How to update your LinkedIn profile for 2019

How to update your LinkedIn profile for 2019Whether you have a New Years resolution to boost your network or you are gearing up for a job search, sprucing up your LinkedIn profile is a great way to start the year. Lets look at some strategies for starting your year off right, and setting yourself up for even better connections and opportunities in 2019. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 6 ways you can refresh your LinkedIn profile for career successUpdate your profile photoThe human eye tends to gravitate toward images first, sowhen youre making over your LinkedIn profile, thinking about your photo is agood distribution policy to start. How old is your current photo? If its several years oldat this point, consider replacing with a newer photo. You may elend have changedmuch, but its still important to keep things fresh.Remember, your LinkedIn profile picture should be a natural-looking headshot, or at least a photo of you solo. (No party p ics, for so many reasons.) You dont have to be doing a Zoolander-esque Blue Steel pose to show everyone you mean business, so a little smile and approachability can go a long way. It also doesnt have to be an official productiona candid shot is fine as long as its a clear shot of you and is appropriate for any professional context.Upgrade your headline and summaryYour LinkedIn profile is the very definition of first impression. A hiring manager or recruiter might be browsing, or checking up on you to supplement a job application. You want the first thing they binnensee to be attention-grabby, but informative.Here are some examples of strong headlinesSalesperson of the YearInnovative Project ManagerCreative Social Media MavenYour summary should be an updated snapshot of where you are in your career right now. That means taking stock of the past year and thinking about what youve been working on, what youve achieved, and what youve learned about your industry. The summary isnt a full- on resume, but it should be a brief paragraph or two for a reader to get a quick sense of who you are as a professional, at this moment.Check your settingsThis is a good idea with any social media account thesedays, but you should take this opportunity to do a yearly review of yourLinkedIn account and privacy settings. Whos able to see your profile? Whosable to contact you? Are you officially open to opportunities from recruiters?All of this information is in your Account settings page on LinkedIn. The opento opportunities setting is most important if youre about to kick off a jobsearch. Its not available to the world, but can bring opportunities your waythat might not otherwise pop up.Update your keywordsMost industries move pretty fast these days, so the trends and buzzwords from the last time you updated might not be so relevant anymore. A little legwork can help you modernize your profile for 2019. Look at job descriptions in your field. What kinds of skills are they looking for ? Are there new software programs or skills that are emerging? What kinds of qualities are they looking for? Even if youre not actively looking for a job, browsing the current job openings can tell you what the landscape looks like and what language employers are using. Then you can apply that to your own profile, using keywords that can catch attention.Update your experience bullet pointsThis is especially true if you havent really touched your LinkedIn profile in the past year. Consider what projects youve done and whether youve picked up any new skills, certifications, or accolades. Part of LinkedIns appeal is that it can serve as a kind of living resume in addition to its social media aspects, so take advantage and make sure your professional bio is up to date.Review your connectionsIf you want to broaden your LinkedIn connections or maybe get rid of some that are no longer relevant, now is the time to do it. Look at your current connections and think about whether you want to k eep them in your orbit. Browse connections-of-connections and see if theres anyone new or interesting youd like to have in your network. Search content or blog posts in your field and discover potential connections that way. If you want to maximize LinkedIn this year, make sure youre getting the most out of the massive network of human connections.Your LinkedIn profile is one of the easiest targets for upgrading your professional life this year. It puts your most up-to-date information out in the world, so pay attention to it and keep it fresh Some great new connection you make now could lead to awesome opportunities in 2019.