Apart from the resume, LinkedIn is the most important tool or platform for you to promote yourself to key career decision-makers. First impressions count, and one error could raise red flags. Your credibility and professionalism are crucial. Avoid these actions if you want to be noticed on LinkedIn.
Showing your political leanings and ranting incessantly.
We are living in an interesting age where politics appear to be a divider more than ever before. Yes, we all have our own opinions of the way politicians should run the country. But stay clear of posting political messages, whether they be your positive or negative opinions. Hiring authorities also have their political inclinations, and your leaning maybe opposite to theirs. Yes, discrimination still exists.
Posting personal photos.
LinkedIn is a professional site where you will be judged accordingly for all your activities, posts, shares or other comments. A picture is worth a thousand words! Perhaps we should equate that to a salary? A picture is worth $400,000? Could be more, could be less.
Posting personal, family or other social pictures should be left for other social media platforms and pictures from your college activities are certainly not acceptable.
Your profile picture should show you in the attire you would wear to work. It should be by yourself, without kids, spouse or struggling fish!
Using your LinkedIn network connections to build an email distribution list.
It is totally unacceptable to add your connections’ e-mails to your list. Not only is it highly unprofessional, the action also contravenes GDPR, which requires the person’s permission to add them to your list.
Being negative about other LinkedIn connections.
This is not a site to air all your frustrations or portray your negativity. Keep your opinions about others, some of whom you may have met in-person, or even the boss who fired you, to yourself. LinkedIn is a platform where you secure and build trust and respect. Don’t blow others’ perception of you through simply one post.
To wrap it up, this is YOUR platform to drive authenticity. Use common sense in all your LinkedIn activities, and be prudent in your language, who you invite, and who you accept to connect with.
For a free, no-obligation, no sales pitch resume critique, send your resume via LinkedIn or via email to martin@aneliteresume.com
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