Get The Most Out of LinkedIn Using These 3 Types of Skills

How to Leverage Your LinkedIn Skills Section

When you are looking for a new job position, your networking sites, specifically your LinkedIn profile, can play a crucial role. LinkedIn is the first place many hiring managers go to learn more about you and potentially hire you. LinkedIn allows you to display more information than you might fit on your resume. The LinkedIn skills section can be a great tool for you to increase your chances of getting hired. Very often the endorsements section and top skills will drive targeted traffic and many more people will end up seeing your profile.

Three Types of Skills To Add to Your LinkedIn Profile

You need to be specific when filling out your LinkedIn profile and post your most valuable and highly sought-after skills. Posting all your skills will only make your profile look cluttered and the valuable points will drown in the sea of information. There are three main types of skills you can add to your LinkedIn profile.

1. Hard Skills

   Hard skills are technical skills that make you a valuable candidate for your desired position. These key skills are the top priority to mention on your LinkedIn profile. The wealth of knowledge, experience, and skills you’ve accumulated in your previous positions are crucial to show you as a valuable candidate for future opportunities, as some skills are industry-specific.

2. Soft Skills

   Do not overlook your soft skills. Soft skills are all skills that come naturally to you or the skills you’ve developed so far in your life and career. Emotional intelligence, communication skills, leadership, time management, creativity, listening skills, and adaptability are highly sought-after skills on the job market, regardless of the position you are applying for. Do not underestimate your experience and consider all the soft skills you’ve mastered over the years. Think about natural talents and traits you have been often complimented for by your co-workers, employers, acquaintances, and friends. These are skills that you want to highlight in your skills section.

3. Unique skills

   Consider traits you’ve been praised for in your previous positions. Did you receive any awards? What are your skills that particularly impressed your employers? Which accomplishments are you especially proud of? You can list all of this in your LinkedIn skill section. Adding this type of information will make your profile stand out.