As we evolve and grow our career, we tend to acquire certifications and new skills. Obviously, adding these to our LinkedIn profile is very important. That’s especially true if we’re looking for a new job. Recruiters will check the LinkedIn profile, and they can see our certifications, awards, skills and experience. It can very much help us get a new job, not to mention it can make the entire process a lot easier and more convenient.
Why adding certifications is essential for your profile?
Certifications and licenses offer a very good way for you to show off your expertise and professional achievements. They offer a stellar method for you to surpass any competitors as you try to acquire your dream job. It always helps to add all the certifications you acquire, so updating this section often is going to be very effective.
Building credibility with recruiters
A great reason why you want to add certifications is because they help you add credibility in front of recruiters. You get to highlight unique skills, and show the certification to back up those claims. Additionally, certifications show a professional commitment and your focus on career advancement, which is extremely important these days. Not every is fully committed to an industry, and that’s why you have to address such a thing with the utmost care.
Highlighting relevant skills for specific roles
Certifications also do a very good job when it comes to showing relevant skills for very specific roles. Some recruiters will try to find very specific certifications as well, and having those can indeed make you stand out. Remember, taking industry-relevant classes and getting certified can be helpful, so it’s definitely something you don’t want to neglect.
A step-by-step guide to adding certifications on LinkedIn
Adding a certification on LinkedIn is actually not very hard to do. In fact, for most people, it’s a seamless and rather easy to do process. However, it can be intriguing at first, so here are the things you need to take into consideration:
- Go to the “Me” button in the top right and then click on View Profile.
- After that, you can press the button “Add a profile section”.
- Here you can choose to Add Licenses & Certifications.
- In the next field, you need to add the certificate’s name, issuing organization, issuance date, credential ID and URL.
- Press Save once you added all the info, and then the certification will be displayed on your profile.
Navigating the certifications section in your profile
Once the certification is shown on your profile, you can still edit it, just in case you made any mistake. You can also add multiple certifications, and these will be shown chronologically. Another aspect here is that you can set an expiration date for each certification, if that’s the case.
How to list online course credentials effectively?
These courses can be listed as certifications, but you do want to specify they are from an online course website. Transparency is key when it comes to showcasing any credentials or certifications. As always, you want to share details about the course and credentials.
Best practices for showcasing your certifications
Certifications can make it easier to highlight professional expertise and knowledge that you have. Done right, this is a great way for you to stand out and impress recruiters. Obviously, it has its fair share of challenges, because there are so many different things to note here. But overall, these certifications are very effective and will make your profile stand out in the eyes of a recruiter.
Choosing which certifications to highlight
Even if you have multiple certifications, you can choose the option to highlight just one of them. Ideally, if you want to apply for a certain job, you may want to highlight the certification that feels the most valuable for that specific niche or use case. Remember, the focus is always on selecting the right certification and ensuring you get the best possible experience and value.
Keeping your certifications up to date
If you acquire a new certification, don’t hesitate to add it to your LinkedIn profile. It always helps to add these, because it gives you the opportunity to show your career growth. And with more certifications, you have access to even more opportunities and potential benefits. That’s why we highly recommend taking your time and integrating as many certifications as possible.
Conclusion
We are firm believers that adding certifications to your LinkedIn profile is one of the best ways to make it stand out and surpass any competitors. What matters is to show that you are very qualified within your niche, while also highlighting your career growth and the value you can provide. Some certifications are highly sought-after, and that’s why it’s crucial to highlight them on your LinkedIn after you got them. It will help increase your chances of getting that dream job, while also boosting your personal branding as well!
