approach incorporates the “5Ws and an H” elements of a good story. If you include all of the elements, the reader will gain a comprehensive view of what you can offer.
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#jobsearchadvice #careers #networking #elevatorpitch
