7 LinkedIn Profile Errors to Fix Before a Recession

Be ready for whatever the economy throws your way

Lisa Rangel //October 8, 2019//

7 LinkedIn Profile Errors to Fix Before a Recession

Be ready for whatever the economy throws your way

Lisa Rangel //October 8, 2019//

With all the talk about the recession lately, it’s important to be prepared. An article from Forbes reports that we are likely headed toward a recession by 2021. Not only might it be time to worry, it’s also time to manage your career and be prepared and “recession-proofed” for the challenges ahead.

You must be ready for anything that may come your way, whether it be positive or negative. And one area that is crucial to fix is your LinkedIn profile.

I see a lot of mistakes on LinkedIn profiles from frustrated job seekers as the moderator for LinkedIn’s premium career group.  So, I have identified what I believe to be the seven most common profile mistakes that hinder job searches and remedies to fix each one. 

With tumultuous economic conditions and economic indicators pointing toward a recession at some point, it’s important to fix these mistakes before you look for a new position.  This way you will be ready for whatever the economy throws your way.  

Mistake No. 1: You Don't List a Current Position 

When you don’t list a current position in your profile, your profile isn’t complete according to the nebulous LinkedIn algorithm. Having a current position listed indicates a completed profile and will help your profile show up in search results.

If you currently are between jobs, then fill out the current position section of your LinkedIn profile with the type of job you are seeking and any consulting/volunteer/educational/networking work you are doing during this break from paid work. 

Mistake No. 2: You Don't Include a LinkedIn Photo, or It's a Bad Photo 

People want to know who they are dealing with when interacting online. So be sure to include your photo on LinkedIn. In fact, according to a blog post on the networking site, a profile has 21 times more views and 9 more connection requests with a photo than without one.  And if it’s a bad photo (can’t see your face, bad background choices), it’s still better than no photo, but you must wonder the damage you are doing to your brand. 

Mistake No. 3: Failure to Optimize Key Sections

Your headline/tagline, summary, employment titles and skills section are the most important sections to keyword optimize for the jobs you are targeting. Failure to do so will hinder your chances of showing up in searches. It’s that simple, so be sure to keyword optimize each of these. 

Mistake No. 4: A Bad Summary

You have 2000 characters to vividly describe how well you do what you do. So, use it wisely and don’t be lame when describing yourself. 

Mistake No. 5: Only Include Tasks 

Each job in the employment section is an opportunity to show the reader how well you did your job. Use the CAR formula (challenge, action, result) to create accomplishment-based bullets to describe your work at each employer. When everyone else is using tasks to describe what they do, you will comparatively shine. 

Mistake No. 6: Don’t Obtain Recommendations or Endorsements 

This is so important to do before a recession and before you or your boss may be laid off. Get recommendations and endorsements before you need them. These are two different functions and both are equally important. Having two to three recommendations help complete your profile, which, as previously mentioned, helps you rank higher in search results. And endorsements of your skills helps you rank for those skill phrases.

Mistake No. 7: Thinking Your Profile Will Do All The Work

Once you fix all these mistakes and have a wonderfully built profile, you can’t sit back and think the profile will do all the work. It won’t. Think of a LinkedIn profile like a business card  ̶  just because you have a business card doesn’t mean you automatically obtain business. The same rule applies to your profile.

You must work LinkedIn to get traction, just as you must work to get business.  So be sure to connect and network with people on the site. The connections you develop today will ultimately keep your career alive and thriving should the market turn downward.

Fixing these seven LinkedIn errors will prepare you to weather the storm in the next recession.