| Don’t Copy Your Resume to LinkedIn! |
|
by Megan Koehler |
If you are simply copying your resume into your LinkedIn
profile you are doing yourself a major disservice. This
is especially true if you are actively searching for a
job. Your LinkedIn profile is not an online resume; it
is a marketing tool designed to showcase your
professional value. LinkedIn is free advertising and
what you’re selling is you; maximize your marketability
by taking advantage of this prime marketing real estate.
Ask yourself this, if a hiring manager has your resume
in hand and wants to research you on LinkedIn what
benefit is an exact replica of the resume they already
have going to do? Of course your profile will have much
of the same information but on LinkedIn you have the
opportunity to tell it in a brand new way. While resumes
are expected to conform to certain business standards
your LinkedIn profile doesn’t follow those same rules.
One of the main differences between your resume and
profile is how it is written. While resumes are written
in the formal third person your LinkedIn profile can be
written in first person. This gives it more
individuality and you can really play up your personal
brand. I don’t want to say that LinkedIn is more casual
than a resume but you certainly have more liberties to
express yourself and creativity on your profile.
Another thing that your profile can do that your resume
can’t is provide more information and details. You can
do this by linking your blog, website or twitter account
giving anyone viewing you profile a more in depth view
of professional qualifications than your resume ever
could. You can also post regular status updates to your
profile (keep it professional, it’s not Facebook!) which
gives it an up-to-date and personal feel.
Your resume and profile should work in tandem and
complement one another. They will share most of the same
information but the presentation, tone and overall feel
should be completely different. Let your personality
show through on your profile and be an extension of your
resume. Don’t repeat your resume; let your profile tell
your professional history in an entirely new way. |
