Did you know that LinkedIn now gives you more opportunities to show off your skills?

The most recent place to add your skills can be found in the About section. You can also add skills to each position description in your Experience section and to each listing in the Projects section.

 

Why Add Skills to Different Parts of the LinkedIn Profile?

Whether you are a job seeker or a business owner, your skills are an essential part of what you offer.

In her article Updating Your Profile on LinkedIn: Skills You Should (and Shouldn’t) Add, Zoe Kaplan covers:

  • Why you should add LinkedIn skills
  • Types of skills to add, such as job skills and transferable skills
  • Types of skills not to add, such as skills you don’t have and non-work-related skills
  • How to add skills to your LinkedIn profile

 

How to Add Skills to Your Profile

  • To add skills to the About section of your profile, click on the pencil to edit this section. Scroll down to the bottom of the section, and click on the words “Add skill.” You can add up to five skills that represent you the best. LinkedIn will even suggest five skills for you to add, but you can choose other skills instead.
  • To add a skill to a position in the Experience section, click on the pencil icon to the right of the word Experience. Then click on the pencil icon to the right of each position to which you want to add a skill.
  • Scroll down until you see “Add skill.” LinkedIn recommends you add up to five skills for each position, though you can add more. Also, skills you add to a position will show up in the Skills section.
  • Along with adding skills to positions, I recommend you include projects in your profile and add skills to them.
  • To enable the Projects section, click on the words “Add profile section” found toward the top of your profile. Select “Additional” and then click on “add projects.” Fill out templates for projects you feel are relevant to the job you are seeking or the work you do in your business.
  • Projects are a fabulous way to set yourself apart from others in your field and show your initiative. These are typically time-limited activities with a beginning and an end. They can be for a job or in a volunteer capacity. If you were part of a team that completed the project, add your team members to the field provided. However, you need to be connected with them on LinkedIn to be able to add them to the project.

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel at ComputerJoyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 55 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially LinkedIn and Facebook. She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, job seekers, and more – ranging from entrepreneurs to people in large corporations. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com