As promised in a previous article, we come with a series of additions regarding the most well-known professional network in the world - LinkedIn.
This article is dedicated to the most common mistakes made by users, knowingly or unknowingly.
1. Lack of a photo or the presence of an inappropriate photo. The issue of including a photo in a CV is quite controversial. However, on the internet, it is very useful for the name to be associated with a face. Since LinkedIn is a social network, potential employers often want to have all the information about the targeted candidate, including their physical appearance and what it conveys. At the same time, the quality of the photo is very important. "Unprofessional" photos, those taken at various parties, photos cropped from others, or those conveying a negative attitude should be avoided. The most suitable photos are those in which you wear elegant but casual clothes, in a simple setting, with a serious but not stern, rather friendly attitude.
2. Professional experience is not detailed. Although this section is often filled out, it conveys superficiality. It is preferable that each stage be detailed, explained, with concrete examples and in a professional tone and approach. It is therefore not enough to specify the position held, but also what the actual activity involved, regardless of its banality. Thus, the potential employer will identify both the candidate's attention to detail and the skills developed throughout their career.
3. The URL is not personalized. Although it may seem like a detail, these are exactly what make the difference on the internet. If the full name is added, the profile will become much more visible online, easily included in the CV, in emails, or even offline. However, this step requires that the respective profile be constantly updated.
4. The most banal words are used in the personal description. We all want to use the right words that show how responsible, motivated, and even creative we are. However, according to the LinkedIn blog, in 2012 these were the most used words on the network. Thus, "responsible" was the most used word by the French, "motivated" by the English, and "creative" by the Swedes, Germans, and Dutch.
5. Too little attention is paid to the companies we should be interested in. This aspect represents a major mistake. Following companies operating in our area of interest and joining groups with common interests is what makes the difference. This allows us to be constantly up to date with news from those companies and to react quickly when an opportunity arises.
6. Sending non-personalized invitations to acquaintances or, worse, to strangers. Nothing is worse than sending a person you want to connect with professionally a dry invitation with a message known to be default – "I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn." This shows a lack of interest and care, especially since it takes 2 minutes to type a personal and effective message. Sending invitations to strangers is not a very pleasant practice, especially since you may have nothing in common with that person.
