Having a strong LinkedIn profile is critical for anyone looking to advance their career or find a new job. One part of an impactful LinkedIn profile that is sometimes overlooked is the skills section. This section allows you to list out all of the relevant skills, tools, and expertise that make you an attractive candidate. But is the skills section really necessary? Here is a look at the key benefits of including a skills section on your LinkedIn profile.
Showcases your full range of abilities
The skills section provides an opportunity to fully showcase the breadth and depth of your abilities. While the work experience section lists your official job titles and responsibilities, it does not always capture the full range of your skills. The skills section allows you to highlight important skills that may not be apparent from your work history alone.
For example, you may have gained proficiency with important software, tools, or technical skills through informal learning or professional development. Or you may have expertise in a niche skillset that was only a small part of your overall job duties. The skills section gives you a place to explicitly call out these abilities that make you uniquely qualified.
Enables keyword search optimization
The skills section also plays an important role in LinkedIn’s keyword search algorithm. Recruiters and hiring managers often search LinkedIn for candidates based on specific skills and expertise. If you do not have these relevant keywords show up in your profile, you are less likely to appear in search results.
Therefore, the skills section allows you to strategically optimize your profile with the terms that hiring managers are likely using to find qualified candidates. Make sure to include all applicable skills, tools, software, methodologies, and industry buzzwords.
Provides conversation starters
In addition to attracting opportunities through search, the skills section also facilitates outreach conversations. When someone views your profile, the skills section can provide natural starting points for follow-up messages and conversations.
For example, if a recruiter sees JavaScript listed among your skills, they may reach out to ask about your experience building web applications. Or someone may see project management as one of your skills and ask about your experience with agile methodologies. The skills section gives viewers easy conversation hooks for following up.
Allows for social proof endorsements
The skills section also enables social proof through endorsements. Your connections on LinkedIn can endorse specific skills that they feel able to validate based on their experience working with you. These endorsements then show up as social proof of your abilities right within your skills section.
While endorsements should not be used as the sole proof of your skills, they do provide added credibility. And the more endorsements you rack up, the more confidence hiring managers can have in your stated expertise.
Shows off breadth or depth
Depending on your background and goals, you can use the skills section to demonstrate either the depth or breadth of your skillset:
- For those looking to specialize and stand out in a niche, you can use the skills section to showcase deep expertise in a particular skillset, methodology, or technology.
- For generalists, managers, and others with multifaceted expertise, the skills section allows you to illustrate the broad range and versatility of your skillset across many different areas.
Keeps your profile up-to-date
The skills section also provides an easy way to keep your profile updated over time as you gain new skills and experience. While your work experience section remains static, the skills section can be actively managed to reflect your current expertise. This ensures that your profile always represents your most up-to-date capabilities.
When is a skills section most valuable?
While a strong skills section provides value in most cases, here are a few scenarios where it is even more critical to have on your LinkedIn profile:
- When you are looking to change careers or make a major pivot into a new industry or role
- When you are early or mid-career and do not have as lengthy of a work history
- When you are a recent graduate without full-time work experience
- When you are in a technical field or specialized discipline with important niche skills
- When you are in a generalist, multifaceted, or multi-disciplinary role
Tips for an effective skills section
Follow these best practices to make sure your skills section is optimized:
- Prioritize skills that are relevant to your target roles or industry
- Include a mix of hard skills and soft skills
- Align skills with the rest of your profile and work experience
- Use keywords that hiring managers are likely searching for
- Only list skills you are legitimately capable in
- Organize skills from most proficient to supportive
- Update regularly as you develop new skills
Common skills section mistakes to avoid
While a strong skills section can elevate your profile, there are also some pitfalls to avoid:
- Listing too many skills dilutes your brand and expertise
- Including aspirational skills not yet attained
- Letting the skills section become a “grab bag” of disjointed skills
- Not customizing skills to each application or target role
- Listing proprietary tools unlikely to be searched
- Copying skills from job descriptions verbatim
Conclusion
In summary, the LinkedIn skills section offers many benefits for showcasing your full expertise as a candidate. It provides exposure for search optimization, gives conversational hooks for outreach, enables social proof with endorsements, and keeps your profile dynamically up to date. While not mandatory, dedicating time to filling out a robust skills section can dramatically enhance your LinkedIn profile and job search prospects.
Key Takeaways
- The skills section highlights abilities that may not be obvious from work experience alone
- Well-chosen skills align with search terms hiring managers use
- Endorsements add credibility through social proof
- The skills section shows both depth and breadth of expertise
- It helps keep profiles current as new skills are gained
Frequently Asked Questions
How many skills should you list on LinkedIn?
As a general rule, aim to highlight 10-30 of your most relevant and impressive skills on your LinkedIn profile. Make sure to customize this further for each specific job target. More than 30 skills can overwhelm viewers and dilute your expertise. But you want enough skills to showcase your key abilities.
What types of skills should you include?
Aim for a mix of both hard and soft skills. Hard skills include technical expertise like programming languages, tools, software, and methodologies. Soft skills include abilities like communication, project management, team leadership, problem solving, and adaptability.
Should skills be backed up by endorsements?
Endorsements provide added credibility but are not absolutely necessary. Optimally you should have at least a few endorsements for your core skills as social proof. But focus first on listing your most relevant skills rather than chasing endorsements.
How do you get endorsements on LinkedIn skills?
You cannot directly ask for endorsements. But you can endorse connections for skills where you have first-hand experience with their abilities. This prompts them to review and potentially reciprocate with endorsements based on your skills. But the focus should be on meaningful endorsements, not just racking up numbers.
Should skills be customized for each job application?
Yes, customizing your skills section for each application is highly recommended. Thoroughly review the job description and highlight the most relevant skills you possess for that particular role. This customization ensures your profile aligns with each target.
Skills Section Example
Here is an example of a concise but impactful skills section:
Web Development | Project Management |
---|---|
JavaScript | Agile Methodology |
React | Product Roadmapping |
Node.js | Team Leadership |
MongoDB | Cross-functional Collaboration |
HTML/CSS | Lean Startup Principles |
This shows a strong mix of both technical skills and soft skills prioritized for a product management role in web development. The technical skills showcase coding expertise while the project management skills highlight leadership abilities – illustrating a well-rounded skillset.
Putting It All Together
An effective LinkedIn skills section requires both strategy and optimization. You need to understand how to align your skills with target roles and opportunities. And you need a process for keeping the section filled out comprehensively while avoiding common pitfalls.
Dedicate the time to audit your own skills and experience. Brainstorm conversation-starting skills recruiters may search for. Ask colleagues which skills they would endorse you on. Research job descriptions to inspire skills ideas. Update regularly as you take on new projects and responsibilities.
With a thoughtful skills section that complements the rest of your profile, you will put your best foot forward to stand out and get noticed by potential employers.