5 key tips to jump start your LinkedIn profile!

When you think about networking on LinkedIn do you feel a bit of dread?

Would you prefer to not have to put yourself out there?

Does sorting colored pencils sound like more fun?

If so, you’re in good company.

As a physician, most of you have not needed to be on LinkedIn.

But as the Bob Dylan song goes, “The times are a changin’.”

With over 575 million members LinkedIn is the number one networking site for professionals – and it’s becoming quite the thing. You can hardly swing a hula hoop without running into someone talking about LinkedIn.

People are using LinkedIn for activities such as:

Networking
Job hunting
Nonclinical career transition
Recruiting
Business promotion
Establishing a platform/being a thought leader

In this blog we’re diving into 5 key tips to jump-start your LinkedIn profile and have it work FOR you.

Next week I’ll follow up with some advice on how to reach out to people on LinkedIn who can help you.

And actually have them respond!

Here are the 5 tips to jump-start your LinkedIn profile:

One – Personalize your profile with a banner photo

By default, your banner photo on LinkedIn is the grey rectangle at the top of your profile that has your headshot in the far left corner.

You can customize your banner photo. This is the blue rectangle that is at the very top of your profile.

On mine, I have a banner for the podcast with a background photo I purchased from Shutterstock.

You can upload a photo that is simply a nice backdrop, or it can have a specific theme that goes with your professional area of interest.

I like finding free photos on Pixabay.

Two – Customize your headline

The headline is under your name and by default, LinkedIn populates this with your job title and company name. The limit is 220 characters.

Ideally, you want to customize your headline by including keywords that will help those you want to attract, such as recruiters and others in your desired area find you. These words are keyword searchable.

If you have a side gig such as chart review, medical writing, or being an expert witness, you can put these words in your headline and help recruiters find you.

I was talking with one of my physician friends about her profile and as a result, she made a few changes in her headline and within hours several recruiters were contacting her!

It was like Shazam!

Three – About section

Make sure not to skip this part. The About section is a great way to let others get to know you and understand your goals for LinkedIn.

Think about if you were writing an online dating profile.

In a dating profile, you want to succinctly portray who you are in a memorable way and attract a very specific kind of person.

With millions of members on LinkedIn, you aren’t trying to attract everyone.

Think about what you could write about yourself that would appeal to the kind of people you’d like to have in your network.

Consider including the following:

Who you are
What you do –or the area you want to transition into
A call to action

The call to action will vary depending on your goals. If you are wanting to transition to a different sector, you can welcome people in that area to reach out to you and connect.

If you are wanting to grow a side gig or a business, you can invite people to reach out to you and include your website address.

Some people post short videos, podcast interviews or other content here.

I like an About section written in the first person that is not too long (100 – 300 words), with some white space.

Four – Skills Section

This is a great section to include skills that recruiters could be searching on such as “utilization review,” “informatics,” or “medical consulting.

If you’re applying for a job, make sure to include skills listed in the job description (if you have them).

One of the cool things is that you can write in any skill that you want. Just to try this out, I put in “bungee jumping” on my skill list.

Yes – it’s on my skill list. Now I better find some bungees and start jumping.

Another cool thing is that your contacts on LinkedIn will endorse you for the skills they know you have. This helps build your credibility and gain recognition.

Recruiters are searching on these skills and could very easily find you just from this section.

Five – Adding Contacts

People often ask, so who should I connect with?

First of all, you don’t need to worry about going over the limit anytime soon. LinkedIn allows you to have 30,000 first degree connections.
A good start is to aim for 150 contacts and work up to 500+. Here is where LinkedIn becomes a Rolodex on steroids.

When you connect with one person, their 1^st and 2^nd degree contacts (think friends and friends of friends) become your 2^nd and 3rd degree connections. Very quickly you can have hundreds of thousands of people to reach out.

Your goals on LinkedIn will determine who you want to add to your own network.

I connect mostly with physicians in both clinical and nonclinical areas, as well as recruiters. But I’m pretty open if someone seems like they would be a good connection.

Depending on what your interests are, for example, Pharma, public health, or informatics, you would search on and connect with people in these respective areas.

Because you also never know who knows who, connecting with other physicians, in general, is often a good strategy unless you are transitioning to something completely unrelated to healthcare.

Bonus tip – there are a lot of customizable privacy settings you can set as to what information is shown on your profile and who sees what. Click on your me icon, go to Account> Privacy Settings.

That’s all for now! Please feel free to reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn!

For even more tips, download my free resource: Land Your Dream Job With LinkedIn: 5 Steps To Get Started.

And if you’re ready to optimize your LinkedIn profile and make LinkedIn work for you then you’ll want to check out my new video course LinkedIn for Physicians.

This course teaches you how to find jobs in your area of interest as well as how to reach out to folks on LinkedIn who can open doors for you in your career quest. You can learn more about the course HERE.

Heather

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Heather Fork

12 Comments

Yasmine S. Ali, MD on October 31, 2019 at 6:23 pm

Love this, Heather–so helpful! Every time I have taken the time to improve my profile on LinkedIn, it has paid off, both in getting the attention of recruiters and others looking to connect with potential job opportunities, and in gaining more connections/networking among colleagues.

Reply
- Heather Fork on October 31, 2019 at 6:53 pm
  
  Thank you Yasmine! I really appreciate your sharing your own positive experience in customizing your profile. It is always helpful and encouraging to hear from those like yourself who have seen results from making strategic changes. The nice think about LinkedIn, is that it only takes a few minutes to tweak your profile and then you get to see what happens downstream. Wishing you continued success with your career and networking.
  
  Reply
Greg Gatchell on November 2, 2019 at 9:12 pm

Very helpful – I just updated my Linked In page.

Reply
- Heather Fork on November 5, 2019 at 5:06 am
  
  Thank you very much! I’m so glad the information was helpful to you. Kudos to you for putting the tips into practice and updating your profile. I hope it works well for you.
  
  Reply
priya sharma on November 4, 2019 at 11:52 am

Hii .. As far as I believethat LinkedIn network is one of your most valuable business assets. Therefore, you should add people to your LinkedIn network very strategically. But people change and circumstances change, and occasionally you may find it necessary to remove someone from your network.

Reply
- Heather Fork on November 5, 2019 at 5:07 am
  
  Yes, things can change. Hopefully it is not too often you have to remove someone from your profile. I think this is pretty rare.
  
  Reply
Steven Powell on November 10, 2019 at 6:32 pm

Thanks for advice, Heather. Really well done: short, to the point but with a lot of substance. I was able to make some significant changes to my site!

Reply
- Heather Fork on November 10, 2019 at 8:01 pm
  
  Fantastic! I was hoping that these tips would be relatively quick/easy to implement. I appreciate your taking the time to let me know that you were able to use the information for your own profile! Thank you, Steven. I wish you all the best with your networking and career.
  
  Reply
Jenny Goss on July 26, 2020 at 11:09 pm

Thank you so much for this guide to zhuzh up my LinkedIn profile! Look at it, practically sparkling with your recommendations:)

Reply
- Heather Fork on July 27, 2020 at 4:14 am
  
  You are most welcome Jenny Goss! I just took a look and I love your new profile picture and you updated About section. I am sure you are going to find some great writing jobs with all of your talent and experience. Keep us posted!
  
  Reply
Frances Morales on May 24, 2021 at 4:39 pm

Thank you so much for all the information. I already change my banner photo! I was not aware that Linkedin was so powerful.

Reply
- Heather Fork on May 24, 2021 at 5:37 pm
  
  You’re so welcome Frances! I love your banner photo, gorgeous! Rock on with your profile.
  
  Heather
  
  Reply

"Heather’s approach was great! She would listen to me and helped me appreciate who I am."

I remember when she said ‘do your resume before our next meeting’, I was about to push back but she gently nudged me along and I’m glad I did exactly what she wanted me to do. We also did interview prep via Zoom and I was offered a great job in UM. She has continued to follow up even after I was offered this job, helping me with pointers about negotiating. I will totally recommend the Doctors Crossing and Heather to anyone feeling stuck like me and looking for a great coach! Thank you Heather!

- Modupe Oladeinde, MD

Family Medicine

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- Tim Owolabi, MD

Family Medicine

“I was at a crossroads in my medical career. I asked myself, "Do I stay or do I go?"

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- Lynette Charity, MD

Anesthesiologist

“I am forever grateful to Heather for helping me to recognize, I am more than just my M.D."

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OB/Gyn physician

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What started out as an initial thirty-minute consultation call turned into an amazing four-year journey that transformed my life, personally, spiritually and professionally.

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Papillion, NE

“Heather gave me the confidence to create a new livelihood by following my heart."

She is incredibly knowledgeable about the range of careers available to physicians and provided me with advice and connections which I would not have found on my own. From the start she encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try different things. I was laid off unexpectedly in early 2017, and Heather gave me the confidence to create a new livelihood by following my heart and making decisions based on trust, not fear. Now I am enjoying working part-time in a clinical setting in addition to teaching and writing.

- Sue Zimmermann, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon

“After months of struggling to find a non-clinical career that matched my values and passion, I stumbled upon Heather's website which truly changed my life."

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Pathologist

“Working with Heather ultimately helped me leave my job in corporate healthcare and find a path that was much more fulfilling."

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If you are reading this as a “Type A” surgeon who doesn’t think coaching is for you, I would encourage you to give Heather a shot. I’m very glad I did!

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Colorectal Surgeon

“I gained the confidence in myself to develop an action plan that blended the best parts of my experiences and interests into a cohesive career."

Through our work, I learned to trust myself to make good decisions for my own future – something I hadn’t realized I was struggling with because as an emergency physician, I make life-changing decisions with patients every day.

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- Liz McMurtry, DO

Emergency Medicine Physician

“The simple truth is - Heather Fork totally helped me change my life."

I never would have had the courage to make the changes I’ve made without her unwavering support, wealth of knowledge and commitment.

When I first started working with Heather, I was downtrodden...I’d been practicing medicine for 20+ years and yet had never quite found my place. During the first year I worked with Heather, I left the practice I’d been working at, and recreated an entirely new professional purpose.

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- Amie Langbein, DO

Family Physician

"After 30 years in academic medicine, I wanted a career change but had no idea where to start. Medicine was all I knew."

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Endocrinologist and Life Coach

"Heather was my source of hope during a time when I felt stuck and confused. She gave me the permission and confidence to reach higher than I believed I could."

After graduating from residency and starting a family, I lost sight of why I became a physician. I struggled to convince myself to stay in a career that was clearly the wrong fit for me and my family. My anxiety about work was at an all-time high when I reached out to Heather. She provided something that my mentors, friends, and family could not – rather than just offering career advice, she changed the way I think about my life so that I could understand how my career would fit into it. I realized I wasn’t ready to give up on medicine and eventually found a job in academic medicine. I finally feel that excitement for medicine that I used to feel when I was in training. More importantly, I feel like I can be the role model to my young daughter who may one day also face similar challenges between career and family. Thank you, Heather, for all your kindness, support, and skillful coaching! The experience was life-changing!

- Yuri Shindo, MD

Internal Medicine Physician

"As a Physician, your personal and even professional needs are often overlooked. I learned how to prioritize my career goals by working with Dr. Heather Fork."

She taught me how to put into practice what I knew in theory, that taking care of myself was a priority. I learned to give myself permission to make the career choices that would give me the work-life balance I desperately craved and needed. The process of confronting fears and insecurities was a bit scary, but well worth it in the end. I am now a happier version of myself with a non-clinical job that I truly enjoy!

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Family Medicine

"After 10 years in outpatient family medicine I felt stuck and knew I needed a change but I didn’t know where to begin. Thankfully I found Heather and she guided me every step of the way."

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"I'm truly thankful to have had the opportunity to be coached by Heather, she is not only a resourceful mentor but a wise and supportive friend. I'm honored to recommend Heather to all my friends and colleagues."

I had been a practicing Internist for 20 years when I reached a point when I needed to make a serious change in my career path. While I enjoyed seeing patients, I was not satisfied with my life-work balance. My job was taking me away from my family and left me little time and energy to do other things that are important and meaningful to me. I came across Dr. Fork's podcast; The Doctor's Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast, it is such an informative and enjoyable podcast for any physician who wants to do more with their career and life in general. Then I had the pleasure to get career coaching from Heather, it was truly an amazing experience. Heather has broad knowledge of all the different career paths that are available for physicians, she is so insightful and very easy to talk to. She helped me clarify my goals, examine my own mindset and definition of success. Together we developed a clear plan and actionable steps to reach these goals. I eventually made a career transition to a remote non-clinical position that allows me to do meaningful work which aligns with my personal and professional goals and priorities.

- Abbey Awad, MD

Internal Medicine

"There have been a handful of people who have come into my life and changed it, and Heather is one of those people."

From the very first interaction with Heather, it became abundantly clear that she possessed a systematic approach and a methodology firmly rooted in my focusing on my goals and aspirations. Heather's coaching sessions helped me dismantle limiting beliefs and unearth the capable woman, mother, and physician within me. Under Heather's guidance, I began to dream again. I rediscovered my passion for writing, found the courage to share my stories, and even launched my own coaching practice. Today, I specialize in helping others conquer imposter syndrome and overcome burnout, empowering them to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives. Working with Heather fundamentally shifted my perspective and allowed me to show up authentically in every facet of my life, resulting in a profound sense of fulfillment.

I am deeply grateful that I can continue my work in the emergency department and serve my community as a physician as well as a coach. Working with Heather was a transformative gift that enabled me to rediscover my true self, find clarity in my life's purpose, and unlock my full potential. Through her guidance, I not only reignited the powerful, confident, and bold version of myself I had lost sight of but also realized the boundless possibilities that lay ahead.

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Emergency physician and coach

"I'm so glad that I worked with Heather last year."

Making a career shift can be a lonely time, and Heather was there every step of the way with encouraging words. She helped me gain a better understanding of the breadth of careers available to physicians, as well as giving me the tools to make that leap possible. My life is better than I ever thought possible. I'm happier, healthier and doing work that I love. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner.

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"Heather provided invaluable insight during our one-time consultation."

She quickly helped me recognize an area where I was limiting myself and encouraged me to explore new possibilities. Her sound and supportive guidance empowered me to take the next steps in launching my parent coaching services. I’m grateful for her support and highly recommend her expertise!

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"Heather taught me that 'the truth will set you free'."

I sought Heather’s guidance after practicing outpatient internal medicine for many years, as it was getting difficult to balance my role as a clinician while meeting my needs and those of my family. After our first consultation, I felt like I was seen and heard for the first time in my career. Working with Heather helped me identify my strengths, weaknesses, fears, and goals, and ultimately guided me to a non-clinical role that better aligned with my needs and aspirations. I am deeply indebted to Heather for the impact she has had on my personal and professional development. She is one of the most influential people in my life and I continue to seek her guidance years after our initial encounter. She once said that “we are happiest and most successful when we are using our skills and abilities at their highest level.” Heather will help you discover your truth. Thank you for your incredible work and friendship!

Megan Leivant, MD

Internal Medicine