Change Your LinkedIn Summary | Keeping Your Career On Track

Change Your Linked Summary Is Your LinkedIn summary effective?

Most people are on LinkedIn because they want to progress their career. While you may not be actively seeking a new position, why invest the time to post on LinkedIn if you aren’t at least open to approaches?

Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. ~Jim Rohn

CV Writing advice used to be to open with a subjective summary along the lines of;-
An experienced Manager with a background of managing teams in a competitive commercial environment. Expertise in Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Clearly demonstrates ability to work in different roles, new sectors and markets with new products. Strong business sense, effective communicator, result-oriented, and can-do attitude.

But for job search now linked recruiters are saying this is too subjective. It is the person’s opinion of themselves, is unsubstantiated, and it comes across as over-confident .Instead it needs to include facts backed by numbers and statistics.

The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them. ~Denis Watiley

They want to see facts, and more facts. Tell them about your accomplishments in as few words as possible, using numbers and statistics to support the truth.

An example might be:

10 years experience leading teams of 10-50 staff members. Net sales for 2010 were 4% ahead of budget; sales performance for 2011 increased by 50%. Achieved an increase in turnover by 150% in first season. Achieved Investors in People accreditation. Managed the development, assessment and promotion of all trainees.

You may be used to having something like this in your CV as “significant achievements “.But this is what is preferred as an introduction in the more direct world we live in now.

In the original summary, the person is claiming to be effective. In the revised summary they are demonstrating it with facts and figures. Each claim is backed up by a significant achievement to illustrate it, which gives it strength and depth and encourages the reader to want to know more.

Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. ~Jim Rohn

In your LinkedIn summary, you need to compel the reader or recruiter to scroll down the page and look at your work history. In these time pressured days, subjective boasting won’t make that happen. Stating facts that entice them to see where and how your achievements were accomplished is what is effective now.

So have a look at your summary-does it meet the challenge? If not, you know what to do………………