New LinkedIn Profile Look: 9 Changes
CRAZY THING ABOUT NEW LINKEDIN PROFILE LOOK
It is all about who’s LOOKING. So when you didn’t have it yet, all looked unchanged, yet when someone else looked at your profile, they might see the new LinkedIn Profile Look. The reason this matters most is your background image (LinkedIn Banner). It used to be obscured by your profile picture in the centre, but now it covers the left. To make matter worse: at time of writing, there is a discrepancy between mobile and desktop. The image is this post is a desktop view, on mobile your headshot still covers the centre of your banner.
9 CHANGES TO BE AWARE OF
You’ve just read all about change #1, your pretty face has been shoved to the left. Below the list of 9 changes, you can read all about numbers 2 through 9.
Headshot moved, implications for banner image.
Your headline moved to the left.
The blue button has new meaning.
More is more or less the same.
Your current position is also easier to spot.
You have the option to NOT show education on the top card.
Contact info is no longer hidden.
Slightly longer preview of your summary.
Up to 5 media visible with summary; without clicking “Show more”.
YOUR HEADLINE MOVED TO THE LEFT.
Why does this matter? Depending on the length of your headline it might look funny. On desktop mine now has one word all by itself on a 3rd line. It used to be two lines and centered instead of left aligned. Not much you can do about it. It will look different on various devices people view on.
THE BLUE BUTTON HAS NEW MEANING.
When on your own profile, this now holds the options to add sections to your profile! I like how that now all lives in one easy to find spot. When visiting someone’s profile it still holds the option to message or connect (depending on your relationship).
MORE IS MORE OR LESS THE SAME.
On your own profile more lets you save your profile as PDF or share your profile. When visiting someone else’s profile more gives these options as well as options to recommend, ask to be recommended, disconnect, block or un-follow.
YOUR CURRENT POSITION IS EASIER TO SPOT.
In the old LinkedIn Profile Look your current job title, company, educational institute, location and number of connections were all more or less one long sentence directly under your headline. In the new LinkedIn Profile Look there is a neat, organised clear list of the most important parts of your profile.
YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO NOT SHOW EDUCATION ON THE TOP.
Generally, I advise listing all your experience and education. They show your professional development and by writing clever descriptions you can use keywords all through your profile. At the same time, I am all for personal choice and options, so YAY for the ability not to show education in the top section of your LinkedIn Profile.
CONTACT INFO NO LONGER HIDDEN.
This one I LOVE. It used to be hard to find. Now it is in clear view. Make sure you utilise this piece of LinkedIn Profile real estate to the max. Read all about the hidden gems of your contact details on LinkedIn right here.
SLIGHTLY LONGER PREVIEW OF YOUR SUMMARY.
This is a great improvement! Your summary is where you present yourself to the reader who made it past your pretty picture and great headline. Beware that people checking you out via the mobile app will still see less than those using the desktop version. If you need some help structuring your summary, you might like to read this post.
UP TO 5 MEDIA VISIBLE WITH SUMMARY.
YAY media with the summary is no longer hidden behind the “Show more” link. Not only is it directly visible with the new look LinkedIn Profile, there are also MORE media items visible without scrolling. I’m sure you’ve heard that thing about a picture vs 1000 words. You can also upload video, presentations, PDFs or links to websites. Mind you, not all displays pretty.
