LinkedIn can make or break your chance of getting a job for those who are searching for one, or even securing projects for business people. Today, I’d like to share what makes people turn off when they view your LinkedIn profile. These people are not just people, but important people. They could be your potential business partners, customers or future employers.
It may sound shallow, but I can tell you this. By removing these 4 things immediately, your LinkedIn profile will experience a great difference at a significant level. You will feel that people are putting a lot of trust in you virtually. You will notice it by receiving notifications of engagements in the form of people commenting on your updates professionally, and contacting you for more information or even appointments.
Microsoft Word Endorsement. Well, don’t get me wrong. I think you are an expert in MS Word, MS Office and Facebook too. But putting these kind of skills up as part of your endorsement skill set list does make your profile look like a joke. If you’re trying to make your LinkedIn connections to be impressed with you, then I can tell you now that it is not going to work. Not even close.
Unprofessional Image Of You As Profile Picture. When professionals are browsing through a LinkedIn profile, the first sight they will lay their eyes on will be your profile picture. Take selfies for example. While you do not have to pose in a three-piece suit or in an elegant dress of yours for LinkedIn profile picture, you certainly do not want to be looking as a half-cook professional with that selfie picture don’t you? Just because of that small error of yours, your opportunity to grab that job you wanted or maybe that potential project opportunities will go down the drain just like that. But the worst is this, there is no picture at all. How amazing.
Posting Facebook-Like Status. I still couldn’t believe my eyes when there are a lot of so-called professionals out there who treat LinkedIn as their 2nd Facebook. They couldn’t care less about respecting LinkedIn as a professionals’ network. They’re spamming people like nobody’s business and updating their status unprofessionally with the intentions of grabbing as much attentions as possible. Yeah, by updating your LinkedIn status with this Math question will make yourself as an outstanding go-to potential and trustworthy business partner, and a thought leader of the industry. You must kidding me.
Your Background Description Sucks. For a Youtube video, people can watch a video for a maximum of 3 minutes and nothing more. Else, they will be bored to death unless the video is extremely interesting. Just like Youtube, in LinkedIn people won’t read long winded statements too unless they are interesting. Summary of your professional background should stay clean, short and sweet. It will avoid you from making silly mistakes like creating confusing and repetitive statements, just like below. Remember, don’t sell your products or services here too. It suck.
There you go, the top red flags you need to avoid at all costs. Again, for you to turn people on with you professionally, your LinkedIn needs to look classy.
