LinkedIn Professional Guidelines

I’ve reviewed 1,000+ LinkedIn profiles over the past 5 years. Here are 8 tips to turn your LinkedIn profile into a job-generating machine: 1. Upgrade Your Profile Picture Like it or not, your profile picture is your first impression. Make it a good one: - Upload your PP to Photofeeler .com - Analyze the feedback - Reshoot/edit your picture based on the data Repeat until your scores are good! 2. Leverage Keywords The right keywords help you show up in more searches. Here's how to find them: - Find 5+ job descriptions for target roles - Paste them all into ResyMatch.io's JD scanner - Save the top 15 skills Weave them into the rest of your profile! 3. Write A Killer Headline I like to use this headline formula: [Keywords] | [Skills] | [Results-Focused Value Proposition] Example for a data scientist: Data Scientist | Python, R, Tableau | I Help Hospitals Use Big Data To Reduce Readmission Rates By 37% 4. Write A Killer About A great About section has 3 parts: - A short paragraph that speaks to your job, years of experience, and value prop. - Five "case study" bullets that showcase specific results. - Your email w/ a CTA for people to connect with you. Include keywords! 5. Leverage Your Featured Section It’s hard to convey your value on a resume or in an About section. This is your chance to show people what you’ve done on your terms. Include things like: - Case studies of your work - Content you’ve created - Posts you’ve written 6. Skills Matter LinkedIn uses profile Skills sections to rank candidates. Here’s how to boost your rank: - Add every keyword from your ResyMatch scan - Choose the top 5 most relevant skills - Ask colleagues, friends, family, & classmates for endorsements (aim for 5) 7. Engage & Support Others Comments can generate tons of profile views! Here’s how: - Find 10+ thought leaders in your target space - Bookmark their post feed - Check their feeds daily - Leave a supportive, valuable comment on each new post Repeat for a minimum of 30 days 8. Create Content! Content is networking at scale. One post can reach more people than your entire connection base. It also allows you to showcase value in your own words, on your own terms. It can feel scary, but only 1% of people do it—and the returns are huge.

I constantly get recruiter reachouts from big tech companies and top AI startups- even when I’m not actively job hunting or listed as “Open to Work.” That’s because over the years, I’ve consciously put in the effort to build a clear and consistent presence on LinkedIn- one that reflects what I do, what I care about, and the kind of work I want to be known for. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do- with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. If you’re tired of applying to dozens of jobs with no reply, here are 5 powerful LinkedIn upgrades that will make recruiters come to you: 1. Quietly activate “Open to Work” Even if you’re not searching, turning this on boosts your visibility in recruiter filters. → Turn it on under your profile → “Open to” → “Finding a new job” → Choose “Recruiters only” visibility → Specify target titles and locations clearly (e.g., “Machine Learning Engineer – Computer Vision, Remote”) Why it works: Recruiters rely on this filter to find passive yet qualified candidates. 2. Treat your headline like SEO + your elevator pitch Your headline is key real estate- use it to clearly communicate role, expertise, and value. Weak example: “Software Developer at XYZ Company” → Generic and not searchable. Strong example: “ML Engineer | Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems | PyTorch, TensorRT Specialist” → Role: ML Engineer → Niche: computer vision in autonomous systems → Tools: PyTorch, TensorRT This structure reflects best practices from experts who recommend combining role, specialization, technical skills, and context to stand out. 3. Upgrade your visuals to build trust → Use a crisp headshot: natural light, simple background, friendly expression → Add a banner that reinforces your brand: you working, speaking, or a tagline with tools/logos Why it works: Clean visuals increase profile views and instantly project credibility. 4. Rewrite your “About” section as a human story Skip the bullet list, tell a narrative in three parts: → Intro: “I’m an ML engineer specializing in computer vision models for autonomous systems.” → Expertise: “I build end‑to‑end pipelines using PyTorch and TensorRT, optimizing real‑time inference for edge deployment.” → Motivation: “I’m passionate about enabling safer autonomy through efficient vision AI, let’s connect if you’re building in that space.” Why it works: Authentic storytelling creates memorability and emotional resonance . 5. Be the advocate for your work Make your profile act like a portfolio, not just a resume. → Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points with measurable outcomes and tools (e.g., “Reduced inference latency by 35% using INT8 quantization in TensorRT”) → In the Featured section, highlight demos, whitepapers, GitHub repos, or tech talks Give yourself five intentional profile upgrades this week. Then sit back and watch recruiters start reaching you, even in today’s competitive market.

There’s a growing scam on LinkedIn, targeting job seekers when they’re most vulnerable. It starts with a message: “Hi, I’m a recruiter. I saw your profile. Can you send me your résumé?” You’re hopeful. You send it. Then they say: ❌ “Your résumé isn’t ATS-friendly.” ❌ “It won’t get past filters.” ❌ “You’ll struggle to get hired like this.” And then… surprise. They conveniently recommend a résumé writer on Fiverr or Upwork. I tracked several of these “recruiters.” The people they recommend? It’s them, different names, but the same scam. It’s fake. It’s manipulative. And it’s designed to make you feel insecure so you’ll pay them. They are not recruiters. They’re not career experts. They’re scammers using LinkedIn like a hunting ground. They’re here to make you doubt yourself and then sell you the solution to a problem they made up. ✅ You do not need to pay someone random to be job-ready. ✅ You do not need to doubt yourself because of one cold message. ✅ You do not owe strangers your résumé or your trust. If this happened to you, speak up and report them. If you know someone job hunting, warn them. Let’s stop giving these scammers room to operate.

Over the last few years, I’ve switched jobs, given many interviews, and spent hundreds of hours optimizing my resume and profile. During this journey, I made plenty of mistakes that cost me time and opportunities. So today, I want to share these genuine mistakes—and more importantly, how you can avoid them: Applying Randomly & Everywhere: In the early stages, I thought applying to as many jobs as possible was the key. Big mistake! Quality always beats quantity. Lesson: Tailor each application to the job role. Research the company and make sure your resume aligns with their requirements. Ignoring LinkedIn & Online Presence: Initially, my LinkedIn profile was incomplete and poorly optimized. I underestimated the power of LinkedIn visibility. Lesson: Your online presence matters. A complete, active LinkedIn profile attracts opportunities you’d never find by traditional methods alone. Sending Generic Cold Messages: I used to send cold messages like "Hi, can you refer me?" which rarely received replies. Lesson: Craft a concise, clear message. Always include the specific role, job link/ID, your resume, and a short summary of your skills. Poor Resume Formatting: My resume had too many graphics, complicated formatting, and lacked the right keywords. This reduced my ATS compatibility. Lesson: Keep your resume simple, structured, and ATS-friendly. Use clear headings, bullet points, and keywords from the job description. Not Preparing for the "Tell Me About Yourself" Question: I used to treat this question lightly and gave long, vague answers. The interviewer would lose interest quickly. Lesson: Prepare a structured 1-minute summary focusing on your experience, skills, and how you match the job you're interviewing for. Underestimating the Job Description: I didn't closely analyze the job description and often missed key details required by employers. Lesson: Job descriptions are gold. Analyze them carefully and reflect their highlighted skills and requirements in your application and interviews. Overlooking Company Research: During interviews, I would have limited knowledge about the company's products or mission. This made my answers generic. Lesson: Always research the company’s recent activities, products, and news. It helps you answer questions meaningfully and shows genuine interest. Getting Demotivated by Rejections: Early rejections made me question my capabilities, negatively impacting future interviews. Lesson: Every rejection is a lesson. Ask for feedback, reflect, and improve. Rejection means redirection—not the end of the road. Negotiation Mistakes: I used to accept offers quickly without proper negotiation due to the fear of losing the offer. Lesson: Negotiate politely but confidently. Companies expect this. Always understand your market worth, and clearly communicate your value. Have you made similar mistakes or learned something valuable from your own job search? Share your experiences in the comments—let's help each other grow!

I can look at your LinkedIn profile and tell within a second, why you’re not getting job, opportunities or clients. And no, it has nothing to do with your skills. It has everything to do with your ‘positioning.’ I’ve audited thousands of professional profiles. A few years ago, I was frustrated too. I knew I had skills. I knew I could deliver. But my profile said: “Open to work.” Not “This is why you need me.” When you’re not positioned with clarity + proof + presence, people scroll past you—even if you’re brilliant. The brutal truth no one tells you: People don’t hire the most talented. They hire: The most visible. The most credible. The most memorable. So if you’re wondering why the DMs are dry, here’s it: 7 Reasons You’re Not Getting Job or Client Calls (even if you’re qualified): 1. Your headline is your job title. That’s not branding. That’s search noise. Use it to communicate value and niche. 2. Your About section reads like a cover letter. No one reads paragraphs. Make it skim-friendly. First 3 lines = gold. 3. No proof. No trust. No testimonials. No featured work. No results = no credibility. 4. You’re not creating any content. If I can’t hear your thinking, I won’t trust your skillset. Period. 5. Your DMs are “Hi sir/ma’am, please give me work.” You’re not a beggar. You’re a builder. Position yourself like one. 6. Your profile photo looks like it was taken in 2016. Invest in how you show up. People see before they read. 7. You’re too generic. If your skills apply to everyone, your offers apply to no one. Clarity converts. Data doesn’t lie. Profiles with a clear headline + featured proof + consistent posting get 5x more visibility and 3x more responses. (Source: LinkedIn) If you’re serious about attracting the right work— don’t just optimize your profile. Own your positioning. Build proof of work. Show up everyday. LinkedIn Guide to Creating #LinkedInTips #PersonalBranding #JobSearch #LinkedInExpert

Day 5 of teaching A to Z of LinkedIn .Today E = ENGAGEMENT :The Currency of LinkedIn Growth . Content creation gets you visibility. Engagement builds relationships. Let me break it down: LinkedIn promotes content that’s engaged with. If you engage with others consistently, your name and face show up more, and the algorithm understands: 📌 You’re an active user = more reach for your content too. Even if you aren't posting everyday ,don't forget to engage!! 📌 Relationship > Reach You can have 50k followers and still feel invisible. But if 50 people consistently engage with you, you’ll always feel seen. Engagement is how you go from “random profile” to “that person I always see on my feed.” 📌 Comments are Content If your comment on someone else’s post adds value, it can get hundreds of likes on its own.I’ve landed invitations, podcast calls, and clients through comments and it's all just by sharing one thoughtful line under the right post. 🍪 What Smart Engagement Looks Like: 📌 3–2–1 Rule for Daily Engagement: 3 meaningful comments on others’ posts 2 replies to DMs or comment threads 1 reshare or tag someone 🍪 Use the “Search” bar smartly: 📌 Search your niche or keyword 📌 Sort by “posts” 📌 Engage with recent content to be noticed by the people you want to be noticed by 🍪 Engage up, down, and sideways 📌 Up = people with bigger audiences 📌 Down = people starting out (they appreciate support) 📌 Sideways = people at your level (build your tribe!) 🍪 Common Mistakes to Avoid: ❌ Leaving one-word comments like “Agreed!” (Add a point. Start a discussion.) ❌ Engaging only with verified accounts (Real gems are hidden in small creators too.) ❌ Ghosting your own comments section (If someone replies, reply back) 🍪 Pro Tip: Turn engagement into connections. 📌 Don’t just “like and leave.” 📌 After 2–3 solid interactions, send a DM: (read my last post where I teach about D for Direct Messages) 🍪 Final Word: If you want to grow on LinkedIn PLEASE stop thinking like a broadcaster. Start behaving like a connector. Be the person who: ✅ Starts conversations ✅ Joins conversations ✅ Makes others feel heard Any suggestions for Letter F for Tomorrow? #linkedin #linkedingrowth #riyagadhwal

Your LinkedIn post doesn’t start when you hit publish. It starts 30 minutes before. Most people post and pray. (And hey—prayer is great. Just maybe not about LinkedIn 😅) Here’s the engagement strategy I teach clients who want visibility, leads, and real traction: 1️⃣ The 30-Minute Pre-Engagement Rule (a.k.a. Content Seeding) Don’t just drop your post cold. Warm up the feed. Before you publish, comment on 5–10 posts from people you want your content to reach. When you engage with them, you trigger LinkedIn to surface your upcoming post in their feed once it goes live. 📌 Pro Tip: Prioritize → Your ideal audience → Past engagers → Active accounts with good reach (they help amplify you if they engage) This is how you train the algorithm to pay attention. 2️⃣ The 15-Minute Post-Boost Once you publish, your post enters a test phase. It’s tracking: → How fast you get engagement → Whether people stick around (dwell time) → If the comments spark back-and-forth conversation So when the comments start coming in, don’t ghost. Reply quickly. Ask questions. Keep the thread alive. Every interaction signals to LinkedIn: “This post has value.” 3️⃣ The First 3-Hour Window Is Critical Your post gets a short trial run. If it performs, it gets pushed to a wider audience. If not, it gets buried. Remember: LinkedIn is in the business of keeping people on the platform. It rewards content that does the same. Your job in this window:  → Keep the engagement active  → Drop a thoughtful comment on your own post to extend the conversation.  → Send it to a few trusted peers and say, “Would love your POV on this.” (Don't spam though. Make it relevant.) Bonus: Save outbound DMs for people who actually care about the topic.  You’ll get better feedback and avoid annoying your network. Most people treat LinkedIn like a billboard. Top performers treat it like a system. Which of these tactics do you already use? Which one will you try next? 👇

I posted consistently on LinkedIn for 6 months before I got my first viral post. In the beginning, it felt miserable watching my posts flop over and over. But by analyzing my copywriting mistakes, I was able to turn things around. Here are 7 formatting & copywriting mistakes that were destroying my LinkedIn views: 1️⃣ Vague Headlines ❌ "My Thoughts on Marketing" ✅ "How I Gained 5000+ Followers in a Month" 2️⃣ Wall of Text  ❌ A long, dense paragraph with no line breaks ✅ Growth hacking on LinkedIn is tough. But not impossible.  Here are 3 tips to get started... 3️⃣ Overuse of Jargon  ❌ "Thought leadership content" ✅ "Insights based on your expertise" 4️⃣ Huge Intros  ❌Extra background before the main points   ✅ Jump right to the point. 5️⃣ Neglecting CTA  ❌ Forgetting to include a call to action ✅ "Comment below your biggest LinkedIn struggle!" 6️⃣ No Visuals  ❌ Plain text, no images/graphics ✅ Include relevant visuals to make your posts pop 7️⃣ Inconsistent Posting  ❌ Posting randomly ✅ Post frequently and on a schedule Mistakes show you how to improve! Analyze what works for your audience. Keep tweaking and testing. What copywriting tips do you have? Share below! 👇

LinkedIn has brought me career opportunities and friendships I never could have predicted. Yes, I have a large following now. But I started at zero (just like everyone else). Here are 8 LinkedIn tips to help you land your dream job and build a strong network: 1. Post thematically (not randomly) LinkedIn rewards activity. Instead of posting whenever inspiration hits, choose themes your network expects from you: • Industry insights • Insider lessons from books or conferences • Personal projects • Inspiration • Advice or asks 2. Talk about your industry, not yourself Industry insight = authority. The frequently shared LinkedIn content (in no particular order): • How-to posts • Lists • Deep, neutral analysis Teach first. Reputation follows. 3. Be a strategic “liker” Likes are memory cues. When you intentionally like someone’s post, you: • Stay top of mind • Create an instant conversation starter later • Build relationship momentum without DM’ing 4. Your profile is not a résumé It’s a living signal of who you are and what you care about. LinkedIn favors complete profiles, yet nearly half of users leave sections blank. Those extra sections (courses, volunteering, boards) make you more searchable and more human. Incomplete profile = invisible profile. 5. Kill buzzwords (they blur you) Words like strategic, passionate, expert are everywhere. Replace them with language you’d actually say out loud: • “Strategic” → decisive, judicious • “Experienced” → seasoned, practiced • “Leader” → guided, directed Your vocabulary is part of your brand. 6. Be an “adder,” not a commenter Comments aren’t for agreeing, but for adding value. Great comments: • Expand an idea • Share a relevant example • Offer gratitude or context If you want to impress someone, help their post become smarter. 7. Send smart connection requests Never send a blank request. Always answer: • How do I know them? • Why this person? • What’s in it for them? 8. Optimize for your audience Your profile shouldn’t appeal to everyone. Ask: Who do I need to succeed? • Freelancers → clients • Climbers → leaders • Switchers → future industry peers • Speak directly to them. 9. Network after you connect Connections decay without touchpoints. Once a month is enough: • Congratulate promotions • Share relevant info • Make an intro • Invite for coffee when traveling Consistency beats intensity. 10. Use “People Also Viewed” This section tells you: • Who LinkedIn thinks you are • Who you’re being compared to • Who you might be missing If you don’t like the comparison, adjust your language and connections. You don’t need to do all 10. Start with 1-2 and let the momentum compound. What’s one LinkedIn change you’ll make this week?