I created this ‘snakes or ladders?’ visual as a focus for an activity to use with students to get them to consider some of the key steps that can be taken to enhance a LinkedIn profile, and at the same time consider aspects that could be less valuable or indeed negative.

The full visual can be found below along with useful links to resources on LinkedIn help that provide guidance to implement the enhancement points I have picked out.

Enhance (ladders)

• Add a photo to your profile
  This not only helps potential connections identify you with your name, profiles with a profile are regarded as more trustworthy.
• Achieve 100% profile completeness
  To achieve all-star status you need to complete the template sections. Additional areas may be added if you wish.
• Add publications to your profile
  If you have published articles, book chapters, whitepapers etc, share these on your profile.
• Add skills to your profile
  These will allow connections to validate strengths shown on your profile
• Endorse skills of colleagues you know
  Recognise the skills of others by endorsing them publicly.
• Recommend a colleague
  This should be someone you have worked with or for.
• Add a project to your profile
  This is an additional section you can add to highlight projects you have been involved with or led.
• Add presentations to Slideshare and your LinkedIn profile
  This not only provides a way to share your work, it adds a visual dimension to your profile.

Weaken (snakes)

• Don’t cite other’s work
  It is not just academic practice, all work of others should be recognised
• Share trivia as status updates
  LinkedIn is a professional social network. It is not Facebook.
• Don’t make use of your personalised LinkedIn URL
  You can edit your personalised URL and use this to provide a direct link to your LinkedIn profile by sharing in your email signature and on your business cards.
• Make unprofessional or insensitive comments
  Think before you add a snarky comment or status update. This could be seen by your connections and many others too.

Resources

How to edit your profile

Add a photo to your profile

How to add skills to your profile

Endorse someone’s skills

Give someone a recommendation

How to add or edit a project on your profile

Add publications

Learning and Teaching activities

Gaming ideas to teach digital identity and wellbeing by Scott Hibberson