Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

CHICAGO – For the average professional, LinkedIn is the place to be to broaden professional networks, keep up with industry trends, and when on the job hunt, attract recruiters.

To help the Northwestern University community optimize their LinkedIn profiles and make the most of these opportunities, Northwestern’s School of Professional Studies (SPS) and LinkedIn hosted a lunchtime table talk on May 15th for students, staff, and faculty. The event featured one-on-one profile reviews, a presentation by LinkedIn’s Erin Higgins and Garrett Schmitt, and opportunities to receive a new professional headshot.

 During the presentation, Erin and Garrett shared the following tips on how one can strengthen their LinkedIn profile.

1. Add a photo.
2. Add your industry.
3. Think of your summary as you would an “elevator pitch.”
4. Detail your work experience and make sure it is up-to-date.
5. Upload photos, presentations, and videos to give examples of your work.
6. Add volunteer experience.
7. Add skills and get endorsed.
8. Request a recommendation from someone with whom you have worked to help build your credibility.
9. Ensure that your location, education, publications, and accomplishments are uploaded and up-to-date.
10. Build thought leadership by following companies, following influencers, connecting with peers, and sharing / publishing on LinkedIn.

The lecture was a part of SPS’s Lunchtime Table Talk series, a monthly lecture and Q&A series that highlights the interdisciplinary research and conversation occurring at the School of Professional Studies. The lectures are free and open to Northwestern University staff, students, and faculty, as well as the general public.

If you are interested in learning more about the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies Lunchtime Table Talk series, please contact us at SPS@northwestern.edu and ask to be added to our email list.

Erin Higgins is a senior client solutions manager at LinkedIn who works closely with Northwestern to support their marketing teams. She is based in New York City and has been with LinkedIn for almost 5 years. She has participated in a number of events sharing tips and best practices for a Rockstar profile and making the most of your time on LinkedIn. A typical LinkedIn introduction is to share your name and something not on your LinkedIn profile, so in true LinkedIn fashion, something you won’t find on Erin’s profile is that she was an extra on Law & Order SVU.

Garrett Schmitt is also a client solutions manager who is new to both the Northwestern team and Chicago, having arrived here in October with his husband. He moved from LinkedIn’s San Francisco office where he has worked since the beginning of 2016. Previous “Rock Your Profile” events that Garrett has helped with have been with the SF LGBT Center—hosted at the LinkedIn offices—as well as several other nonprofits around San Francisco. Something not on his LinkedIn profile is that he used to have blonde hair and a British accent.