A poorly constructed LinkedIn profile will hurt your job prospects (employees, interview)

[AngusHsu]

If your profile displays any of these qualities, perhaps it is time to revisit the profile since it will hurt you more than it helps you:
- Lack of detail about work experience, education, community involvement
- No picture
- Not updated to reflect unemployment or new job
- Custom URL not created

[jeffpv]

I don't want to change your topic greatly, but I'd like to piggyback it since you've started down the LinkedIn road:

How many hiring managers/employers out there use LinkedIn as a resource to research an applicant or find potential employees?

[Kees]

I once wasted a month of my time playing email and phone tag with a recruiter who contacted me via my LinkedIn profile...

... then I responded to a Craigslist ad and got a great job.

[Carolina Knight]

Why would you want to post a picture of yourself on LinkedIn? I do not post one of myself because my experience, skills and qualifications are more important than what I look like.

[Mr_Geek]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Why would you want to post a picture of yourself on LinkedIn? I do not post one of myself because my experience, skills and qualifications are more important than what I look like.

It's nice to put a face to a name. Regardless of whether or not it should help, it does help.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Why would you want to post a picture of yourself on LinkedIn? I do not post one of myself because my experience, skills and qualifications are more important than what I look like.

Because there is a much higher response rate.

[jman07]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Why would you want to post a picture of yourself on LinkedIn? I do not post one of myself because my experience, skills and qualifications are more important than what I look like.

Because they will find out what you look like eventually anyways, and if you have a good picture it can only help.

[Kees]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Because there is a much higher response rate.

Kinda like dating sites... "Those ads that have pictures are 5 times more likely to get a response."

When the ad doesn't have a picture you can take that as a clue that you are most likely flirting with a fat chick...

[MJ7]

There are plenty of successful people on linkedin that don't have pictures etc. Some managers I interview with do indeed view my profile, so I keep it current and professional. It's not a deal breaker, but it is recommended.

[move4ward]

The items listed would not hurt somebody's job prospects. When my previous boss asked me to conduct technical interviews, our first thought is not to critique their Linkedin profile. The Linkedin profile was never a deal breaker, because their profile was blank or missing a picture.