"When it comes to landing a job, it’s all about who you know and what you know. While knowing people in high places can score you an interview, being the perfect candidate with the right skills and background can help you secure the spot. This is where the beauty of LinkedIn comes in. As a networking site, LinkedIn helps you improve your professional connections, keep you up to date on what’s happening in your industry, and showcase what you know. For years, it’s been a great resource for taking your career to new heights. But, if you’re like many, you don’t really use it to its potential, and because of that, your presence on LinkedIn could be holding you back from landing a job.
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Ahead, LinkedIn’s very own Career Expert is sharing the most common LinkedIn mistakes she sees job seekers making plus how you can combat them so your LinkedIn profile sticks out amongst the masses in today’s job market.
Catherine Fisher
Catherine Fisher is LinkedIn’s Career Expert and Vice President of Integrated Consumer Communications with over 20 years’ experience working in marketing and communications. In her current role, Catherine leads consumer communications strategy for LinkedIn and serves as the company spokeswoman, educating and inspiring people on how to grow their careers, and frequently appearing on shows like TODAY, Good Morning America, and CBS Mornings to share her insights. Catherine is also the creator and writer of Career Companion, a LinkedIn newsletter where she offers tips and advice to navigate the rapidly changing world of work.
1. Not listing your skills
Although the skills section is the second-to-last one on your LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn Career Expert and Author of the Career Companion Newsletter, Catherine Fisher, says that leaving it blank is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. This can be detrimental to your job search because skills are currently taking precedence above all else. “We recently surveyed over 1,000 hiring managers, and not having the right skills for the role is the number one reason they would pass on an applicant,” Fisher told me. Moreover, nearly half of hirers on LinkedIn explicitly use skills data to fill their roles since it quickly helps them narrow their search for eligible candidates. This means that not having applicable skills listed on your profile could take you out of the applicant pool before a hiring manager even sees your name.
The good news is that the skills section is one of the easiest to fill out. So, make sure yours displays all the relevant skills you have for your industry and role. The more aligned your skills are with the job opportunities you’re seeking, the better your chances will be.
2. Listing your skills without detailed descriptions
Since hiring based on skills is a top priority for most recruiters, Fisher said that just listing your skills isn’t always enough to prove you’re the right fit. Not having detailed descriptions of your skills is one of the biggest LinkedIn mistakes and can hurt your chances of getting hired. She explained that hiring managers want to see how you’ve taken those skills and used them in your current and previous roles.
For example, saying that you “practiced active listening and used friendliness and empathy to repair discourse between departments” is more likely to catch the attention of hirers than saying that you have communication skills. Providing an example backs up your claim that you have that skill, which is what hiring managers want to see.
3. Having typos and errors
Even the most skilled and savvy people we know are liable to make mistakes; we’re human, after all. However, having a LinkedIn profile with errors and typos is a big no-no. Fisher explained that this is a red flag because it demonstrates a lack of attention to detail. “Making errors may cast doubts on the kind of job you’d do if you were hired,” Fisher said. Before publishing anything on your profile, have a colleague or friend review it for any spelling or grammatical errors, as well as inconsistencies. This will give your content a fresh set of eyes—think of it like a quality control check—and ensure you’re not one of the many making this LinkedIn mistake.
“Not having applicable skills listed on your profile could take you out of the applicant pool before a hiring manager even sees your name.”
4. Not showcasing ongoing skill development
According to Fisher, hiring managers love applicants with a growth mindset. “Demonstrating a commitment to ongoing learning and upskilling is the top reason hiring managers say they would give extra consideration to a candidate,” she told me. So, make sure any courses you’ve taken or are currently taking, any special certifications you have, and any industry conferences you’ve attended are listed on your profile for hiring managers to see. This shows them that you’re an ambitious go-getter, which transfers into the workplace and how you perform your role. Based on what Fisher said, that’s exactly what they’re looking for in today’s job market.
5. Not having a profile photo or verification badge
According to Fisher, a profile photo and verification badge are non-negotiable. They put a face to your name and tell hiring managers that you are who you say you are, which in this day and age is more important than ever. The good news is that this is one of the easiest LinkedIn mistakes to fix since verifying your LinkedIn account is fast, easy, and free, and your profile photo doesn’t have to be anything crazy. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you definitely don’t need a professional headshot,” Fisher explained. “Just find a white background, take a simple picture with your phone, and you’re all set!”
6. Not having the “open to work” badge
Getting the word out about your job search is crucial, especially in a competitive job market, so if you’re looking for work and don’t have the “Open to Work“ badge on your profile, you’re doing yourself a disservice. (This goes for both employed and unemployed job searchers!) If you are actively looking for work while you’re still employed, you might not want your employer to know, but luckily, this badge can be hidden from your current employer. Meaning, you can still make it clear to recruiters and hiring managers that you’re looking without ruffling feathers in the office.
“Who you know is very important when job searching, but your network can’t help you find a job if they don’t know you’re looking,” Fisher said. Adding LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” badge can double your chances of getting messages from recruiters. It also spreads the word about your job hunt, letting both your network and your network’s network know that you’re actively job searching.
“Consistently posting updates, sharing links to relevant content, and networking and engaging with others can help you show your expertise, expand your professional network, and increase your employment prospects.”
Thankfully, adding the “Open to Work” badge is super simple. All you have to do is go to your LinkedIn profile, click the “open to” button, and then select “finding a new job.” This will activate #OpenToWork, which will then allow you to fill in details about what job you want, preferred locations and industries, and so forth. In doing this, be as specific as possible so you can find opportunities aligned with your goals. Then, pick who you want to share the status with (remember to exclude your current employer if you don’t want them to know), and save your settings.
7. Having an outdated profile
Because today’s job market has fewer opportunities and fierce competition, keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date is more important than ever. Yes, this can be tedious, but not keeping your profile current is one of the most common LinkedIn mistakes. Set aside time to ensure you’re regularly refreshing and updating your summary, skills, education and learning, and interests section. This will reflect the skills and experience you currently have, which is what you want. You’re more likely to attract recruiters and opportunities that are better aligned with your current skills.
8. Not staying active on the network
One of the best things you can do for your job search is to stay active on LinkedIn and positively contribute to the conversations happening within your network. Over the years, many people have taken to LinkedIn to lament the job market and hiring processes as they’re actively looking, and while it can be tempting to vent to people in your network, this could put off recruiters. Make it a priority to positively interact with the platform instead by sharing your wins, shouting out someone you’re inspired by, recapping what you learned from a recent event, or promoting a project you’re working on. Consistently posting updates, sharing links to relevant content, and networking and engaging with others can help you show your expertise, expand your professional network, and increase your employment prospects.
When it comes down to it, LinkedIn is one of the best tools to leverage during your job search. On top of being free to use (unless you pay for the premium version, of course), it provides you with ample networking opportunities and streamlines the job search process as a whole. Can using it strategically be time-consuming? Yes, it can be. But if taking an hour or two to network, catch up on what’s happening in your industry, optimize your profile, and scope out employment opportunities is what it takes to land your dream job, then so be it. If that’s the price of success, it is absolutely worth it.
Arianna Reardon, Contributing Writer
Arianna is a Rhode Island native, professional blogger, and freelance writer. She’s passionate about helping women develop healthy relationships with money, become financially independent, and invest in themselves for the future. Arianna is a firm believer in going after what you want, taking time to stop and smell the roses, and the importance of a good cocktail.