Five LinkedIn Tips for Transitioning Military Veterans:
Five LinkedIn Tips By Sam Falcone
For veterans transitioning into the private sector workforce, the task of building an online and social presence can seem daunting. It’s easy to hesitate at the thought of building a digital portfolio through websites such as LinkedIn, but the truth is, those who are not taking full advantage of LinkedIn’s services are missing out on an incredibly powerful tool to advance their careers. As a LinkedIn and digital marketing strategist, I’ve seen outstanding LinkedIn profiles and not-so-memorable ones, but one thing’s for sure: LinkedIn represents your online resume and business card, your professional “best self.” Unlike other social media websites, LinkedIn is strictly business, and it’s the first place that prospective employers look once they’ve received your resume and are considering you for an interview. So, let’s take a few simple steps together to transition into the digital marketing and social media world, highlighting your greatest strengths and putting your experience in the best light. Whether you’re constructing a LinkedIn profile from scratch or dusting the cobwebs off of a previously inactive account, here are five easy steps to help enhance your LinkedIn profile and catch the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers. Step 1: Upload a Professional Photo LinkedIn automatically applies a generic avatar icon to newly established profiles, but profiles without your smiley (but professional) face have far fewer hits. You don’t have to spend money on a professional photographer for a formal headshot—instead, take a snapshot of yourself in professional business attire 34
WWW.SanDiegoVeteransMagazine.com / OCTOBER 2021
Establishing Your Online Presence is Easier Than You Think
(neck up only!) using your smart phone and upload it to your LinkedIn page. This one step alone will catapult the views you get and interest in the content that follows. Oh, and while you’re there, be sure to complete your “Contact Info” with as much information as possible—cell phone and email, primarily—to make it easy for prospective employers to contact you. Step 2: Customize Your LinkedIn URL Once you establish your account, LinkedIn will automatically assign an address (AKA “Universal Resource Locator,” or URL) to you. However, it will look like a scramble of letters and numbers that reflect random computer code. You’ll want to create what’s known as a “vanity URL” so that it closely matches your name and can easily be added to the top of your resume. For example, my vanity URL is linkedin.com/in/ samfalcone1, which makes it easy enough to find me and has a much cleaner and more professional look. (Feel free to send me an invite once you’re logged in to your LinkedIn account!) To learn how to customize your URL quickly and easily, click here: https://bit.ly/2HbgULi. Step 3: Headline Just below your headshot is your LinkedIn headline, where you can use a call-to-action to catch a recruiter’s attention. Try something like this: “Military veteran transitioning into the private sector and looking for full-time employment” or equivalent. You can be more specific, for example, by writing: “Navy commander looking to transition into a private sector position in technical operations or engineering leadership.”
