The Best Skills To Add To Your LinkedIn Profile

There are 722 million LinkedIn members across 200 nations and regions. It’s one of the best sites for networking and job advancement due to its vast coverage.

However, too many waste its opportunities. A poor, old profile is pointless. That can be fixed easily. Improve your LinkedIn skills section to attract employers and managers for employment immediately.

So, if you want to achieve the potential of your LinkedIn profile, read on. This guide will show you:

• Why you should upgrade your LinkedIn skills.
• Learn how to manage your talents on LinkedIn.
• The ideal skills to add to LinkedIn to increase your hiring chances.

LinkedIn Skills Resume Example:

Jeff Starr

555-555-5555

jeff.starr@zety.com

linkedin.com/in/jeffstarrzety

Diligent office assistant with 7+ years experience, seeking to facilitate office excellence at Calliope & Co. Skilled and experienced in shipping, CRM data entry, and other office assistant duties. Boosted customer complaint resolution by 65% and reduced scheduling mistakes by 40% at Deltone Technology.

Work Experience

Office Assistant

Deltone Technology, Chicago

December 2017–Present

• Carried office assistant responsibilities for a fast-paced IT hardware firm. Maintained customer relationships, managed shipping and communication logistics.
• Monitored and replied to client emails. Resolved complaints 65% faster than previous office assistant. Increased customer retention 34%.
• Used G-Suite for correspondence, scheduling, and reports. Decreased clerical errors by 30%. Lowered scheduling mistakes by 40%.
• Performed CRM data entry for all sales orders. Completed and sent sales orders to warehouses. Noticed a recurring problem that saved $45,000/year.

Retail Clerk with Office Assistant Duties

Chi-town Threads, Chicago

November 2013–December 2017

• Performed customer order data entry. Cited by management as the go-to data entry clerk because of superior speed and accuracy.
• Managed returns shipping. Achieved cost saving of 15% on average from taking advantage of special FedEx discounts.
• Delivered high quality customer service. Received customer satisfaction results with an average rating of 95% plus.

Education

BA, Liberal Arts, University of Illinois

2011–2014

Skills

• Data Entry
• Billing Administrative
• Scheduling
• Verbal Communication
• Answering Phones
• Written Communication
• QuickBooks
• Shipping

Technical Proficiency

• Typing Speed: 95 WPM
• 10-Key Data Entry: 9,000 KPH, Zero Errors
• MS Excel: 96% on Isograd MS Excel Test

Volunteer Work

• Assist once per week at the South Central Animal Shelter.

Why Is It Important to List Your Skills on LinkedIn?

First and foremost, LinkedIn differs from other social media platforms. It’s not for liking kitten photos or adding people you’ve never met in person. It’s a vital approach to create professional networks and demonstrate your skills to employers and recruiters.

They use LinkedIn to identify potential people, so if you’re actively seeking for a job or simply open to new options, make sure you pique their interest. According to GS Kumar, a job search expert, the way employers identify candidates on LinkedIn is rather straightforward.

• Recruiters search the LinkedIn database for candidates that have a specific set of qualifications and/or keywords in their Profile.
• After searching the database, recruiters get served with “search results” that include a Profile view for each candidate.
• As a job seeker, you want to consistently show up in search results for candidates with your set of qualifications.

If you do not have the appropriate LinkedIn skills list, you will not appear in recruiters’ searches and will not be contacted about job opportunities. And the vast majority of recruiters utilize LinkedIn.

According according to one  survey, 90 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to source prospects. Your LinkedIn profile also feeds into Google, providing another avenue for recruiters to discover your skills.

And as LinkedIn’s own statistics report:

• Members with 5 or more skills listed are contacted (messaged) up to 33x more by recruiters and other LinkedIn members, and receive up to 17x more profile views.

The conclusion is apparent. If you don’t use your abilities on LinkedIn, you’ll miss out on many chances. However, just as with a CV, you cannot simply add any talent that comes to mind. You must be targeted and select the abilities that are most in demand.

Best LinkedIn Skills List to Attract Recruiters and Hiring Managers

Some employability skills differ according to sector and seniority. However, some are universal and widely sought after, regardless of your position. Soft skills, in particular, are highly appreciated, according to a report on closing the soft skills gap published by the United States Chamber of Commerce.

• While technical skills are often industry-specific, soft skills such as professional communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and time management are valued by employers across sectors.

Certain hard skills are also highly valued by recruiters due to their scarcity and demand. We’ll look at both categories, and by the end, you’ll be able to choose the optimal LinkedIn talents for your profile.

One caveat: just like you shouldn’t lie on your resume, you shouldn’t lie on your LinkedIn page. Check to see whether you actually have these skills.

And we did not create this skill list out of thin air. According to LinkedIn, these are the most in-demand skills among employers. So let us take a look.

Top Soft Skills to Add to LinkedIn

1. Creativity

Every firm must be innovative and capable of developing new solutions. Employers value creative thinking, and it’s a terrific skill to have on LinkedIn. Here are a few instances of creativity-related skills.

• Problem solving skills
• Creative writing skills
• Graphic design
• Problem solving skills
• Lateral thinking
• Open-mindedness

2. Persuasion

Another crucial skills for workplace success is the capacity to influence and persuade people of your point of view. It is a communication skills that requires the capacity to effectively persuade others both verbally and in writing.

3. Collaboration

This one falls under interpersonal skills and demonstrates your ability to cooperate well with others. Working together to reach a similar objective is a vital skill for any business, and it’s also a great addition to your LinkedIn profile. Skills for collaboration are also known as teamwork skills, and either form will be a valuable addition to your LinkedIn skill set.

4. Adaptability

Change, like death and taxes, is an unavoidable part of life. Adaptability refers to the ability to thrive in a changing environment by seizing opportunities and overcoming obstacles. Organizations and their people must adapt in order to survive and grow. The Harvard Business Review points out:

• Those that thrive are quick to read and act on signals of change. They have worked out how to experiment rapidly, frequently, and economically—not only with products and services but also with business models, processes, and strategies.

So adaptability is an essential transferable skill for LinkedIn. You could also express this ability as flexibility, strategic thinking and change management.

5. Emotional Intelligence

Do not underestimate the power of emotions. Automation is growing, and many of us work remotely, yet dealing with other humans is still an important aspect of the job.

Understanding and responding to your own and others’ emotions is essential for effective communication with colleagues and consumers. Here are some good emotional intelligence skills to showcase on LinkedIn.

• Empathy
• Active listening skills
• Conflict resolution
• Resilience

You’ve just seen five of the most valuable LinkedIn skills for any candidate. They are all genuinely valuable essential skills for any profession. Now, let’s look at some more particular skills.

Top Hard Skills to Add to LinkedIn

The following list includes the most in-demand hard skills, according to LinkedIn. So, if you already have any of these skills, you should include them on your LinkedIn skills list. If you don’t, you’ll know exactly what you need to work on.

1. Blockchain

Most people have heard of Bitcoin, but blockchain is more than just magic online money. It’s a novel method of storing, transmitting, and authenticating data online.

Its applications include supply chain logistics, personal data security, identity and authenticity validation, vote verification, and cross-border transactions.

Despite the increased need, there are still only a few suitable applicants in the industry. So, blockchain is one of the top skills to add to LinkedIn. Here are some examples of blockchain skills for your LinkedIn profile.

• Solidity
• Cryptography
• Smart contract development
• Blockchain architecture
• Dapp development
• Data structures
• Distributed ledger expertise

2. Cloud Computing

The second spot also belongs to an IT expertise. Cloud computing refers to computer services that are offered remotely, with no direct interaction from the user or their device.

For example, when you save files to Google Drive, they are in the cloud and available from any location. As more firms use the cloud, the demand for cloud computing capabilities grows. Here are some of the top skills to add on LinkedIn to demonstrate your cloud computing expertise.

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud
• Cloud deployment and migration
• DevOps
• Serverless architecture

3. Analytical Reasoning

Analytical skills refer to your ability to comprehend and extract insights from data. It might range from simply determining why a budget was exceeded to the more sophisticated task of identifying patterns in consumer demographics and purchasing habits.

Whatever the industry, it requires skilled people that can assess data in order to cash in on opportunities, overcome obstacles, and make sound judgments. The good news is that it’s a large field of expertise, therefore there are several instances of these skills to post on LinkedIn. Here are a few options.

• Communication
• Data and metrics interpreting
• Data mining
• Diagnostics
• Forecasting
• Organization
• Problem-solving
• Reporting
• Research
• Troubleshooting

4. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence allows machines and devices to learn from experience and execute human-like functions. It can also enhance and strengthen human skills, allowing for faster and more efficient completion of labor-intensive activities.

According to one assessment, it has the potential to generate additional economic activity of $13 trillion by 2030. Those are large sums, and that value makes it a strong choice when deciding what skills to include on LinkedIn. Here are some instances of artificial intelligence skills.

• Machine learning
• Python
• Java
• R
• Robotics
• Algorithm development
• Spark

5. UX Design

It may sound like a Silicon Valley hipster jargon, but UX design benefits everyone. It is just a method of designing products and services that are meaningful and relevant to their human users.

UX stands for user experience, which is the key. It’s about providing a positive user experience rather than just functionality. That feeling of joy you experience when you use a professionally designed website or app? That is UX at work. It’s a potent weapon in any LinkedIn skill set.

6. Business Analysis

Business analysis is an essential skill in all professions. It entails the capacity to identify company demands and develop solutions to business difficulties.

Let’s face it: every organization has needs and issues. While business analysis is a distinct profession, every good employee should have some business analysis skills. Here are some fantastic skills to showcase on LinkedIn.

• Statistical analysis
• Stakeholder analysis
• Being detail oriented
• Process improvement
• Microsoft Access
• SQL
• Benchmarking
• Gap analysis

7. Affiliate Marketing

This skill is a recent addition to LinkedIn’s power list of skills. Affiliate marketing is quickly expanding, eroding the market share previously held by traditional advertising channels. It works by having other people or businesses sell and promote your product or service, and they are paid a commission for what they sell.

It is specifically aimed at social media influencers, whose extensive reach allows businesses to reach a large number of potential customers. Listing a skill on LinkedIn is an increasingly lucrative promotional approach.

8. Sales

Here’s a great, easy one. Every commercial enterprise need skilled salespeople. They are as valuable today as they have always been, and this skill will stand the test of time as one of the most important skills that businesses require. Take a look at a few sales skill examples to include on your LinkedIn profile.

• Client relationship management
• CRM software
• Customer needs analysis
• Lead prospecting
• Lead qualification
• Product knowledge
• Rapport building
• Referral marketing
• Relationship building

9. Scientific Computing

Scientific computing is the application of modern computing technology to tackle challenging issues. Professionals with this skill set include data scientists, data engineers, and software architects. These are some skills you can use on LinkedIn to demonstrate your understanding of this field.

• Hadoop
• OpenRefine
• TensorFlow
• Matplotlib
• Debugging
• Quantitative analysis
• Programming
• Cloudera

10. Video Production

This one appears quite particular and somewhat out of place on this list. However, firms are in desperate need of video production expertise because their clients like videos.

According to one marketing company that crunched the figures, video promotion is 600% more effective than print, and 60% of website visitors would rather watch a video than read words.

Any firm worth its salt wants a piece of that highly effective pie, which is why video production rounds out our LinkedIn talents list. Here are several video production abilities that would enhance your profile.

• Adobe CS6
• Animation
• Avid Media Composer
• Blender
• Editing
• Logging clips
• Pro Tools
• Transcription
• Voice-overs

How to Add Skills on LinkedIn

Now that you understand how important LinkedIn skills are and which ones are in high demand, So here’s a simple step-by-step instruction to show you how to create a skills section if you don’t already have one, and how to edit your skills list if you have.

How to Add a Skills Section to Your LinkedIn Profile

• Click the “Me” icon on the top of the LinkedIn homepage.

• Click the “View Profile” button in the dropdown.

• Click on the “Add profile section” button below your name.

• Click on “Skills” in the dropdown.

• Type a skill into the text box and then click on it from the dropdown that appears. Once you click on it then it gets added to your LinkedIn skills list.

How to Update Your LinkedIn Skills Section

It’s important to edit your profile regularly and keep it up to date, particularly if you’re actively hunting for a new job.

Now we’ll show you how to add and remove items from your skills list.

Here’s how to add more skills:

• Click the “Me” icon on the top of the LinkedIn homepage.
• Click on “View profile”
• Scroll down to your Skills and Endorsements section and click “Add a new skill.”

• Type the skill name in the text box in the popup window and then click on it from the options that appear. If it doesn’t appear then type it in full and click on it to add. You can also add skills from the “Suggested skills based off your profile” options. Then click “Add” to finish.

How to remove skills on LinkedIn:

• Click the “Me” icon on the top of the LinkedIn homepage.
• Click on “View profile”
• Scroll down to your Skills and Endorsements section and click the edit button, it’s a pencil icon.

• Scroll to the skill you want to delete in the popup, and click the delete button, it’s a trash can icon.

• Click the Save button at the bottom of the popup.

Remember to include LinkedIn abilities in your cover letter. A strong cover letter that complements your CV will offer you an advantage over other applicants. You can write it using our cover letter builder. Here’s what it might look like:

Key Takeaway

An up-to-date LinkedIn skills list is vital. To remain relevant and competitive, you must continually upgrade and renew your skill set. If you’re actively looking for work, it enhances your chances of being discovered by recruiters and may lead to you being headhunted for new positions.

We’ve also shown you some of the top skills to include in your profile, based on LinkedIn data. If you have any of the skills listed above, please sure to add them.

Aside from the list we’ve provided, look through job postings in your field to discover what skills are listed most frequently. This can give you an indication of which skills are most in demand.