How to get the most out of LinkedIn, according to a careers coach

Networking in the digital age.

I remember racking up far too much screen time on LinkedIn in the months after I finished university. I spent hours curating my profile and adding links to every article I’d ever written. I’d even go on adding sprees, desperately trying to connect with as many potential employers as possible.

On LinkedIn, I could scroll through a newsfeed, stalk people’s profiles and direct message those with jobs I wanted or the bosses who were hiring them. It felt like another social media app and it soon found a spot in my usual rotation: Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn.

And in a lot of ways, it paid off. From applying for jobs directly through the app to being approached by employers, I’ve made a lot of connections on LinkedIn that translated into real-world opportunities.

But I’ve also been lucky enough to have some really pivotal experiences that didn’t come from LinkedIn. From internships to other job sites (ahem, the FJ Careers Page for example), landing your dream job can depend on a number of moving parts.

How to stand out

“First impressions count,” careers coach Lara Nercessian tells me. “Your LinkedIn profile should act as your online resume and business card, providing prospective employers, hiring managers and potential connections the opportunity to see who you are and what you stand for, whilst shining a light on your credentials and key areas of expertise.”

I remember having a mini meltdown when trying to find a photo for my LinkedIn. I browsed through holiday shots and photos out with friends, and (unsurprisingly) none felt appropriate for a work-adjacent setting. So I set aside time with a friend of mine who luckily happened to be a photographer and managed to get a photo that made me look professional, while also still feeling like a true depiction of myself.

Although you don’t need a professional headshot, it’s still worth setting aside some time to change into something professional and propping up your self-timer.

According to Lara, your headline and about section is another area where you can stand out. “Your headline should state more than just your current job title,” she says. “Create a compelling tag line about what you do, the impact that you make and what you care about.”

The ‘About’ section has a little more room, allowing you to introduce yourself, flex your writing skills and show off your career highlights. If you find yourself lacking in inspiration, Lara suggests having a quick skim over other people’s profiles.

However, Lara’s all-time favourite hack is the ‘name pronunciation’ feature, which allows users to voice record their correct name pronounciation and display it on their profile. “Utilise your 10 seconds of audio to introduce yourself to your audience and highlight the work that you do, while simultaneously sharing your voice and creating even greater levels of connection on the platform,” she says.

Quality over quantity

When you’re starting on LinkedIn, it’s tempting to send out connection requests to anyone who feels even remotely relevant (I’ve definitely done this). However, the downside is that you’re not building meaningful relationships.

Instead, Lara says to start by reaching out to five to 10 people that you genuinely want to create a connection with. ”Send them a personalised note (not AI-generated), that acknowledges their work or tells them the reason for the connection,” she says.

“Allocate 20 minutes per day to write comments and engage with their posts,” she says. “Over time, they will notice you for the right reasons and it will become easier to create opportunities for collaboration when they see that you have been a genuine supporter of their work.”

What if I don’t have a LinkedIn profile?

LinekdIn can be intimidating if you don’t know where to start and you can’t expect to have a fully formed profile within an hour or two of signing up. It’s better to treat it as a marathon – not a sprint.

Prioritise setting up your account, filling in your profile information and uploading a good profile picture. Then, spend some time looking at other people’s accounts and familiarising yourself with the platform. Once you’ve set yourself up and started building connections, share a post introducing yourself. From there, it’s up to you.

For more LinkedIn tips, head here.