LinkedIn, a tool for career change
A common question I receive from clients is how to handle a career transition effectively. Many people are eager to switch careers, seeking a new line of work that excites them and brings daily joy and satisfaction. Whether leveraging personal passions into professional endeavours or focusing on a different clientele, product, or service area, the challenge remains the same.
LinkedIn is a well-known tool for job hunting and networking, but how can it be used to facilitate a career change? How can you ensure that the right recruiters and hiring managers discover you, and colleagues who align with your future career aspirations, rather than those from your past?
It might be tempting to create a “catch-all” profile that showcases your qualifications for your current job, the job you want, or a variety of potential roles. However, this approach can be confusing to readers and lead them to click away from other profiles. Instead, your profile should focus on your new career direction, just as you tailor your resume for specific jobs. Highlight your most relevant experiences and minimize or omit the rest. Here’s how to achieve this.
1. Focus on your headline
LinkedIn automatically fills in your headline with your current position, but you should customize it. Use the 120 characters available to craft an eye-catching headline that reflects your new career path. This is crucial because, during a LinkedIn search, only your name and headline are visible. A compelling headline can make a recruiter want to view your full profile. It’s crucial to distinguish your market positioning from the job title you hold within your organization.
For example, one of my clients, a mid-career marketing executive, crafted a distinctive headline to attract the right people and opportunities. With over 15 years of experience in marketing, she wanted to pivot towards holistic coaching and personal development. Her headline reads: “Holistic Coaching & Personal Development Practitioner Consultant | Content & Communication Marketing Executive.” This positioning immediately sets her apart from other marketers and attracts those interested in both her coaching and marketing expertise.
2. Craft a compelling summary
Once your headline has captured attention, keep readers engaged with a compelling story in your summary. Unlike a resume, LinkedIn gives you up to 2000 characters to highlight past accomplishments and link them to your future goals. This is particularly important if you’ve changed careers before. Create a cohesive narrative that ties together different aspects of your professional history, preventing your profile from seeming disjointed or unfocused.
For instance, the same client we mentioned above integrates three key areas of her expertise: holistic coaching, personal development, and content marketing. She begins her summary with a strong statement that showcases her dedication and skills:
“I excel in three key areas, each strengthening the others: Holistic Coaching & Personal Development, Content & Communication Marketing, and Business Consultation. Let me expand on each…”
She uses headers for each area, making it easy for readers to skim and understand her qualifications. For example, she connects her passion for holistic health with her marketing experience, explaining how she has initiated and developed various projects, demonstrating her ability to build from scratch and help them grow.
3. Detail your experience
In your experience section, continue writing in the first person to maintain consistency. Focus on accomplishments rather than responsibilities, as you would in a resume.
Highlight achievements that are most relevant to the new career you’re pursuing, specifying problems you solved, how you addressed them, and the results you achieved.
4. Gather recommendations
Add recommendations sparingly, especially for positions most relevant to your new career direction. Invite a few people to recommend you, guiding them on the skills and positions you are now targeting. This will make the testimonials more relevant and impactful.
5. Use Images, training, certificates and media
Incorporate images and media samples to showcase your most significant accomplishments. These should be attached to the positions you want your new audience to focus on, helping to demonstrate your capabilities in your new field.
Transitioning to a new career can be challenging, especially when trying to prove your skills in a new area. A targeted LinkedIn profile that captures readers’ attention will position you well for this change.
An exercise you don’t have to do alone
I understand that navigating this process alone can be daunting. For the past 25 years, we have been fortunate to help people master their career transitions. Please check our testimonials and programs for more guidance and support.
