5 things you forgot to do
Did I guess them? 😏
On LinkedIn, we could say that the vast majority of users spend their effort compiling only what they feel are the most important sections.
🫴🏻 On the other hand, when they see things that might not be directly related to their job, they assume it's not necessary to write them, and so they don’t.
At this point in the newsletter, you should know my philosophy well:
☝🏻 The more you provide details about yourself, the more benefits you’ll get from your network.
This is particularly valid at the beginning of your career.
If you are a student or a recent graduate, you know well how difficult it is to write a rich profile (then, with the progression of your career, it becomes easier and easier). So you really need to find any possible detail to make your profile not look meager.
Today, I would like to share 5 things that I am ready to bet you didn’t write.
1. Licenses & Certifications
In this section, you can indicate various types of recognition you’ve received for completing a course, passing an exam, or earning a score in something.
I recommend highlighting certifications that could help you get the job you want:
For example, in my case, I knew everything related to learning and speaking English could turn out to be useful. I thought I might have better chances of getting a job where I’m asked to speak English if I linked the certifications I had.
Other examples could include a driver’s license, if you’re aiming for a job that involves a company car and travel.
💡 Tip: As a Software Engineer, this is the right place to list certifications from AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud Platform, Docker, Databricks, etc.
😎 Pro tip: If you really struggle to add something, you can take courses on LinkedIn, Udemy, Pluralsight, or other platforms that offer free courses and provide certificates of completion.
2. Languages
Imagine how trivial yet important this can be: it probably takes you 30 seconds and can completely change the opportunities you receive.
The aim here isn’t to flex or to lie—the point is to give an idea of your level of internationality.
By writing this, you're implicitly telling people:
You could be ready to work in a country where that language is spoken
You could work for a company where one of these languages is used
3. Honors & Awards
Personally, I love this section. Everyone thinks you need to go to the moon in order to list something worth mentioning.
However, in my opinion, you can include anything you consider valuable—something you achieved and are proud of, including meaningful activities you took part in or any recognition you received.
💡 Tip: In our industry, we often have yearly performance reviews where we receive a score on how we performed. If you received a high score meaning you exceeded expectations, in my opinion, you can definitely include it here!
4. Causes
This is super underrated. Most people think it has nothing to do with work. Maybe it carries minor weight in the equation of finding the right place for you, but let me ask:
Would you like to work in a specific sector?
Would you like your company’s values to match yours?
This is a way to start communicating what’s important to you and what you care about. It also adds more keywords to your profile, helping you connect with companie (or people) who share your ideals.
5. Personalizing the URL
Last but not least, one of the most effective actions that requires the least effort: personalizing your profile URL.
By default, LinkedIn assigns you a URL with a random string.
If you personalize it, you can create a short and more readable link which can make a big difference on your CV, in SEO, or simply in being remembered.
