LinkedIn Profile Extreme Makeover

My source at LinkedIn, Kay Luo, tells me that my profile is in the 99.99th percentile of profiles viewed. She insisted that I should make it good—or at least suck less. So I enlisted her and LinkedIn’s designer, Mike Lin, to do an “extreme makeover” of my profile. This is what was wrong with my original profile:

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One of her strong suggestions was to ask a question at LinkedIn Answers to activate my network. Please click here to answer it.

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My New Profile

This is my new profile now that I’ve seen the light: If you’re going to use LinkedIn, you should put some effort into your profile. My original one reflected a minimal amount of effort. For example, many of my current and past affiliations were missing, and I did not craft good descriptions of what I stand for. This incompleteness made my profile ineffective for networking. Hopefully, my makeover will provide some ideas to help you.

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While we’re on the topic of networking and linking, my buddy Gayle Hallgren-Rezac told me about an entrepreneur in Ottawa offers a hockey ticket to Senators games to people he’d like to meet. Here’s the story. Something like this would work on me. :-)

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Comments

[Zachary Threadgill]

Ok, so I have a linked in account, but I wonder if it will continue to be more popular or will fizzle?

Comments?

[extreme videos]

Very nice makeover, i love what youve done, keep up the good work.

[MCgill]

Interesting recommendations. Hope those indicated and consequently modified ones worked for you, didn't they?

[Raj]

Thanks for the make-over tips; however, I would be interested in finding out if the make-over had any positive results for you.

I've had a Linkedin profile for a number of years but had very a few real opportunities come to fruition as a result of it.

I'm still on the fence about the real value of having a Linkedin profile [used for networking] beyond the fact that the profiles give individuals a voice to say what they are all about, in their own words, and get listed in a Google search.

[jeremy]

Guy, since this post, I've been working on my LinkedIn profile. You motivated me and wanted to share the results. Let me know what you think.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jer979

Appreciate the catalyst for change that you are. Keep up the great work!

[Parker Smart]

Guy,

I found your page because I ended up Googling “Linked In” since the site was down and I wanted to make sure that it wasn’t www.linked-in.com. I was pretty sure there’s no dash in there. Your links came up second and I recognized your name from The Macintosh Way that I read many years ago. So far Linked In is a GOOD thing. I’m able to keep that more up to date than my resume and the recommendations don’t hurt either. I will definitely look at your site more to see how I can improve my LinkedIn site. Thanks for blogging!!

[Skeptical]

I was invited to join LinkedIn by a vendor company recruiter in early 2006. That invitation included this caution: "We recommend that you only connect with professionals you know well and who you are generally willing to recommend to your other business contacts."

Another invitation stated, "I'll only pass requests on to you from people I trust, and I hope you'll do the same for me."

I also received an invitation from a total stranger with a gmail e-mail address-

I took a pass on such invitations, since I already receive enough vendor recruiter *SPAM* (as in 99% calls/e-mails for 100% mismatch positions).

In addition, I just visited the site and there is a way to have it "Find Friends" from your MS Outlook address book or your webmail address book. I would never use such a feature to voluntarily give another entity access to my e-mail address books! Why should I trust LinkedIn at all? Should I create a new e-mail address just for LinkedIn?

Your reply, "My logic would be that as long as headhunters are calling, it's a good thing. It's when they stop that you should get worried" does not address the fact that foreign "recruiting sourcers" (as in minimum wage people in telephone bank rooms calling anyone *during primetime cell phone minutes* who meets "loose" keyword search parameters) are already abusing job search boards, such as Monster, Dice, and CareerBuilder.

The last thing I need is the same SPAMMER companies (over 200 seem to use *automated keyword search-to-e-mail* programs) finding another source/e-mail address to use for me!

Someone (or more) is even reselling resume contact information from job boards, so that I receive illegal money laundering schemes! I proved it by using a new e-mail address for a single job board-

Also, when I attempted to use LinkedIn to find former business associates, it required "employer" . Since I have been an independent consultant/contractor for over 25 years, that requirement was totally inappropriate and I reported that to LinkedIn. Interesting to note that now there is an option of "Consultant" to join:)

Another issue that I reported was "I *don't* want automated e-mails "from me" sent out just because I add a name to my contacts list to see if they are already members". That makes me a spammer, as well-

I think MySpace is less risky-

[cesarvolpe]

Mr guy, i confess your idea seemed like something there is no reason someone would pay for... but taking a closer look it is just ingenious this small poetic pocket otdoor - soul qick-remminders... in my view you make 'visual hi-kai'. Congratulations!

[Nemrut]

Guy, do you have any privacy concerns about disclosing too much information?

It seems to me that sites like Linkedin, although potentially useful, are ripe for abuse and identity fraud.

Now dont get me wrong, i'm an optimist and try to see the good in people, but as history has shown it only takes a few to ruin it for everyone else...

[Roger C Parker]

This post has several great lessons, primarily that it's all too easy to forget that "first impressions last" when taking advantage of offers to "create your profile in less than 5-minutes."

[sergio]

The problem with LinkedIn is that if you want to ask someone you find listed if they are the person you think knew they ask you to upgrade.
To send a short message they want 15 bucks????

Their business model is flawed limiting their potential growth and it is possible that Craigslist will kill them if they wanted to.

Plus, too much Web 2.0 but too little backend 1.0, their service is slooooow.

[Rob]

LinkedIn has helped me create new business relationships and strike new business deals and make greater profits.

People who say that LinkedIn is useless remind me of people who once said that the black stuff flowing out of the ground was useless.

You've done a geat job of your make-over Guy, and of spreading the advice you got from LinkedIn.

Rob
http://www.successful-consultants.com

[Steven Burda, MBA]

Very interesting!
Thanks for the 'makeover'

Steven Burda, MBA
www.linkedin.com/in/burda
(feel free to connect to me; e-mail provided)

[Serge Lescouarnec]

Guy

I must say that I had not updated my LinkedIn profile in a while but did so yesterday since I had to change my main e-mail.

I gave a try at 'LinkedIn Answers' and got 3 or 4 replies so far.
My question was 'Looking for contributors to a new blog besides 'Serge the Concierge' on 'Food, Wine, Travel' where tips and suggestions will be made from the perspective of the local person not the tourist.

Serge
Biz:
http://www.njconcierges.com
Blog:
http://www.sergetheconcierge.com

[Ashish Mohta]

Thats really cool Stuff u made there.Found your blog through blogg-buzz.Now you got one more reader.

[Patrick Ballin]

Hi Guy

Nice post, as the mantra says, "right thing, right way". Do you still say that? I still quote it.

Patrick

[JStar]

I like the profile tips! My profile has changed several times since I've been LinkedIn. For me, it's a great way to introduce myself without being intrusive to those I'd like to meet and to keep in touch with friends and former clients as they move around or change jobs.

To get from LinkedIn what we want our profile has to let others know why we joined or what we are looking for on there. And for it to be an effective networking tool, our profile has to really say something about us. Who wants to network with a mystery person? I'm too busy for that.

BTW, my LinkedIn profile served as my initial resume for my last job. Find people who use it and they respect it!

[Ami]

For someone like me, who is reading your profile mostly out of curiosity, the updated one is much more interesting. However, I don't see that it provides much for you (other than an interesting blog post, of course). Has updating your profile improved your business in any way?

[RC]

Nice post, thanks.

[dirk shaw]

great advice.. i continuously update my profile, keywords and interest when new ones come and old ones fade.. I think of it as profile optimization, which has led to several new introductions for various opportunities... Great Blog by the way...

dirk
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkshaw

[Terry Bean]

Guy-

Linkedin is a great tool when used correctly. You hit hard on step 1...Have a solid profile. Well done.

My opinion is that Step 2 needs to be "let others know how they can help you". While relationships are important, timing and involving others are paramount. We all have a big job to do and a little help at the right time can go along way. Your thoughts?

I was compelled to write to tell you how impressed I am that you obviously read these and act accordingly (regarding a post by Dennison).

Thanks-

Terry

[Marcel D]

Nice profile!

[David]

Just the sort of refresher need for a tool I've come to rely on for maintaining my network. Some great tips - thanks for the polishing.

[Dave]

So much about nothing..

[nikhil d deshpande]

Good afternoon sir, i m a management student pursuing degree of MBA in pune.Our college has announced a two months company project in may.Sir i want go for finance as my specialization so kindly tell me in which company i should do the project.thank you sir i will wait for your reply.Good day