How to create a strong LinkedIn profile for business school

As you take the leap from college student to young professional, using smart marketing to create your own professional online brand can make a huge difference. A critical step to this is a strong LinkedIn profile. Here are some tips on building a profile that will allow you to put your best foot forward in the MBA admission process or your career search.

• Use the most up-to-date information, and be as accurate as possible. You’ll have more success if you think of your LinkedIn profile as your living, breathing resume. Don’t be afraid to update it periodically when you get a promotion, or when you finish a big project you’re proud of. On a side note, make sure you have a profile picture.
• Use keywords. They will help you get found. There are three sections that can take the most advantage of keywords: the headline, summary and endorsements. Use these sections to tell the world about who you are, but be aware of cliches or buzzwords that really don’t tell much about anyone.
• Headline: Your headline should be short and memorable, but also informative. Think of it as your personal LinkedIn elevator pitch, and use one or two strong keywords that describe you.Summary: Try to add a “story” to your accomplishments by weaving a narrative within your experience, qualifications and goals, kind of like a really condensed cover letter.Endorsements: These should be skills you specialize in. You can find what relevant keywords are being used in your industry by browsing job listings.
• Show off examples of your work. LinkedIn allows you to upload slideshows, photos and documents of projects you’ve worked hard on. This adds visual interest and value to your page and should not be overlooked, especially in fields where content is crucial such as journalism, design, journalism, writing, etc.
• Make connections and be involved. You can start by finding, joining and contributing to groups, where people interested in specific topics can share content and interact with one another. You can also create your own content by writing blog posts. Quality content has the potential to be shared, slowly building your personal brand.