Convert Your LinkedIn Profile Into An Online Portfolio

Your LinkedIn profile is more than just a boring online resume.

What if you converted it into an online portfolio?

Read on to learn how to embed media and samples of your work in your LinkedIn profile, plus ideas of what to share (especially if you don't think you have anything worthy)!

Company websites and commercials contain customer testimonials, product demonstrations, and visual proof of their products. You can too!

It just takes a little creativity- but you can do it! Your challenge is to think like a marketing department and figure out ways to use video, presentations and images to highlight your skills, experience and talent!

What Media Can You Add?

LinkedIn says it officially supports images, video, audio, presentations and documents by certain providers listed here but others work too.

• Word doc, Excel files, PowerPoint presentations, pictures, screen shots, video, pdf's and more!

Where To Put Media/Files In Your Profile 

You can add files and links to your Featured section, under each position listed in your experience section, and in your education section. Just go to edit your profile and look for the prompt to upload a file or link to media.

What to Showcase

You have samples of work. But also think about the problems you’ve solved at work, not your daily job duties. What differentiates you from the hundreds and thousands of other people who have the same job title as you?

• Is there a picture of you receiving an award?
• Have you given a presentation or spoken at a conference?
• Have you written articles for the company newsletter or outside organizations?

Here are some other ideas of visual proof you can add.

Ideas To Showcase Your Work

• Recreate or adapt a presentation you have given or created and post into Slideshare.
• Create a mockup or sample report, summary, or flowchart to prove you have the skills.
• Show your research outline or map the process used to conduct a research project.
• Create a mind map to show your logic.
• Compile a list of your favorite research sources.
• Show a project timeline, Gantt chart or diagram showing the flow of people, resources and activities.
• Volunteer with a non-profit, family, friend, or neighbor to deliver a project which you can use to document.

Psst: if you haven't considered writing or speaking, these are great ways to boost credibility and awareness of you!

Think of your LinkedIn profile as a brag book and please, begin collecting screen shots and links today.

I’ve Got Nothing

If you don’t have anything, create it! You can create a PowerPoint highlighting your accomplishments and publish it to SlideShare. Here are some examples: 3 Inspiring Visual Resumes on SlideShare.

Search around SlideShare and get ideas from other people who have created online resumes or personal profiles. If you are interested in creating something a bit jazzier than PowerPoint, you may want to test Prezi.com.

Grab These Ideas

Letters of recommendation: You have probably received letters of recommendation or testimonials from past customers. Why not create a presentation featuring these quotes? Just be sure to ask permission to use the quotes or testimonials from the people who have written them. And by the way, this is a great opportunity to re-establish your connection with these people.

Work samples: You may have created reports, work instructions, work flow diagrams and other content as an output of projects you worked on. While you may not be able to use the actual documents, you could create a mock up to share. You can upload and publish documents under the job in your work experience section.

Video: Everyone may not be comfortable in front of a camera, but the video doesn’t have to be your face. It could be a “how to” video. For example: You could create a video on how to create pivot tables, or how to create project plans, or how to organize your email. Use screen casting tools to record your demonstration and upload it to YouTube. Just remember to keep it short. Most ads run under three minutes. Other video ideas might include showcasing photos or images.

The resume is not the only way to demonstrate what you’ve done. Today, there are many more options to publish content and create a robust, interactive representation of who you are. LinkedIn has become the go-to source for employers seeking new talent. Make sure they find more than just a boring profile.

And what have I missed? Any other great ideas you’ve seen?

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I write about current trends in job search including building an online reputation, creating online visibility and using social media to expand awareness of your personal brand.

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