Executive Assistants: How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Shine
Note: This article was updated on October 2, 2024 to reflect the latest LinkedIn best practices for Executive Assistants.
Hey Executive Assistants (EAs); if you haven’t already noticed, your profession is in high demand!
The best Executive Assistants are snapped up very quickly by some of the top employers and many companies have struggled to find talent when they need it. That’s great news for you! But still, it pays to be the sort of candidate who gets a head start over the rest.
One thing you can do is work on your online profiles, such as LinkedIn. An online search is often the first thing recruiters will do when scoping for new talent and having a profile that stands out can put you a step ahead.
Here are some of our tips for creating an Executive Assistant LinkedIn profile that shines:
1. Start With The Right Profile Picture
2. Make Sure Your Profile is Public
3. Add a Background Photo
4. Craft a Compelling Headline
5. Tell Your Story With Your Summary Section
6. Detailing Your Experience
7. Highlight The Right Skills
8. Request Recommendations
9. Adding Certifications and Education
10. Create a Custom URL
11. Lay Off The Buzzwords
12. Join Groups and Follow Influential Pages
13. Make Regular Updates & Be Active
Final Thoughts
1. Start With The Right Profile Picture
LinkedIn is a lot more professional than other social media platforms and is designed to connect people in a business sense. This means that your holiday snaps or duck-face selfies just don’t cut it as a profile picture.
You can think of it a bit like a business card. If you use headshots on your card, you’d make sure they were professional-looking and conveyed a sense of trustworthiness. It’s surprising how many profiles still use a pet or a completely unprofessional picture as the first thing anyone searching will see.
You don’t necessarily have to go to the expense of having a professional photographer take your pictures (although these can definitely be worth it!). Make sure you are dressed well and have a tidy appearance. Have someone take a picture of you in good light so that your face is clearly visible. Crop to the size guidelines for LinkedIn profile pictures.
For a cost-effective alternative, consider using AI tools like PortraitPal and BetterPic that specialize in creating professional headshots. These tools can enhance your existing photos to produce business-appropriate profile images, ensuring you appear as polished online as you would in person. This article on Medium shares the 9 Best AI Headshot Generators of 2024 (with results) and is a great place to start to decide which tool might work best for you.
2. Make Sure Your Profile is Public
This is just a quick check - many people don’t have their profiles set to “public” and have no idea they’re not showing up in recruiter searches! Your profile visibility can be managed in your LinkedIn account settings.
3. Add a Background Photo
Many people seem to leave this out, but adding a background photo helps to communicate more about who you are and what is important to you. It can be an attention-grabber as part of your profile, so it really should say something about you! The goal here is to have a memorable profile - recruiters are probably looking at many profiles.
The ideal size for a LinkedIn background photo is 1584 w x 396 h pixels. This size ensures your image looks sharp and covers the entire space without being stretched or pixelated.
If you’re not sure where to start, Canva offers an easy and user-friendly platform to design custom LinkedIn background images. Canva provides templates specifically sized for LinkedIn, which you can personalize with your own colors, images, and text. Here’s how you can do it:
Go to Canva and search for "LinkedIn Banner."
Choose a template that aligns with your professional identity.
Customize the template by adding your own images, or select from Canva’s vast library of free photos and graphics.
Incorporate text to add a quote or a brief, impactful statement about your professional ethos.
Once you're satisfied, download the design in a high-resolution format
Once your design is ready, upload it to your LinkedIn profile. Here is a link to step-by-step instructions on how to add or change the background photo on your profile.
A dynamic background photo not only enhances the visual appeal of your profile but also serves as a narrative element that tells more about your professional journey and aspirations. Make sure it is subtle enough not to distract from the key information but bold enough to make a statement.
4. Craft a Compelling Headline
Sure, your headline could simply say “Executive Assistant,” or it could say “Executive Assistant - Supporting CEOs, Directors and VPs in Nonprofits and Fortune 500 Companies for 20+ years.”
The headline is one of the first things a recruiter will notice and it’s a great place to start to tell your story. Of the two examples above, which do you think will get more attention? We can confirm that it’s definitely the second one!
Consider incorporating key skills, unique qualifications, or your broad impact. For instance:
Bilingual Executive Assistant (English/French) | Specializing in International Relations
Executive Assistant | Six Sigma Certified | Streamlining Operations for Enhanced Productivity
Headline Formulas to Try:
[Job Title]: Helping [Target Audience] do [Desired Outcome]
Senior Executive Assistant: Helping Tech Startups Scale Efficiently
[Title] – [Unique Selling Proposition]
Executive Assistant – Enhancing Executive Bandwidth by Overseeing Strategic Operations
Executive Assistant | Driving Cross-Functional Team Success
[Title] + [Benefits of Working with You] | [Keywords Related to Your Niche] | [Personal Touch]
Executive Assistant | Expert in C-Level Support | Trusted by Industry Leaders | Passionate about Organizational Excellence
Crafting your headline is just the first step; adding it to your LinkedIn profile is crucial for visibility. Here’s how you can update your headline with ease:
Visit your LinkedIn profile and click on the 'pencil' (edit) icon near your profile picture.
In the pop-up window, you will see a field for your headline. Enter your new headline here.
Save your changes to update your profile.
For detailed instructions, visit this helpful link: Edit Your Headline on LinkedIn.
By following these guidelines, your LinkedIn headline will not only reflect your professional identity but also enhance your visibility and appeal to recruiters. Choose words that resonate with your industry and highlight your unique strengths, making it clear why you are an invaluable addition to any team.
5. Tell Your Story With Your Summary Section
Your LinkedIn summary is more than just a space to list your skills—it's a canvas to tell your professional story. Unlike the resume-like feel of other sections, your summary offers the opportunity to connect on a more personal level while still showcasing your professional capabilities. After your profile picture and headline, the summary is what recruiters notice next, making it crucial for making a strong impression.
To write a summary that stands out, focus on:
Personalized Introduction: Start with a strong, engaging introduction that gives insight into who you are as a professional. Share what drives you in your career and why you love what you do.
Narrative Style: Instead of just listing achievements, weave them into a narrative that highlights how you make a difference in your roles. For example, "As an Executive Assistant, I’ve dedicated over a decade to streamlining operations that enable CEOs and their teams to focus on what they do best—innovate and lead."
Showcase Your Impact: Discuss specific instances where your intervention created measurable changes. Mention any innovations or systems you implemented and the benefits they brought.
Your summary should also be discoverable (optimized for SEO):
Use Keywords Strategically: Include industry-specific keywords and phrases that potential employers might use to find someone with your skills. Tools like LinkedIn’s job postings can help you identify which keywords are most relevant to your field.
Balancing Personal and Professional Tones:
Professional Yet Personable: While it’s important to keep a professional tone, don’t shy away from letting your personality shine through. This can be through the tone of your writing or by sharing what you are passionate about in your field.
Be Authentic: Authenticity can help forge a connection with your audience. Share your professional ethos or a brief story that represents your work philosophy.
Remember, your LinkedIn summary is your chance to humanize your profile and engage with potential employers or collaborators. It’s an essential part of your personal brand that helps you stand out in a sea of professionals.
6. Detailing Your Experience
Your experience section is where you can showcase your professional background and stand out to recruiters and networking connections. It’s crucial not only to list where you’ve worked but also to highlight how you’ve excelled in those roles. Here’s how you can make the most of this section:
Tips on Listing Job Experiences Effectively:
Reverse Chronological Order: Start with your most recent position and work backward. This not only aligns with traditional resume formats but also shows your career progression.
Clear, Concise Descriptions: For each position, include a brief description of your role. Focus on clarity and conciseness to ensure that your responsibilities and scope of work are easily understood.
Highlighting Accomplishments Over Duties:
Focus on Achievements: Instead of merely listing duties, emphasize what you accomplished in those roles. For example, rather than saying “Handled expense reports,” say “Streamlined the expense reporting process, reducing turnaround time by 30%.”
Use Specific Examples: Whenever possible, use specific examples that demonstrate your impact. Share instances where your direct actions led to improvements, cost savings, or increased efficiency.
Using Action Verbs and Quantifying Achievements:
Action Verbs: Start bullet points or descriptions with strong action verbs such as orchestrated, enhanced, transformed, or spearheaded. These words immediately convey your involvement and the impact of your actions.
Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, add numbers to your achievements. Quantitative results can significantly enhance your credibility by showing the tangible impact of your contributions. For instance, “Increased department efficiency by 20% through improved digital filing systems.”
Example Experience Entry:
Executive Assistant to the CEO | XYZ Corporation | June 2015 – Present
Orchestrated a complete overhaul of internal communication strategies, increasing team productivity by 40%.
Managed complex calendars and schedules for 5 senior executives, ensuring seamless operational flow.
Spearheaded the transition to digital documentation, reducing paper waste and saving the company over $5,000 annually.
Enhance Your Entries with Keywords:
Incorporate Keywords: Use keywords that are relevant to the roles you are targeting. This not only helps your profile show up in searches but also aligns your experience with the expectations of potential employers.
Remember, your LinkedIn experience section is more than a static part of your resume; it's an active, evolving showcase of your professional journey. By effectively detailing your experiences, you can attract the right attention and open doors to new opportunities.
7. Highlight The Right Skills
In the competitive field of executive assistance, simply listing every skill you've acquired over the years on your LinkedIn profile won't set you apart. Recruiters often search for candidates based on specific skills and experiences that align with their needs. It’s crucial to curate your skills section strategically to catch the eye of potential employers.
Curate Your Skills List:
Focus on Relevance: Only include skills that are pertinent to the roles you are targeting as an Executive Assistant. Overloading your profile with irrelevant skills can dilute the impact of your key attributes.
Prioritize Your Skills: Arrange your skills starting with the most important and relevant at the top. This ensures that these skills catch a recruiter’s eye first.
Fill in Gaps: Regularly review your listed skills and compare them with job descriptions that interest you. If you notice any skills frequently mentioned that you possess but haven’t listed, add them to your profile.
Getting and Managing Endorsements:
Seek Endorsements Actively: Don’t hesitate to ask colleagues, former bosses, and clients to endorse your skills. Endorsements enhance the credibility of your abilities and make your profile more appealing.
Guide Your Endorsers: Sometimes, well-meaning connections endorse you for skills that aren’t central to your goals. It can be effective to guide them by requesting endorsements for specific skills that align with your career objectives.
Reciprocate the Favor: Endorsing the skills of your connections not only helps strengthen your relationships but also encourages them to return the favor. This mutual endorsement is beneficial for enhancing the robustness of your LinkedIn profile.
Why Endorsements Matter:
Enhance Visibility: Skills that have higher endorsement counts are more likely to show up in search results, increasing your profile’s visibility.
Build Credibility: Endorsements serve as a form of social proof, validating your expertise and making your profile more trustworthy to potential employers.
Reflect Professional Growth: A well-rounded set of endorsed skills reflects continuous professional development, showing potential employers that you are committed to staying relevant in your field.
By strategically managing the skills section of your LinkedIn profile, you ensure that it not only reflects your capabilities but also aligns with the needs of recruiters in the executive assistant field. Remember, a well-optimized skills section is key to standing out in a crowded job market.
8. Request Recommendations
Recommendations on LinkedIn are akin to personal testimonials that validate your professional expertise and character. Just as consumers trust online reviews before making purchases, recruiters value recommendations when assessing potential candidates. These endorsements can significantly boost your credibility and attractiveness as a job candidate.
The Importance of Recommendations:
Enhanced Credibility: Recommendations from colleagues, supervisors, or clients serve as proof of your professional abilities and work ethic.
Visibility in Searches: Profiles with recommendations are often perceived as more complete and may rank higher in search results, increasing your visibility.
Immediate Validation: Recommendations provide early positive impressions, potentially influencing a recruiter's decision before formal reference checks.
How Many Recommendations Do You Need?
Strive to secure at least one recommendation for each role you’ve listed on your profile to showcase consistent performance across your career. However, if obtaining one for each position is challenging, aim for a minimum of three substantial recommendations. This number allows for varied perspectives on your capabilities and contributions.
How to Ask for Recommendations:
Be Direct but Tactful: Reach out to your connections directly, either via LinkedIn messages or email. Be polite and specific about why you are requesting a recommendation from them.
Make It Easy for Them: Provide a brief reminder of some key projects you worked on together or achievements from your tenure that you’d like them to mention. This can help guide their recommendation to focus on specifics rather than general praise.
Personalize Your Request: Tailor your request to each individual. Acknowledge your relationship and the value their endorsement would add to your profile.
Whom to Ask:
Past Employers and Supervisors: Their insights can validate your professional skills and leadership abilities.
Colleagues and Team Members: They can offer a perspective on your day-to-day work ethic, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.
Clients or External Partners: Recommendations from clients can attest to your professionalism, service quality, and impact on their business.
Focus Areas for Recommendations:
Specific Skills: Ask recommenders to highlight particular skills that are pertinent to the type of roles you are targeting.
Project Outcomes: Encourage them to mention specific projects where your contribution was critical to success.
Professional Growth: They could also discuss aspects that showcase your ability to learn and adapt, which is particularly valuable in today’s fast-evolving work environments.
Example Request:
"Hi [Name], I hope this message finds you well. I’m reaching out to ask if you could write a LinkedIn recommendation for me. Your perspective on our time working together at [Company] would be incredibly valuable, especially if you could mention [specific project or skill]. I’m aiming to enhance my LinkedIn profile and your recommendation would make a significant difference. Thank you in advance for considering this request."
Remember, recommendations are not just about enhancing your profile; they're about building and maintaining professional relationships. The act of requesting and giving recommendations can reinforce your professional network and open doors to future opportunities.
9. Adding Certifications and Education
Continuously updating your educational qualifications and professional certifications not only enriches your LinkedIn profile but also demonstrates your commitment to professional development. For Executive Assistants, who often operate in environments that require a broad set of skills and up-to-date knowledge, highlighting these achievements is crucial.
How to List Certifications and Ongoing Education:
Separate Sections: LinkedIn allows you to list certifications and education in separate sections. Ensure these sections are complete and up-to-date. For certifications, include the name of the certifying body and the date obtained. For education, list your degree(s) and the institution(s) where you studied.
Relevance is Key: Focus on listing certifications and coursework that are relevant to the role of an Executive Assistant. For instance, certifications in project management, business administration, or specific software (like Microsoft Office Specialist) can be particularly appealing.
Include Online Courses: If you’ve taken online courses that enhance your professional skills, include these as well. Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and others offer courses that are respected within the industry.
Importance of Continuing Education in an Executive Assistant’s Career:
Staying Competitive: The role of an Executive Assistant is evolving. Staying abreast of new technologies and methodologies through continuing education helps you remain competitive in the job market.
Expanding Skill Set: Continuing education can help you move beyond traditional Executive Assistant roles by acquiring skills in areas like digital marketing, analytics, or human resources, making you a more versatile asset.
Career Advancement: Advanced certifications and additional education can pave the way for career advancement into higher administrative roles or even transition into other areas within an organization.
Example Listings:
Certifications:
Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), Issued by IAAP, March 2022
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate, Issued by Microsoft, August 2021
Education:
Associate of Arts in Business Administration, XYZ Community College, 2019
Continuing Education Course in Advanced Project Management, LinkedIn Learning, July 2022
Keeping Up with Changes:
Regular Updates: Regularly review and update this section to reflect any new educational achievements or relevant certifications that you acquire.
Highlight Recent Learning: Especially highlight recent educational pursuits to show that you are committed to continuous personal and professional development.
Remember, each certificate or course listed should add value to your profile, signaling to potential employers that you are not just equipped with the necessary skills but are also proactive about staying relevant and proficient in your role.
10. Create a Custom URL
When you create your LinkedIn profile, if you don’t customize your profile URL then LinkedIn assigns something automatically. It usually looks a bit like this: www.linkedin.com/in/kenzie7863972. As you can see, this definitely isn’t memorable and could belong to anyone out there named Kenzie.
A custom URL gives you an easier way to ensure people find the right person. This is especially important if you happen to share a name with many others! To update your custom URL, navigate to your profile and select the “edit” option to the right of the screen. From there you can edit to create a unique URL.
Here is an easy to follow video tutorial on how to claim your custom URL on LinkedIn.
11. Lay Off The Buzzwords
Every second person out there is a “results-driven team player” or an “experienced, passionate executive assistant.” Profiles are littered with buzzwords that really say very little about who people genuinely are.
An alternative strategy to pulling out the buzzword dictionary is to actually demonstrate those qualities by listing your accomplishments and enlisting the help of recommendations to talk about you and your work.
It’s not that you should never use terms like “innovative” or “passionate.” However, you should definitely back those claims up. How are you innovative? What have you done that demonstrates your passion?
12. Join Groups and Follow Influential Pages
For Executive Assistants, LinkedIn is not just a platform for showcasing your professional profile—it's also a vibrant community where you can connect, learn, and grow. Joining LinkedIn groups and following influential pages can significantly enrich your professional life.
Recommendations for Industry-Relevant Groups to Join:
Executive Support Professionals: Groups like these often share resources, job postings, and advice tailored to the needs of Executive Assistants.
Industry-Specific Groups: Depending on the sector you work in (technology, healthcare, finance, etc.), join groups that align with that industry to stay informed about trends and best practices.
Career Growth and Skills Development: Groups focused on professional development, such as those offering tips on advanced software, leadership, or communication skills, can be incredibly beneficial.
Benefits of Engaging with These Groups and Pages:
Networking Opportunities: These groups provide a platform to connect with peers and industry leaders, offering a space to share experiences and seek advice.
Learning and Development: By participating in discussions and webinars, you can gain insights into the latest tools, technologies, and skills necessary to excel in your role.
Visibility: Active participation in discussions and sharing relevant content can increase your visibility within your professional community. This enhanced visibility can lead to job opportunities and professional recognition.
How to Make the Most of LinkedIn Groups and Pages:
Engage Actively: Don’t just join the groups; participate in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. The more active you are, the more benefits you’ll reap.
Follow Thought Leaders and Companies: Stay updated with industry leaders and companies that influence your field. This can provide you with valuable information and potential job opportunities.
Share and Contribute: If you come across interesting articles or have unique insights, share them in your groups. Contributing to the community can establish you as a thought leader among your peers.
Example Groups and Pages for Executive Assistants:
Regularly Update Your Engagement:
Review Your Memberships: Periodically review the groups you are part of and your follow list to ensure they still align with your professional goals.
Refresh Your Activity: Try to diversify the types of interactions by alternating between commenting, posting, and sharing to keep your engagement dynamic and noticeable.
By strategically engaging with groups and following influential pages on LinkedIn, you not only expand your professional network but also enhance your skill set and marketability as an Executive Assistant.
13. Make Regular Updates & Be Active
Maintaining an up-to-date LinkedIn profile and regularly engaging with content are key strategies for staying relevant in the fast-paced professional world. For Executive Assistants, who often manage dynamic roles that evolve with the business landscape, keeping your LinkedIn profile current is crucial for reflecting your most recent achievements and capabilities.
The Importance of Regular Updates:
Reflects Professional Growth: Regularly updating your profile with new skills, certifications, and job roles shows that you are actively developing in your career.
Increases Visibility: LinkedIn's algorithm favors profiles that are frequently updated, making them more likely to appear in search results and news feeds.
Attracts Opportunities: A current profile ensures that potential employers or networking contacts see the most accurate representation of your professional abilities and experiences.
Types of Content to Share:
Industry Articles and Insights: Share articles that are relevant to your role or industry. This not only shows that you are keeping up with trends but also positions you as a knowledgeable professional.
Professional Achievements: Whether you’ve led a successful project or earned a new certification, sharing these milestones can highlight your commitment to excellence and continuous learning.
Event Participation: If you attend webinars, conferences, or workshops, post about your experiences. This demonstrates your dedication to professional development and can spark conversations with others who have similar interests.
Engagement with Others' Content: Comment on, like, and share posts made by your connections or industry leaders. This type of engagement can build your network and increase your visibility on the platform.
How to Stay Active and Engaged:
Set a Schedule: Allocate specific times each week for updating your profile and engaging with content. This could be as simple as setting aside 30 minutes twice a week.
Use Alerts and Notifications: Set up alerts for keywords relevant to your industry to stay informed about new content to read and share.
Engage Thoughtfully: When you comment on posts, add thoughtful insights or ask questions. Meaningful interactions are more likely to lead to strong professional relationships.
Example Activities to Maintain Engagement:
Weekly: Share one industry-related article.
Bi-weekly: Update one section of your profile (e.g., skills, experience, summary).
Monthly: Write a post summarizing a recent project or what you’ve learned from a webinar or course.
Regularly updating your LinkedIn profile and engaging with content are not just about staying visible; they’re about actively participating in your professional community. This ongoing activity can significantly enhance your credibility and authority as an Executive Assistant, opening doors to new opportunities and connections.
Final Thoughts
These tips are some of the most common things we’ve noticed when perusing LinkedIn profiles. If there’s one final piece of advice, we’d say don’t do it halfway. If you’re going to have a LinkedIn profile, go all-in with a complete profile rather than missing chunks of information. You won’t do yourself any favors in the eyes of recruiters.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a remote Executive Assistant role, Worxbee matches top Virtual Executive Assistants with our clients. Check out information on how to Join Our EA Network.
