When it comes to your LinkedIn profile, it can make or break your job search efforts. When you have a strong one in place, it will further convince a hiring manager you’re the right person for the job. A weak one, on the other hand, will do the opposite, sabotaging all that hard work you’ve put into your search.

To ensure that doesn’t happen to you, here’s a look at a few LinkedIn mistakes candidates make and how to avoid them:

An unprofessional photo.

As professional Houston recruiters, Murray Resources knows this is the first part of your profile a hiring manager will see. It’s therefore critically important. It doesn’t have to be highly formal or even taken by a professional photographer for that matter. However, it should make you look capable and confident. So avoid posting anything that’s blurry, fuzzy or grainy in any way. Also, skip the group shots where you’ve cropped others out.

A confusing headline.

Your LinkedIn headline is usually the second feature a hiring manager will see since it’s right after your name. The one you use will say a lot about you. When writing it, keep in mind it doesn’t necessarily have to be your job title, which might be relevant only in your company. Instead, it should give recruiters an understanding of your skills and abilities without any fluff (e.g. skip statements like “Strategic, Results-Driven Project Manager”).

Skipping the summary.

Summaries are undoubtedly hard to write. After all, how do you sum up your entire professional career in a few lines. However, don’t skip this part just because it’s a challenge. Instead, invest the time to write (and often rewrite and edit many times) a summary that’s going to showcase your strengths and why Houston companies should consider you.

A career history that doesn’t match your resume.

Whether you’re sending in your resume to HR, a hiring manager or a professional Houston recruiter, they’ll likely look you up on LinkedIn. If your profile is dated or doesn’t match what you sent in on your resume, it will leave them confused over the accuracy of your background information. Avoid this by updating your resume and LinkedIn profile and ensuring the two align with each other. They don’t need to be an exact match; there just shouldn’t be any major discrepancies between them.

No Skills, Recommendations or Activities listed.

The beauty of LinkedIn is that it can offer hiring managers a more well-rounded view of you not just as a candidate, but as a person too. This can help you to stand out in a sea of other candidates that they must screen on a daily basis. But to do so, you need to make sure sections like Skills, Recommendations and Activities are filled in with content that sets you apart.

Vague language.

If you’re stuck when it comes to writing your LinkedIn profile, you’re not alone. Many strong candidates experience writer’s block when it comes to this task. But don’t simply use vague language or copy and paste a generic or boilerplate profile from online. Instead, try to write the way you’d speak to a hiring manager. That means skipping statements, such as “I’m a detail-oriented team player,” and instead striving to come across as authentic, experienced and friendly.

Need help with your LinkedIn profile, resume or finding your next job?

Call the professional Houston recruiters at Murray Resources. We can assist with every aspect of your job search, so you find and secure the position that’s an excellent fit for you. Contact us today to learn more or get started.