Whether you have a decade of experience or just a few years, everyone has a story to tell. However, people will never know yours if you don’t update the About Me section on LinkedIn. Chances are that you have already missed out on connection opportunities simply because the only thing in the About Me section is tumbleweed. If you’ve never seen the value of updating your About Me section on LinkedIn then you’ve come across this article just in time.
Share Your Experience
If you spent years honing your skills in graphic design but haven’t included it in the About Me section on LinkedIn, did it really happen? Of course, it did but none of your new connections will know about it. Updating the Experience section or the Featured Section on LinkedIn might seem like enough but it’s a very matter-of-fact way to inform people. True, they will find out what you did but it gives very little insight into you as a person.
Sharing your experience in the About Me section on LinkedIn is a chance to portray your passion and value within your industry. While both the About Me section and Experience Section should be kept simple, the About Me section lets you add more context to these experiences. It strengthens the first impression both professionals and prospects have of you and your skills.
Build Trust From the Start
Updating the About Me section on LinkedIn is not just filling a blank space on your profile. It’s a key part of building your personal brand and establishing trust with connections before any messages have even been sent. Updating the About Me section shows your connections that you’re willing to be open and honest. I wouldn’t recommend sharing any deep, dark secrets but you could give a little background into how you started working in your industry.
The way you structure your About Me section will also give significant insight into the kind of person you are. For example, using mostly bullet points gives the impression that you are the kind of person who prefers to get to the point. While people in more creative-focused or coaching professions might choose to structure their About Me section as more of a story through their skills, experience and passion.
Tell Your Story
Every single person has a story to tell. Whether you only want to share the facts or go a little more in-depth, you have lived a life and have a story that people want to know. Human beings are insatiably curious creatures which means that when new connections come across your profile, the first thing they will do is check out your About Me section. If it’s been a while since you’ve updated the section then people are going to be disappointed. This isn’t the way you want to start any relationship, professional or otherwise.
Using the About Me section on your LinkedIn profile to tell your story will show your connections that you are proud of the work you do. It’s also a great opportunity to share a little about where you hope to be in the future. Invite people to come on this journey with you and just watch your connections climb.
We were all warned about the dangers of strangers online so do yourself a favour and update your About Me section on LinkedIn so you’re no longer a stranger. It’s a key part of completing your LinkedIn profile and building your personal brand.