Your Headline
Apart from the headshot, your headline is the first representation of you that people will see when they view your profile. This is you, in one line. With only this, how can a recruiter or viewer of your profile know who you are?
When writing your headline, think about your professional identity conceptually – what you are vs. what you do. Avoid solely “Transitioning Veteran” or “Student Veteran,” and don’t overcomplicate it! The headline section does not affect LinkedIn’s algorithm whatsoever.
Additionally, it’s best to steer clear of adding a laundry list of titles/certifications/accolades in this area. You will have plenty of space throughout the remainder of your profile to add that information.
The About Section
When building your profile, optimize for the lazy recruiter: headline, photos, and “about” should be enough to understand you and your goals. Take care in choosing your verbiage, leaving as much military jargon off the page as possible. Remember that only around 7% of the US population has a military background and can easily understand what you are trying to convey if you have too many acronyms.
In the example above, notice how the reader is taken on a journey: where the author has been, where they are now, and where they are going. Read the example and ask yourself, “Do I understand what this person has done and what they do now?” The author shares that they:
- Were in the military.
- Had federal employment.
- Worked at a non-profit.
- Worked as a social worker.
- Are now in the career field of veteran and military spouse employment.
In just a few short sentences, a recruiter can understand that they are hiring someone who has a wealth of experience, written in a way that a civilian with no military background can understand. The author talks about their passion for helping others, which lets people know they are capable of entering a variety of career paths (e.g. social work, customer success, support roles, etc.)
Below are a few additional examples that can help you understand what right looks like.
