A strong and professional social media presence can be a powerful tool in a job seeker’s arsenal. Facebook and Twitter are the most often talked-about platforms regarding influence and networking, while many see a LinkedIn profile as just another place to post their resume. The good news is more professionals in the engineering and construction industries are turning to LinkedIn to build their brand, connect to others in their industry, and explore potential job opportunities.

The best place to start is with your profile. If your current LinkedIn profile has proven less than effective, or you have only recently joined, here are five profile-building tips that are sure to help you.

1. Utilize Pictures

A personable and professional profile picture is an obvious first step, but there are other places on your profile where images can be used. Like Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn allows you to add a banner image at the top of your profile.

Place an image of something related to the industry you work in. This could be a person sitting at a laptop writing for a copywriter, or a 3D rendering of a building if engineering or construction is where you work. Running a quick search for online banner making programs will help you create an eye-catching design that effectively communicates your industry from the top. Just set your search to images that are licensed for personal or commercial use before you upload.

2. Write a Meaningful Summary

The summary on your LinkedIn profile is the space for a description of who you are, what you can do, and what motivates you. Think about the projects you have worked on in the past, the kinds of projects that interest you, and the work you would like to do in the future, then talk about those things in your summary. They say much more about you than the job you have now.

3. Do Not Skip Non-Industry Skills in the Skills Section

With all of the options, this section gets tedious. The temptation can be strong to check the boxes specific to your job title, but you put other skills to use in your work on a daily basis. Listing software programs you use, or leadership or management skills helps fill out your profile.

Listing these skills in your LinkedIn profile does more than fill in space. It adds keywords to your profile that searches pick up. You are missing an incredible opportunity to bring traffic to your profile if you skip skills in this section, as prospective employers are looking for more than just your knowledge of the industry.

4. Be Detailed in Your Job Descriptions

Fill out as much as you can in the descriptions of your previous and current positions. If there were specific, memorable projects you worked on, include them in the description as well. If the company in question has a portfolio on their website, and your project is in it, add that link to the description. This is your spot to brag about what you can do and back up your claims with examples of what you have done. Use it!

5. Recommendations From Your Connections Are Your Friend

Asking for recommendations can seem like a hassle, but a few good ones will speak volumes about you and the work you do once people look at your profile. All of the above will get people to your profile, but recommendations (along with samples of your work) tell them you are doing more than bragging.

Learn More About Using a LinkedIn Profile  for Personal Branding

Creating a profile that effectively communicates your professional brand is an important first step towards establishing your professional brand and bringing job opportunities your way. Use these steps, and yours will stand out from the rest of the crowd. To learn more about how LinkedIn can help you shine, check out this blog post.

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