Whether you are looking for a new position or comfortable where you are, having an attractive LinkedIn profile is essential for every modern professional. Many of you may be turned off by the idea of setting up another social media account but LinkedIn doesn’t have to be a daunting task and there are lots of benefits for doing so.
In this article, I’ll be giving you some useful vocabulary and phrases for giving insights, then using them to give you my own insight into the benefits of having an attractive LinkedIn account.
Select the buttons to improve your vocabulary, learn useful phrases, get practical examples and test your English and understanding of what we’ve discussed.
The business world is not as formal as it used to be. LinkedIn is the place to express yourself and give your professional opinion about the way your industry is going. If you want to be more expressive in the way you present yourself, consider these synonyms for common expressions.
I enjoy working with …
am passionate about – (more passion / more energy)
adore – (that is a lot of love)
relish – (enjoy the moment as it happens)
I want to …
I am looking to … (this is your main focus)
My preference is to … (this is your primary choice)
My goal is to … (this is a clear personal focus)
I’ve worked on …
collaborated on (focus on being cooperative)
optimised (focus on improvement)
produced (focus on the result)
Our company is changing
evolving– (becoming something more advanced)
growing – (getting bigger in a positive way)
flourishing – (changing in an impressive way)
Businesses are trying to …
endeavouring – (trying even though it is difficult)
falling over themselves – (trying desperately / doing whatever it takes)
pushing themselves – (highly motivated to make it work)
Employees are not happy
no longer satisfied with … (suggests this has changed recently)
being left behind (suggests they are not represented)
slipping through the cracks (suggests mistakes are being made)
PRO TIPS:
If you are looking for more ways to spice up your vocabulary, check out the Merriam-Webster thesaurus.
When we are talking about current trends and challenges in our professions, it is important to keep three key points in mind.
Don’t forget that you should be the main focus of your LinkedIn profile. This is why you should ‘frame’ your ideas with a personal statement. For example:
Having worked in Communications for over 5 years, …
(Support your point with professional experience)
As a Full-stack developer, …
(This is your professional position)
I have seen firsthand …
(You have experienced this personally)
For extra magic bonus points, you can combine all three phrases for the ultimate framing power sentence:
“Having worked in Finance for over 6 years as a Project Manager, I have seen firsthand how challenging it is to …”
We use +ING and Gerund Phrases (+ING + Object) to express that this is a larger situation or process and is ongoing. For example:
Everyone is pushing themselves to implement A.I. into their services.
Implementing A.I. is the latest trend
This doesn’t need to be a clear-cut plan, but you should suggest a general idea of what we do about the situation. For example:
I believe we should be …
(This is your personal insight)
Which is why I am passionate about …
(You have strong feelings about this)
I have found the best solution is to …
(You know this from personal experience)
Is it worth setting up a LinkedIn account?
Having worked with business professionals as a communications coach for over 6 years, I have seen firsthand how much of a difference an attractive LinkedIn profile can make. To be clear, when I say ‘attractive LinkedIn profile’ I am not talking about having a nice picture and up-to-date employment history. When I am producing LinkedIn profiles for clients, I am looking to present the best professional version of themselves. Providing insights and giving people an idea of how you work is hands down the best way to stand out. I’ve collaborated with a lot of different professionals and all of them have found it easier to make business connections and find opportunities on LinkedIn than anywhere else. Even if you aren’t interested in changing your position now, simply connecting with other people in your field can have massive benefits.
How much time would I have to spend on LinkedIn?
As a freelance Business English teacher who is endeavoring to promote their services, I am posting to LinkedIn about once a week. I have seen lots of advice pushing people to post every day but I am guessing that most of that content slips through the cracks. I believe we should be posting for quality, not quantity. That being said, if you aren’t looking to acquire clients, simply having an attractive LinkedIn profile is probably enough. I have optimised my profile so I am easily found and it is clear what I am all about. However, I would point out that LinkedIn can be a bit of a bubble. By that, I mean that LinkedIn is constantly connecting me with other English teachers. I have also noticed that a lot of the content I see is written by English teachers for English teachers. This is why I am passionate about producing content which is more accessible and my goal is to attract a wide range of professional contacts who are interested in improving their professional English.
Is the way I feel about my industry really important if I can do the job?
The professional world is constantly evolving. Having worked with IT professionals for over 6 years I have seen how the industry is constantly shifting between a need for Soft Skills and Hard Skills. Naturally, you will always need someone who can actually do the job. However, IT companies are falling over themselves to acquire talent who can not only do the job but communicate what and why they are doing it to clients, team members and management. Frankly, developers who don’t value soft skills are being left behind. The IT industry is not alone in this. Opportunities to work for international organisations remotely are flourishing. This means communication and cultural differences are becoming more and more important. Which is why I am passionate about elevating professionals’ English. There is nothing more satisfying than unlocking opportunities for people who are excellent at their work but just don’t know how to communicate it.
Elevator English tests give you feedback on your English. After you select and answer, wait a moment for an explanation of why this is correct and learn how you can use these phrases in your professional English.
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If you would like to improve your professional English, I can help.
I am a CELTA-qualified Business English teacher with over 12 years experience helping professionals just like you elevate your English.
