Linkedln – your online resume

The Career Academy16/10/2017

Treat your profile like a living CV. Keep it complete, credible and easy to scan so employers can understand your value in seconds.

Get the foundations right

  • Photo: recent, friendly headshot on a simple background.
  • Banner: a clean image that hints at your field or interests.
  • Headline: not just a title. Use a formula like Role + specialty + outcome.
  • About: four to six lines that show strengths, tools and a result.
Assistant Accountant • Xero and payroll • Improves month-end accuracy Enjoy solving messy reconciliations and building simple dashboards. Reduced debtor days by 18 percent by tightening follow ups and reporting.

Settings that help

  • Turn off activity broadcasts while you edit your profile.
  • Customise your public URL. Use your name if it is available.
  • Set your profile to public so recruiters can find you.
  • Add Open to Work if you are actively looking.

Show your work

  • Add media to Featured: a project PDF, a slide deck or a link.
  • Use concise descriptions that focus on outcomes, not just duties.
  • Pin two or three highlights you want visitors to see first.

Experience that reads fast

  • Start bullets with strong verbs such as delivered, improved or reduced.
  • Add a number or result when you can.
  • Keep older roles brief if they do not support your target job.
Improved debtor days by 18 percent by standardising reminders and monthly reporting.

Keywords and skills

  • Mirror the language in relevant job ads where you are a match.
  • Prioritise the top 10 skills you want to be found for.
  • List tools and certifications that support those skills.

Recommendations build trust

Ask managers, colleagues or clients for a short recommendation that names the problem, your action and the result. Offer to write one in return.

“Jordan led our payroll migration to Xero. They created checklists, trained the team and cut errors to near zero within one month.”
Updating a LinkedIn profile

Volunteering counts

Many hiring managers see volunteer work as valuable experience. Add it under Volunteer Experience and explain the skills you used or gained.

Five quick wins today

Upload a professional headshot and a simple, relevant banner.

Rewrite your headline with a role, a specialty and a useful outcome.

Refresh the About section with strengths, tools and one result.

Add one project to Featured as proof of your work.

Request one recommendation and thank the person who writes it.

Tip: keep copy simple, use short paragraphs and avoid jargon. A clear story beats buzzwords.

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The Career Academy
We are the team behind The Career Academy, a collective of industry experts and career coaches dedicated to your professional growth. Our blog shares practical insights on everything from online education trends and accredited course pathways to essential career tools like resume building and LinkedIn optimisation. We provide the strategies and resources you need to upskill, get hired, and succeed in the modern Australian workforce.
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