Adding credentials such as degrees, certifications, or job titles to your LinkedIn name is a great way to showcase your expertise and qualifications on your profile. LinkedIn makes it easy to include credentials in your name with just a few steps.
Why Add Credentials to Your LinkedIn Name?
Here are some of the key benefits of adding credentials to your LinkedIn name:
- Shows your education and qualifications upfront
- Helps establish authority and expertise in your field
- Allows you to stand out from other LinkedIn users in search results
- Adds credibility when connecting with new professional contacts
- Looks more impressive and professional on your profile
In summary, including degrees, certifications, or job titles in your LinkedIn name makes your profile look more authoritative at a glance. It’s an easy way to showcase your credentials directly in your name.
What Types of Credentials Can You Add?
LinkedIn allows you to add several types of professional credentials to your name, including:
- Degrees: Such as PhD, MBA, BSc
- Certifications: Such as PMP, CFA, CPA
- Job titles: Such as Manager, Director, Engineer
- Awards: Such as Top Sales Performer 2019
- Honors: Such as 30 Under 30 Honoree
The credentials you add should be relevant to your industry and professional background. For example, someone in marketing may add an MBA, while an engineer adds PE after their name. Choose credentials that best represent your skills and qualifications.
How to Add Credentials to Your LinkedIn Name
Follow these simple steps to add degrees, certifications or job titles to your LinkedIn profile name:
- Go to your LinkedIn profile and click “View profile” to edit it
- Click the pencil icon next to your name and headline to edit
- Place your credentials in brackets after your name like this: [PhD], [PMP], [Director of Sales]
- Make sure there is a space between your name and the bracketed credentials
- Click “Save” to update your name with the credentials added
And that’s it! Your credentials will now appear next to your name on your profile. You can add multiple credentials by separating them with a comma, like this:
John Smith [MBA, PMP, Senior Project Manager]
Tips for Adding Credentials
Here are some additional tips when adding credentials to your LinkedIn profile name:
- Put your highest degree or most impressive credential first
- Only include credentials that are current and active
- Keep it to 3 or fewer credentials for the best effect
- Use abbreviations like BSc or PhD when possible
- Make sure your name and credentials fit within the 120 character name field
Where Else Can You Showcase Credentials?
In addition to adding degrees and certifications to your name, you can also showcase credentials in other LinkedIn profile sections like:
- Headline: Such as Certified Public Accountant
- Education: List your degrees, majors, and graduation dates
- Certifications: Add all your professional certifications
- Courses: Display courses and trainings relevant to your career
- Skills & Endorsements: Ask colleagues to endorse you for key skills
But the profile name is one of the first places hiring managers and contacts will look. So highlighting your most impressive credentials directly in your name is an effective way to showcase your qualifications.
Tips for Choosing Which Credentials to Add
Not sure which of your degrees, certifications or job titles to add to your profile name? Here are some tips:
- Choose the credential most relevant to your target industry or role
- Pick your highest level of education or most senior job title
- Select your most recent credential unless you have an impressive past one
- Ask colleagues or mentors which credential they would use
- Choose a credential required or preferred for the jobs you want
- Think about which credentials your dream employers look for
- Go with the credentials that best demonstrate your expertise
Prioritize credentials that align with your professional goals and are preferred by potential employers. The ones you add to your name should quickly signal your qualifications.
Mistakes to Avoid When Adding Credentials
There are a few mistakes to steer clear of when you include credentials in your LinkedIn profile name:
- Don’t add credentials you haven’t actually earned
- Avoid outdated credentials from the distant past
- Don’t overdo it – 1-3 credentials is ideal
- Don’t just add random job titles not related to your target role
- Be wary of adding uncommon credentials people may not recognize
- Don’t abbreviate credentials in an unclear way
- Don’t include credentials with expiration dates coming up
In summary, be thoughtful and strategic when choosing which credentials to add. Make sure they accurately and honestly reflect your current qualifications.
Can You Change Credentials on LinkedIn?
Yes, you can easily change or remove the credentials in your LinkedIn name at any time. Just click “View profile” and edit your name like when you originally added them.
Reasons you may want to modify them include:
- You earned a new degree or certification
- Your job title changed
- You want to prioritize different credentials
- An old credential expired or is no longer relevant
- Your name and credentials exceed 120 characters
Be sure to keep your highest, most recent credentials in your profile name. Rotate them out for any new qualifications you gain over time.
Are Credentials Verified by LinkedIn?
No, LinkedIn does not automatically verify degrees, certifications or job titles added to member profiles. It is up to each user to accurately represent their own credentials.
However, you can proactively get credentials verified by LinkedIn by going to your profile and selecting “Get this certification verified”. Complete the verification steps for the credential and once approved, it will show as verified with a checkmark on your profile.
Verifying particularly important credentials can add an extra level of credibility to your qualifications. But even unverified credentials in your name are better than not including them at all.
Conclusion
Adding relevant credentials to your LinkedIn profile name is an impactful way to showcase your qualifications and stand out from the crowd. Degrees, certifications, job titles and honors communicate your expertise to connections and potential employers at a glance.
Carefully choose 1-3 of your highest, most recent credentials to add after your name. Keep them updated as you gain new qualifications. Positioning credentials prominently in your profile name allows you to fully leverage LinkedIn for networking, job seeking and professional branding.