LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies [ISDN 978-1119651420] by Donna Serdula is a helpful guide for transforming a dull profile into one that is optimized to communicate your personal brand and story. The book can be used in two ways – read cover-to-cover to transform your entire profile or chapter-by-chapter as you transform individual sections of your full profile.
In either case, the author recommends reading the entirety of section one (three chapters) so you can develop a strategy that will guide how the rest of the profile is constructed As with any good “for dummies” book, the book ends with several top 10 lists full of quick wins for your profile.
The most valuable part of the book was the hardest to put into practice and one that I’ll return to again – transforming your work experience from boring resume blurbs into career stories. This effort is particularly challenging for technical professionals, as we generally focus on which tools and programming languages we know and not what kinds of soft skills we’ve developed during our careers.
I’ve always encouraged professional colleagues to always keep their LinkedIn profile up-to-date rather than waiting for inspiration to strike while feverishly looking for new career opportunities. Thankfully, profiles do not require weekly maintenance – checking in once a month or quarter should be sufficient. Donna advises that:
Freshly updated profiles are more relevant than profiles that haven’t been touched in months or years… Make sure your profile isn’t stale and doesn’t get stale by updating it regularly.
Donna Serdula, LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies (page 367)
In addition to the book, Donna provides a wealth of free resources on her web site. You can also hire Donna for a full LinkedIn makeover if you’re unsure where to start.
- Purchase LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies at Amazon.com
- Follow Donna Serdula on LinkedIn
- Follow Donna Serdula on X (formerly Twitter)
- Visit LinkedIn-Makeover.com
Disclosure: I borrowed this book from a public library. I was not required to write a positive review.
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