What NOT to do on LinkedIn

Let’s face it, everyone bends the truth on the Internet. You’re not fooling anyone by saying you're 25, yet have a glamour shot from the 80’s as your profile picture.  Sometimes we lie about our favorite movies or place quotes that will make us sound more educated. But honestly people want to know the real you. This becomes more important when editing your LinkedIn account. Here are a few tips to help you avoid being called out about the info on your profile.   

1. Outdated or over-edited profile picture: We all want to look our best in our profile pictures, and more employers review accounts with a photo. So, it is very important that the picture is current and not over-edited. Employers value honesty, and don’t want to be misled. Your picture should look like you, not a younger, air-bushed version of yourself.
2. Education:  Do NOT lie about your education. It may sound good in theory, but future employers have multiple ways of uncovering the truth. Since LinkedIn is a professional network with many connections, people will know whether or not you actually went to Harvard or graduated as valedictorian.  
3. Skills: Recruiters are currently using a sorting system on LinkedIn. This allows them to sort individuals according to the skills they have listed on their profile.  It’s crucial that you are confident in your skills.  If you honestly cannot program computer software, then don’t say that it is a “skill.”
4. Asking for recommendations: If you just made a connection with someone, it can be considered rude to immediately ask them for a recommendation. It is preferred to build a relationship beforehand. But, if they’re really busy you can help them out by writing a brief summary of your skills to refresh their memory and save them time.

The bottom line is DO NOT LIE. It will definitely hurt you in the long-run. Just be honest, simple as that. 

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Stay Connected,

Kelly & Mandy