Comments on: Linkedin Profiles – My Shocking Findings

By: Bilal Aslam

Bilal Aslam — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:44:55 +0000

Ouch, yes, the ‘my resume is my LinkedIn profile’ hurts

By: Rob Berman

Rob Berman — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:20:28 +0000

I too am shocked at how poorly profiles are completed. I look each day to see who viewed my profile. I look at their profile to see if I know them or their company. Why did they look at my profile? Should I proactively contact them?

With virtually no info about them I cannot tell what they do or why I might want to connect with them.

Rob

By: Lisa Lomas

Lisa Lomas — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:56:45 +0000

Really think this is an important post and the previous one also. I am tending to look over data like this more often as I find snipets and more content that any other way. Personal experience and what you have learned is going to help me alot, so thankyou.

By: Mari-Lyn

Mari-Lyn — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:18:00 +0000

Hi Ian,
Yes, it is shocking..I manage a couple of groups the people to who want to join the groups usually don’t even have a photo or anything written about themselves.

I wonder if it’s because it’s so much easier to get on Linkedin now..and I am not sure that they offer any videos. However the Profile is very important – it’s the foundation of getting connections, of getting offers and for people who want to hear back from you.

An update of one’s profile should be down frequently.

By: LouiseBJ

LouiseBJ — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:44:19 +0000

Well said Ian! I often despair at how quite senior people present themselves on LinkedIn – they don’t think through how others will experience their profiles. One of my personal pet peeves is not uploading a photo – it’s amazing the difference a friendly face can make as to whether you want to connect with or contact a person.

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:10:26 +0000

Hi Jochen – You’re right – jargon words are OK if your reader understands them – it marks you out as an “insider”.

But this profile didn’t just use jargon words. That was all it had. It was just a list. No words surrounding them to say what he did with BPR, the results he’d delivered for his clients, etc. Just a list of 5 jargon words. Then a list of 5 industry types.

Ian

By: Jochen Daum

Jochen Daum — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:26:29 +0000

Hi Ian,

love your original LinkedIn post.

I defence of the jargon words: These people may actually sell to jargon word buyers, ie. people that are looking for these skills.

I myself use jargon words in my profile, such as “Joomla” (a widely known website content management system), because I know that people are searching for that word. Its not for a solution buyer, but someone who thinks they know the solution already.

HTH, Jochen

By: Keith Bossey

Keith Bossey — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:10:01 +0000

Ian,
More frightening then the profiles you’ve described is the executive without a profile. Frequently when I meet people at a conference or I’m preparing to meet with someone, I’ll review their LinkedIn profile. Over the last few months, I’ve been shocked to find that many people have no presence what so ever! This includes more than a handful of HR folks. My profile (http://www.linkedin.com/in/keithbossey) is not perfect, but I have spent some time trying to make sure it represents me as both a potential hire AND tells a story to a potential client. What does it say to people when you have no profile at all?