7 LinkedIn Profile Tips for Veterans
Get your list ready, here are 7 tips for improving your LinkedIn profile.
Like it or not, networking is part of the long game in the civilian world, and you don't get a pass because of your veteran status. You may, however, have a leg up on your classmates because you already have a network: the military.
Many veterans can use their network to help them decide where to go to college or what to study. Some use connections to find an apartment or a part-time job when transitioning. And some savvy ones are building connections to their network's network for career advancement years down the road.
Luckily, there is an easier way to network than attending mixers and luncheons. You're already using it: social media. Beyond the videos of TikTok and the photos on Instagram, there's a whole social media platform designed just for professional networking. Yes, we're talking about LinkedIn.
If you check, you may even see you have a profile already, but if it's not gaining you any traction or generating networking leads, then it's time to do a little polishing. Here are seven tips for veterans that you should get to work on right now.
LinkedIn Profile Tips for Veterans
Change the photo.
No more uniform photos, please. No selfies, no family photos, you need a professional-looking headshot. You can take one of these yourself, but it needs to not look like a selfie. Find a nice background, clear it from stuff and ask someone else to take your photo.
And use a background photo.
Yes, another photo. But this one can be much less complicated. You want to use a photo here because if not, the default is a white/blue pattern. Consider a landscape shot or even one of the custom images that LinkedIn is using that month.
Include a location.
It's essential for those following you to know where you are looking for work or attending school. Add your current city and state or if you're moving within the next month, change it to that one. If you're open to relocation, make sure you include that in your headline or summary.
Write a headline.
The headline is the first thing people will see. You want it to be clear and concise and answer the question, "why am I here, and what do I want?" For example, "Military Logistician, Seeking Opportunities in Supply Chain Management." You want to stand out, but keep in mind that you don't need to overuse military terms to do that.
Speak civilian.
Read through the information you're putting into your profile. Will your mom understand it? If there are acronyms, decide if you need to use them and spell them out. Describe your military jobs in a way that anyone will understand. You cannot copy and paste from your latest evaluation; you have to tell us what that means.
Focus on results.
You'll hear this in every resume writing class, and it's true on LinkedIn as well. Don't just state what your job was. Tell the reader what you accomplished. Did you successfully transport a company to and from Afghanistan with millions of dollars of equipment? Say that instead of "commanded company on deployment." Be specific in the results related to the field you want to work in.
Connect with others.
You don't have to accept every invitation on LinkedIn, but you should be strategic with those you do. Find people in your field with whom you have a mutual connection or a shared interest that can connect you. Learn to distinguish between spam and sales profiles and deny those. Join groups and participate in conversations.
Start building your LinkedIn Profile today and start connecting with others as you build your network for future opportunities.
Join a strong community of military veterans and their family members by connecting with other students at GGU.