A LinkedIn profile is a great opportunity to go beyond the traditional resume. It’s the perfect chance to showcase your personal brand—if you’re doing the right things. If you’ve been applying online but aren’t getting any call-backs, it’s probably not a coincidence.

Many job seekers and professionals don’t realize that their social media pages need serious improvement. In many cases, they require a total makeover. People make too many mistakes when it comes to self-promotion on LinkedIn so they end up missing out on their dream job.

Stop hurting your credibility as a professional. Stop being unclear about your expertise. Stop making it hard for others to connect with you. How? Check if your page has the most common red flags below and make the necessary changes.

Mistake # 1: Useless words in the headline

Don’t put your current job title as your headline, especially if you’re aspiring to move up the career ladder. The reason behind this is that recruiters aren’t typing “Head of Web Design at ABC Corp” or “XYZ Company Public Relations Officer” in the search bar.

It’s better to put something that reflects your expertise without being misleading. On the flip side, avoid anything that’s too broad or vague like “advocate”, “happiness consultant” or even “innovative self-starter”. Be concise without having too many buzzwords.

Examples:

• Digital Marketing Specialist for Small to Medium Enterprises
• Leadership in Project Management in the Healthcare Industry

Mistake # 2: A long-winded About section

Never waste the chance to continue the story that you started in your headline. The summary is often the only part that visitors will read so think of it as your elevator pitch. Be careful that it doesn’t turn into an autobiography though.

Your About section should be more than just a rundown of your work experience. You mustn’t expect people to connect the dots in your stead. Rather, highlight what you do, why you do it, what you’ve accomplished and what value you bring to employers in an easy-to-read format.

Examples:

• I have 5 years of sales experience in the fashion industry.
• Over the past 7 years, I have been awarded Employee of the Month 3 times.

Mistake # 3: A boring work history section

Many write long paragraphs talking about how they ‘work with different people in various departments to create innovative products that bring profit to the company’. However, they tell nothing about their specific achievements that set them apart from others in the same field.

When a hiring manager looks at your profile, they should think, “let’s schedule an interview with this person.” It must be capable of providing a brief overview of your talents, abilities, and history in a quantifiable way. In other words, have specific numbers in there.

Example:

• Led a team of 20 graphic designers. Together we handled a portfolio of over 30 clients and agencies. Contributed to 25% of the annual revenue in 2019. Streamlined project management that increased staff productivity by 45%.

Mistake # 4: Weak profile picture

It may be easy for recruiters to find you but they’ll leave quickly if they don’t see a photo. Even if you do have a picture but it’s too pixelated or casual, you might put them off. You’re going to make a poor first impression on them.

Take a professional headshot then add it as your profile picture. If you can’t afford to go to a studio, ask a friend to help you take head-and-shoulder shots. Recruiters will take you more seriously when you stop posting pictures of your cat or a logo.

Examples:

Mistake # 5: Zero skill recommendations

The point of your page is to self-promote so it’s natural that you pat yourself on the back there. The thing is, you’re biased. It’s tempting to bloat your history and experience so you’d seem more appealing to organizations. You can talk about minor accomplishments as if they were major too.

Visitors are aware of this so they want to hear about your capabilities from others, especially previous customers or employers. To get recommendations, try asking your former colleagues or clients that were happy with your work. Give some away to people you respect and admire as well.

Example:

• Hi Joe, I’d like to add credibility to my LinkedIn profile so people would know more about what I can do. Could I ask for a recommendation from when we worked together?

To Wrap Up

By avoiding these red flags on your LinkedIn page, you’ll greatly boost your ability to build credibility and relationships with your connections. There are still other mistakes you could possibly make on your profile so research what else you can do to improve it.

If your page doesn’t have any of these gaffes or you’ve already fixed them, good job! You’re ready to have prospective clients or employers check you out on the social network. Don’t be shy about sending in your application to them today.