Quick Answer
You can specify your industry on LinkedIn by editing your profile. Here are the steps:
1. Go to your profile page and click “Edit profile”
2. Scroll down to the “Experience” section and click on your current position.
3. On the right side you will see the “Details” section. Click “Edit” next to Industry.
4. Start typing the industry you want to specify. LinkedIn will give you suggestions to choose from.
5. Select the industry from the drop down menu that best fits your role and company.
6. Click “Save”.
Your industry should now be updated on your profile. Specifying your industry properly is important for connecting with the right people and opportunities on LinkedIn.
Why Specifying Your Industry Matters
Specifying your industry accurately on your LinkedIn profile is important for a few key reasons:
Discoverability
LinkedIn uses your industry to determine:
– Who to recommend you connect with
– Which jobs to recommend in your feed
– What content to put in your feed
By specifying your industry, you help ensure that the recommendations and content you see on LinkedIn are relevant to your professional interests and goals.
Searchability
Recruiters and hiring managers often search for candidates on LinkedIn by industry and skill set. Listing the correct industry along with your position and skills makes it easier for potential opportunities to find you.
Credibility
The industry you specify also affects how others perceive your credibility and experience when viewing your profile. Seeing the right industry next to your title indicates to your connections that you have the right background for your role.
How to Choose Your LinkedIn Industry
With the importance of specifying your industry in mind, here are some tips on choosing which industry to list:
Align with Your Company
The industry you specify should align with your company’s industry, rather than your own functional area. For example, if you are an accountant at a healthcare company, choose “Hospital & Health Care”, not “Accounting”.
Review Company Page
Visit your company’s LinkedIn page. LinkedIn often lists the industry it has assigned to your company based on its business offerings and focus areas. Choose the same industry for your profile.
Pick Broad Categories
LinkedIn’s industry options are typically broad. For example, pick “Consumer Goods” rather than listing specific products your company sells. The broader industry makes you discoverable to more opportunities.
Avoid Niche Industries
Unless your field is very niche, avoid selecting small or niche industries. You want to be found by recruiters, so stick with broader categories.
Do Keyword Research
Think about keywords recruiters may use to find someone like you. Use LinkedIn’s search bar to test keywords related to your experience. Let the keyword results guide which industry you choose.
Ask For Input
Ask your colleagues or manager which industry they listed to get consensus. Uniformity in how employees specify their industry looks cohesive from the outside.
Examples of LinkedIn Industries
Here are some common positions and what industry employees at those companies may list on their LinkedIn profiles:
Position | Industry |
---|---|
Accountant at Coca-Cola | Food & Beverages |
Software Engineer at Microsoft | Computer Software |
Sales Representative at Pfizer | Pharmaceuticals |
Marketing Manager at Nike | Sporting Goods |
As you can see, the industry aligns with the overall company, even if the position is in a different functional area.
Tips for Changing Your LinkedIn Industry
If you need to change the industry on your LinkedIn profile, here are some tips:
Update All Positions
Be sure to update the industry for your current position as well as past positions. You want consistency across your profile.
Customize by Position
It’s okay to specify slightly different industries for different companies you worked at if the companies operated in distinctly different industries.
Check Settings
After changing your industry, check your LinkedIn settings. Verify that your profile is still set to notify recruiters that you are open to new opportunities, if desired.
Notify Connections
Let your LinkedIn connections know that you updated your industry in case anyone wants to pass along relevant opportunities.
Customizing Your LinkedIn URL
Another way to display your industry on LinkedIn is to customize your profile URL:
Navigate to Profile
From the LinkedIn homepage, click on “Profile” and select “View profile” to pull up your public profile.
Click “Edit public profile & URL”
Towards the top right of your profile, click this text to open up customization options.
Edit URL
You can now edit your custom URL. Include your name, industry, and location to make it descriptive.
Save Changes
Once you customized the URL, click “Save changes” at the bottom of the page.
Your new custom URL with your industry will now appear on your profile. This is another great way to showcase your background.
Conclusion
Specifying your industry accurately on your LinkedIn profile is a simple but important step. By selecting the appropriate broader industry for your positions, you improve discoverability, searchability, and credibility. Be sure to keep your industry updated as your roles change to match your latest experience. With the right industry highlighted, you will be on the radar of more targeted opportunities.