The 5 Best LinkedIn Profiles You Should Be Mimicking

Almost all job applications ask for your LinkedIn website. Recruiters are actively searching for the best LinkedIn profiles that fit their job opening. 80% of LinkedIn members felt that professional networking, such as via LinkedIn, is critical for career success.

Your LinkedIn profile is essential when you apply for jobs in person or online. Here are 5 of the best LinkedIn profiles you should be mimicking and reasons that make them so outstanding.

Practice Mock Interviews:

7 LinkedIn Profile Tips for the Best LinkedIn Profiles

1. You Need a Great Photo

Throughout your job search, recruiters and potential employers want to know and see you. LinkedIn profiles with a great photo get 21 times more profile views. 

Remember, you are your own professional brand. As a result, you may want to avoid selfies or the photo where you crop out your friends, but someone else’s shoulder may still be visible here and there. LinkedIn profiles with professional headshots are 14 times more likely to be viewed.

Of course, you don’t need to go out and get headshots done. Simply upload a high-quality photo of you against a neutral background with good lighting. Be sure to wear the appropriate clothing to match the culture of your target company or industry.

2. Write an Interesting Headline

By default, your LinkedIn headline is likely your job title and company. You can customize it to make yourself stand out by writing a unique headline that showcases you and your skills. 

For example, take a look at Katie Clancy’s LinkedIn profile below. Her headline is, “The Happiest Person in Real Estate.” Right away, she seems approachable and trustworthy.

3. Fire Up Your Summary

The next section is your Linkedin profile summary or the “About” section. This is not the place to list all of your work experience. Instead, this profile section is a chance for you to express your passions. 

Use this space to explain your motivations, interests, and career goals. You’ll really want to pad this section if you don’t have much work experience. 

Be sure to write your summary in sections instead of one long paragraph so it is easier to read. 

4. Organized and Comprehensive Experience Section

A great LinkedIn profile has your resume clearly organized. You’ll need your job title, the name of the company where you worked, dates of employment, as well as bullet points breaking down your job descriptions.

Since you are framing your past work history, highlight your successes and accomplishments. In addition, use statistics to establish credibility and provide the reader with some context. For example, a teacher may write, “Taught mathematics to 60 eighth-grade students, including five students with special needs.”

5. Showcase Your Unique Skills

Optimizing your LinkedIn profile includes adding some personal information. The Volunteer and Skills sections give you an area to brag about what makes you different from other job candidates. 

Do you have any volunteer experience that supports or adds to your professional strengths? Do you speak another language?

6. Take the Initiative to Ask for LinkedIn Recommendations

Your opinion of yourself will only go so far to convince a hiring manager of your value. However, when other professionals can recommend you, you instantly have more credibility. The best LinkedIn profiles have numerous recommendations that are specific and highlight your skills.

So when someone compliments your work, ask him or her to write a small recommendation for your profile. Ask them to be as specific as possible. For example, your supervisor may write, “Amber spearheaded an incentive program that increased sales by 10% in 6 months. She is self-motivated and has great strategic instincts.” This recommendation is heads and shoulders better than a generic comment such as, “Amber was great to work with and very responsible.”

7. Make Sure Potential Employers Can Contact You

Don’t neglect to fill out your contact information, such as your email and include a link to your blog or portfolio, if applicable. You may omit your address if you don’t feel comfortable giving out that information.

Additionally, include all of your social media accounts, such as Twitter and Facebook. Of course, you’ll want to make sure the content on your social media outlets are appropriate if a potential employer starts browsing your profiles.

5 Best LinkedIn Profiles Examples

1. Katie Clancy

We already know that Katie Clancy has an interesting headline. She goes on to include a descriptive summary with rich media. Her links with images of beautiful houses and the beach fit nicely as she describes her knowledge of Cape Cod and the real estate industry.

2. Gijo Matthew

Gijo Matthew has a professional-looking headshot for his profile picture. He goes one step further to include a banner photo of himself, giving what looks like to be a compelling presentation for his company. His profile also boasts 45 recommendations from professionals across multiple industries.

3. Rohit Bhargava

Rohit Bhargava has an extensive list of skills and industry knowledge. His extensive work experience gives his depth of knowledge credibility. Rohit also takes a more story-time approach in his job descriptions, which makes sense since he is a bestselling author.

4. James Alan Hatch

James Alan Hatch is a professional coder. Even his hobbies include coding at home. His lists of projects and work accomplishments demonstrate his passion and expertise in the industry, making him one of the best LinkedIn profiles.

After sprucing up your LinkedIn profile, you’ll be on the fast track for the actual job interview. Unfortunately, a one-on-one in-person conversation is a completely different ballgame. 

Be sure to rehearse your answers to tough interview questions before the big day. A service like Interview School can help you practice. It will also give you helpful feedback on how well you answer authentic interview questions from real interviews.