HR Tips for What to Avoid on Your LinkedIn Profile

Your Profile Picture is unprofessional or inappropriate

Your LinkedIn Profile Picture is a representation of your Professional Brand Identity and first impressions about your presentation on the platform are vital for career success. Unprofessional or inappropriate photos are going to impact how you are viewed and whether the Recruiter or Hiring Manager contact you based on this perception.

 Your Profile is full of typos and spelling mistakes

 Typos or spelling mistakes on your profile can indicate to Recruiters and Hiring Managers that you have poor attention to detail, or that you are not able to communicate effectively. This lack of conscientiousness can impact your job search.  Always proof read your details before posting.

 You’re treating LinkedIn like your Facebook account

Perception is everything when it comes to Social Media and LinkedIn is currently one of the most important Social Networking tools available for your career as it has over 300 Million members in over 200 countries.  Unlike Facebook where your friends will be following you, the people viewing your LinkedIn Profile include your past and present employers, colleagues, Recruiters, and Hiring Managers.  This is why it is so important to always remain professional in your usage.

You’re trying to privately view people’s LinkedIn Profiles but you haven’t adjusted your Privacy Settings to make yourself anonymous

If your actively looking up profiles on LinkedIn, always do so wisely and discreetly.  Ensure you have adjusted your Profile Privacy Settings appropriately so you won’t be viewed as creepy or a stalker.  

You’re dishonest on your profile

Dishonesty on your LinkedIn profile can prove troublesome, particularly when looking for a new job. Avoid posting any misleading information and ensure your profile is accurate and professional. This will ensure you maintain a professional reputation.

You’re criticising in LinkedIn groups

LinkedIn group posts have extremely high visibility and anything you write in a group discussion will be read.   Remember that anything you write will be a formal representation of you, so constantly criticising and posting negative comments is only going to see you viewed unfavourably by other LinkedIn users.

You’re spamming your connections with constant useless updates

There is a fine line between being informative and oversharing. Your connections on LinkedIn are unlikely to be impressed by over-shared information.  Avoid bombarding your connections with irrelevant updates, instead post information only when it is relevant, informative and will engage your audience.