Criteria |
Comment |
First impression |
- Is the profile made public?
- Is a customized URL used for the profile?
- Is the profile up-to-date?
- Is the profile complete, meaning all the sections are filled out?
- Are the organization and layout consistent throughout the profile?
- Is the headline concise, eye-catching, and targeted?
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- A well written public profile with a unique URL.
- The profile shows professionalism throughout.
- Every section of the profile is completed with great detail. Information seems to be up-to-date.
- The organization of the profile is consistent, with the most recent and relevant experience placed first.
- An appropriate and succinct headline is used.
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Media |
- Is the headshot professional?
- Is there a banner photo?
- Are there any examples of work incorporated—in the form of video, photos, or web portfolio?
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- Great choice of headshot – it is professional and high quality.
- Great use of a banner photo to demonstrate your interest and experience in fieldwork related to atmospheric sciences. It creates an outstanding personal branding at first glance.
- Consider adding media as examples of your work. For example, photos of your poster presentation at the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics Conference.
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Summary |
- Is the length of the summary appropriate?
- Does it include (i) professional goals, (ii) qualifications, (iii) personal interests and (iv) relevant extracurricular activities?
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- The summary is short and well-crafted. Excellent job!
- Great use of keywords that would appeal to employers in your field of interest, such as “technical minded,” “analytical skills,” and “academic excellence.”
- The summary could be made stronger if the skill sets are coupled with a brief description of the work and volunteer experiences from which you gained the skills.
- A suggestion would be to include an anecdote explaining why you are interested in what you are doing to add a personal touch to the summary.
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Experiences (Work and Volunteer) |
- Is all the relevant information for each experience specified (date of starting and ending, institution name)?
- Is the level of detail for job descriptions appropriate?
- Do the descriptions include skills they gain from the experiences?
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- Sections on work and volunteering experiences are well-written and personalized.
- Many of your experiences and results of those experiences are quantified and qualified to provide context for viewers.
- The organization, job title, and the month and year in which you start and end each experience are clearly stated.
- Instead of listing your job duties, try tying the tasks you completed in a position with an accomplishment or a skill you developed; this can further highlight your strengths and differentiate you from equally competent people.
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Connections |
- How many connections do they have?
- Have they given or requested recommendations?
- Do they belong to and participate in LinkedIn professional and social groups?
- Have they contributed to a page?
- Does the profile provide contact information (e.g. email address)?
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- A good number of connections with other UBC students and colleagues.
- A bonus would be to ask for a recommendation from your previous employer to increase your credibility.
- LinkedIn groups are an excellent platform for meeting like-minded people and exchange ideas. Consider taking part in one of these groups!
- Contact information can be included to make it easier for people who are not connected to contact you.
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Education |
- Is the level of education up-to-date?
- Are any courses, honours, awards, activities, significant projects relevant to the experiences added?
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- This section is completed with an impressive list of academic and extracurricular achievements.
- A possible addition would be club committees and groups you are active in.
- Recommend including relevant courses and project examples (e.g. web portfolio) by adding a new profile section on Accomplishments à Courses and Projects.
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Skills and Endorsements |
- Does the profile provide any skills?
- How many skills are listed?
- Do the skills resonate with the experiences listed above?
- Does anyone endorse the skills?
- How are these skills organized?
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- A good number of skills are listed – all related to your professional and personal interests.
- Great job getting endorsements from others, many of whom are highly skilled in that area.
- Based on your experiences, the following skills could be added to strengthen your profile:
- analytical ability, problem-solving, environmental modelling, initiative, and any skills related to your business certificate.
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Accomplishment |
- Is there an additional accomplishment section?
- If yes, is there a description for each additional achievement (if applicable)?
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- Recommend adding a brief description for each award to give viewers some context with regards to the significance of the award.
- Likewise, add a short description of the organization IMPACT! Sustainability Leadership Program. Describe your involvement in this organization as it is not mentioned in the experience section.
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Interest |
- Are there any interests listed?
- If yes, are these interests related to their professional and personal aspirations?
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- Great job identifying companies and schools of your interest.
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Grammar and Writing Style |
- What is the tone of the profile?
- Is the writing style formal and professional?
- Are their grammatical mistakes?
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- Overall speaking, the tone and writing style of the profile is professional and appropriate for LinkedIn.
- The content is concise and easy to understand.
- Minor grammatical errors can be revised:
- Missing article: A strong believer
- Misuse of hyphenation: Some phrases need to be hyphenated (e.g. self-disciplined, government-funded, plug-in), while others do not, (e.g. troubleshooting and fieldwork).
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Concluding Remarks |
Overall, this is a professional, appealing, and well-organized profile. Every section of the profile is fully utilized to demonstrate your extensive work and volunteering experience. I hope my suggestions help as you continue to navigate through LinkedIn. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.
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