Craft a summary that reflects who you are - LinkedIn Tutorial

- Did you know that your Profile Summary is the first thing recruiters zero in on when they check out your profile? That's why it's key to use your summary to introduce yourself and highlight your unique skills, motivations, and experience. Before you start writing, here are a few quick tips to help you nail it. First, make sure your summary is over 40 words long. This will make it easier for others to find you on LinkedIn. In your summary, spotlight your unique skills, you know, the ones you excel at and feel totally natural doing. This is your chance to stand out from the crowd. Always use the first-person narrative. Your story is far more authentic when it's coming directly from you. And finally, make it pop. Add some fun media, such as photos, videos, links, or presentations, to bring your work and story to life. Let's start building your summary and walk through an example that shows how this section can truly come to life. Meet Sue. Sue is a small business owner who owns and operates The Fresh Press & Stitch, a dry cleaning and tailoring shop in London. In your LinkedIn profile, the About section is where you'll add your summary. Currently in her About section, her summary is a bit too brief and doesn't really give you a true glimpse of who she is and what she's about. It also doesn't highlight her top skills. "I own and operate my own small business, The Fresh Press & Stitch." Sue's not alone. Lots of people either overlook this section or aren't sure what to say and where to start. Sue's pumped to add the brand new summary she just created to her LinkedIn profile. So how would she do this? First, she'll click the pencil in the top right of her About section to start editing. Sue's ready to take that amazing new summary she just created in Word doc on her computer and paste it directly into her profile. Sue can also include her top skills right in her About section below. Since recruiters search for these, it'll help her stand out and get noticed. She'll add Business Operations, Customer Service, and Sustainability because she's implementing innovative business practices to promote a more sustainable future. Then she'll click Save. Now we can see her summary here in her About section in addition to her top skills. Let's see how this reads. "Amelia Earhart once said, 'A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.' As the owner of The Fresh Press & Stitch, a small dry cleaning and tailoring business, this powerful quote guides everything I do. My mission is simple. Deliver exceptional service while contributing to a more sustainable future. Whether it's cleaning a favorite outfit, altering a wedding gown, or reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices, I'm passionate about delighting customers by delivering high-quality work with a focus on kindness. When I'm not running my family-owned business, you'll likely find me exploring the world with my husband and two amazing kids." You'll also see her top skills, Business Operations, Customer Service, and Sustainability, highlighted below. Wow, quite the introduction, right? See how you instantly get a sense of who Sue is by how she opens up her summary, emphasizing her commitment to kindness and her mission? You definitely understand what she does in her role as the owner of The Fresh Press & Stitch, along with her unique customer service approach. You also get a peek into her personal side and passions with her ending statement. Can you see how adding what she does has a huge impact? By leading with kindness, she's crafting an experience that stands out. This is a level of care and attention that most dry cleaning and tailoring businesses simply don't offer. She's also exceeding expectations by delivering top-quality service in record time and filling a crucial gap for her customers. And finally, her contribution or impact. From the very beginning, she shared her goal with a powerful quote. This shows her dedication to making a difference by spreading kindness. See? You can make this kind of impact too. Getting started is easier than you think. Try chatting with friends, colleagues, and mentors to get some help creating your summary. Often it's others who know you well who can help you identify key skills, experience, accomplishments, and impact. And don't forget your AI sidekicks, such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, are always here to help fine-tune your work experience. You don't have to do this alone. Your community is there to support and inspire you every step of the way. Take the first step. You've got this.