5 LinkedIn Profile Mistakes You Need To Steer Clear Of

We've said it a bunch and we'll say it again: your LinkedIn profile isn't just some digital version of your resumé. It's the holy grail to unlocking success and kickass career opportunities.

And, those aren't just empty words. Let's talk facts.

Forbes says 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn job search to scope out potential hires. Yeah, you read that right - NINETY-FIVE percent. So, if your LinkedIn profile optimization is all-over-the-place, you're missing out on some major career moves. Don't be a clown, upgrade that ish ASAP.

LinkedIn is also where the big bucks are at. Why? ‘Cause 58.4M+ companies are listed on the platform. More companies = more opportunities = more income! So, don't just check your profile when you receive a connection request - update it regularly, link it to your other professional accounts, and get on with LinkedIn networking. 

Still don't buy it? What if we told you: that 8 people get hired on LinkedIn every single minute? That’s right, you could get hired within the next minute by some proactive LinkedIn recruiters! Let's get you on that hiring road by helping you steer clear of these 5 LinkedIn profile mistakes:

Fix your incomplete profiles Today Yesterday

An incomplete profile is a big NO. It's like throwing up an uncooked resume with no references. It will mess up your LinkedIn search rankings and make hiring managers confused about who you are and what you do.

Some people are too scared to put themselves out there, so they leave their profile looking like a blank page. But that's just giving up on LinkedIn career opportunities. If your content is outdated or irrelevant, your viewers are gonna and bounce to the next profile.

And if you're juggling multiple hustles, you have to organize your "About" and "Experience" section so it all makes sense. What's your EXACT job profile? What skills have you mastered? Let the recruiters know everything in your "About" section, so they don't get lost in the sauce.

Plus, if you are interested in getting ahead of your peers, here's how you can build some real in-demand Gen-Z skills for LinkedIn and your personal résumé. 

Make Your Profile Actually Findable

Did you know there are almost 900 million LinkedIn profiles out there, but most of them are harder to find than a needle in a haystack? And, to top it all off, if your profile has a different name + aura than how you introduce yourself in person, you're going to be even harder to find.

But that's not all, there are many other mistakes that could tank your profile's visibility. Incomplete profiles? No keywords? No listed skills? Vague About + Experience section? If you said yes to all of those, you're asking recruiters to not reach out to you! 

Similarly, if you don't have many first-level connections, you're pretty much invisible on the platform. So, make sure you know how to customize your LinkedIn URL and turn on all the LinkedIn visibility settings for your public profile.

One more thing - if you're a freelancer and you haven't set up a LinkedIn services page, you're missing out! It's like throwing a party and forgetting to invite the guests. Get on that and make yourself seen and found by potential clients.

Want to go even further to build a stellar LinkedIn profile? Check out these 15+ proven tips by one of LinkedIn’s top voices Austin Belcak.

Stop Using The Default Request Option

Let’s talk about using the default connection request on LinkedIn, and how it's about as effective as a screen door on a submarine. Trust us, a boring connection request to every Ron, Hermione, and Harry is not going to get you anywhere on LinkedIn! You may have more luck shouting into the void.

Let us break it down for you with an example.

Say you're scrolling through LinkedIn and you come across a potential connection who could help you land your dream job. You're all excited, thinking about how this person could be the key to your success. So, what do you do? You hit that default connection request button, thinking you're being slick. 

But guess what? So did 100 other people that day. And the person you're trying to connect with is probably barely even glancing at your request.

So, what's the solution? Put in that EXTRA effort. Opt for those personalized connection requests on LinkedIn. Mention something about the person's profile or their work that caught your attention. Show them that you're a real person with a real interest in what they do. Trust us, it'll make a world of difference.

And, if you want to go that extra mile, then take notes from this splendid article, ‘5 secrets to a LinkedIn profile that can compete in the 2023 job market’ by Forbes. 

Don't Leave Out Volunteer work

If you're trying to score a job on LinkedIn, there's one thing you have to know - don't skip your past jobs or volunteer gigs. We mean, sure, LinkedIn isn't your diary, but let's be real, in today's economy, even volunteering can land you some serious responsibilities. 

So, don't be shy to list down your volunteer work on your LinkedIn profile, just like you would for a summer job. But hey, don't just stop there - amp it up a little! Tell them about the tasks you crushed and the skills you mastered!

For example, instead of just saying "volunteered at a local animal shelter," in the description of your experience, try something like this - "As a volunteer at the local animal shelter, I help feed, walk, and cuddle the cutest furry friends all while working on outreach and admin work to get them adopted." 

Trust us, with a little creativity in explaining the impact of your work, you'll have recruiters sliding into your DMs in no time!

Recommendations > Endorsements

If you're not proactive with your ‘Recommendations,’ you might as well be playing Minesweeper on your grandma's Windows 95 (if you get that reference, let's be friends?)

Now, most of us know endorsements are fine and dandy. Like, if Bob Smith from economics and five other guys gave you a thumbs up for your social media skills, that's cool but it doesn't even begin to compare to what recommendations are.

Endorsements are just a quick click of a button, but recommendations require effort to write out, so they're more credible. Recruiters know that if someone took the time to write a good one for you, you must've been a pleasure to work with. The best ones are written by people who genuinely know you, have worked with you and can vouch for your skills.

So, keep this in mind: A well-written recommendation from a peer or manager who can get specific about why you're a great hire can set you apart from the crowd. It's like having a flaming hot Cheetos in a bag of regular Cheetos - you stand out, and everyone wants a taste.

Rounding Things up

LinkedIn is a great place to find opportunities and new people to connect with that can help you build your career as a college student. But here's the thing, you have to use it right if you want to get ahead. Don't make those rookie mistakes!

So aside from doing the bare minimum of adding a put-together picture of you and writing where you go to school, complete your LinkedIn profile by keeping it up-to-date with your latest gigs (including volunteer work!), getting great LinkedIn recommendations, and being smart with your connection requests.

And, if you're stressing over getting noticed, just relax and take a deep breath. Don't freak out, take it step by step, you got this!

Fix one thing at a time. Don't go trying to take over LinkedIn in one day. You'll get there eventually. Start by improving your About + Experience section. Once you've got that down, then you can focus on nailing your skills. And before you know it, you'll have a profile that's recruiter-approved and easy to find.

Once you're there and building connections, follow people who'll help you keep your LinkedIn updated. Check out this list of the top 15 recruiters and hiring managers to follow on LinkedIn by Wonsulting.

Now go and get working on your LinkedIn profile. ⚡