Having a well-written LinkedIn profile is not just a nice-to-have for today’s effective job seeker…it’s a must-have. Since its inception, LinkedIn has steadily grown in popularity and now boasts over 100 million users. That’s an astonishing amount of potential exposure for your profile. Whether you choose to go it alone or hire someone to write your profile for you, make sure to follow these do’s and don’ts. 

1) Do ask for recommendations.  Don’t write recommendations for people just because they ask you to. The point here is that while it’s ok to ask coworkers or colleagues to jot down a few good words about your work, it doesn’t benefit anyone if you’re just “trading” reco’s or providing insincere endorsements. The best recommendations often come unsolicited, so in LinkedIn as in life, follow the golden rule. Do good work and treat others well, and you will be rewarded.

2) Do proofread your profile and ask a trusted friend to do the same. Don’t rely on your own eyes to catch all your mistakes. It’s really difficult to be an effective proofreader of your own work and when it really counts, it makes sense to ask for another set of eyes. If you must go it alone, borrow a trick from professional editors and proofreaders and edit backwards. Start from the last word in the sentence or paragraph and read backwards. This will help you really focus on each word and avoid the kind of “skimming” that often results when proofing your own work.

3) Do complete your profile. Complete profiles are 40% more likely to be found on LinkedIn. Don’t ignore the stats from LinkedIn on profile completion! While the metrics for completion change from time to time, they currently require at least 50 connections and 3 jobs. Recommendations are no longer required, although they certainly add credence to your assertions of fabulosity. Check out the complete requirements here: http://www.linkedin.com/static?key=pop%2Fpop_more_profile_completeness

4) Do personalize your headline and your URL. Don’t check that “Use this job title as my headline box”. The #1 rookie mistake of LinkedIn searchers is leaving that box checked when filling out a profile. Since your headline is the first thing recruiters, potential clients and employers will see, make sure it succinctly and persuasively sums up your unique qualifications. This is your value proposition and the importance cannot be overstated. Keep it short, sweet and to the point, but make sure you leave viewers interested in learning more! Customizing your public URL is just a good idea. It makes it easier for people to find you and just plain looks better on a business card or resume.

5) Do decide on a LinkedIn networking strategy. Don’t underestimate the importance of strategic networking. Whether you are an open networker, meaning you accept invitations from those you don’t know or whether you chose to keep your circle close-knit, you should think about your strategy before your profile and your network get away from you. Also consider what information should be publicly viewable. For an active jobseeker, the likely answer is that everything should be public, but in some instances it might behoove you to keep some information private. Only you really understanding your current situation, so be sure to evaluate your profile from all points of view. Remember, LinkedIn is an incredibly powerful and PUBLIC networking tool.