As the world of work and earning models have expanded significantly in the past decade, more employees are exploring opportunities that proactively align with their priorities and future ambitions.

Gone are the days when a career change would simply mean moving from one company to the next.

So even when you are just passively contemplating to shift gears (like 73% of all passive jobseekers), or wanting to build a network of potential business partners and clients, there is a way for you to utilize this professional platform to present yourself in a strategic light.

But first, it is important to gain clarity on the career direction you want to achieve.

Below are some of the common types of career movements.

• vertical promotion where you apply for a supervisory/leadership role
• horizontal promotion where you move to a different department so you can further demonstrate or grow diverse skills
• job redesign where you have to prove that you can take on other responsibilities or functions give a company reorganization
• exploratory change where you take on consultancy or part-time jobs with the intention of discovering the profitability of this venture.
• second career which may be prompted by a change of lifestyle, life situation or educational attainment, and;
• entrepreneurship which gives you the chance to open your own startup and grow as your business grows.

Having a specific purpose at LinkedIn will guide you in positioning your skills, professional achievements and personal story based on the roles you are targeting while giving you some bit of creative leeway to use industry-related lingo for maximum impact.

When transitioning to a new designation/function/industry:

[TIP #1] Briefly describe your strongest transferable skills and what you were able to accomplish using these skills on the Summary Section and highlight these on the Skills Section. If there is a particular core skill or function you would like to be known for, include this keyword on your LinkedIn Headline.

[TIP #2] Indicate relevant courses you’ve completed (or currently completing) on the Licenses and Certification Section.

[TIP #3] At the end of your Summary Section, conclude by stating your career goals and adding an email where you can be best contacted.

Creating a profile is one thing, but backing our statements through recommendations and testimonials can create a stronger impression among people who read our profile for the first time.

[TIP #4] When soliciting testimonials from former colleagues and bosses, let them know the skills or experience that you’d like them to feature so that these can be relevant to the new role you are seeking.

[TIP #5] Enhance recall by maximizing the visual appearance of your profile. Upload your portfolio of past works, customize your LinkedIn banner photo to best represent what you do, add a professional yet warm looking headshot then proceed to edit your URL so that only your name is featured (and not other indistinguishable characters).

Now, these rules somewhat differ when writing your profile as a business owner.

• As a business owner, your profile should be mostly client-facing — communicating why you care and how you can advance the issues that matter most to your prospective partners and customers through your business solution.
• In choosing a business-savvy LinkedIn banner, choose an image that is aligned to your brand colors, feature your store’s location or your core product/service. Actually, you can also feature an aspirational image or slogan to speak from the view of the customers you want to attract.
• If you already made some headways in your business, you can describe the achievements you’ve accomplished OR share your audacious vision that you want your business to take on in the coming years.

But much like in any change effort, there would be times when you would struggle with fear of failure, being rejected or losing status. Paradoxically, while you don’t want to remain stuck, your own resistance and analysis-paralysis become your biggest obstacle.

If this holds true to you, then you’d know too that sparking ideas with another person can help you move forward.

So, if you’re curious about discovering more concrete tips and getting free access to my quick guide in revamping your profile for success, book a free call.

About Liselle

After making the big move away from corporate life, Liselle found success as a content strategist and executive resume writer, assisting international and local clients to authentically connect and engage with their target markets through LinkedIn.

#linkedintips #careeradvise #ceomindset #businessowner