Certified Nursing Assistants

Certified Nursing Assistants: 3 Tips to Get Your LinkedIn Profile Up to Par

LinkedIn can be a great tool for connecting with potential employers, but only if you use your account to its full potential. When you are just starting out as a certified nursing assistant, this is more important than ever, as you are competing with experienced professionals for a job.

The following tips will ensure that your profile stands out and gives recruiters a reason to hire you.  

1. Fill In All the Fields Completing all the fields in your profile is well worth your time; this will demonstrate that you are serious about finding employment as well as giving a purpose to your account. Here are a few guidelines:

• Name. Your name should be the same as it appears on your resume and job applications.
• Picture. A picture will complete your profile and give employers a better idea of who you are. Opt for a professional headshot or a recent photo of you on your own.
• Professional headline. This is the first thing people see in search results. Be as descriptive as you are able in 120 characters, mentioning your specialities as well as your job title.
• URL. A custom URL helps you publicize your profile much better than the default jumble of letters and numbers.
• Connections. Aim to find at least 50 people you know to create connections on LinkedIn. This will show that you understanding networking practices and are actively using your profile.
• Recommendations. Ask for endorsements from past employers, coworkers, and even trainers at your school. These carry much more weight than the description you write about yourself.

2. Use Keywords But Avoid Buzzwords Optimizing your profile will ensure that employers are able to find you. Some top keywords for nursing assistants are:

• Medical terminology
• Electronic health records
• Anatomy
• Clinical skills
• Medical laws and ethics
• HIPAA
• Diseases of the body
• Phlebotomy
• EKG
• Pharmacology
• Communication
• Professionalism
• MS Word
• Customer service

There are also several words and phrases you should avoid, including:

• Organized
• Responsible
• Hard-working
• Patient
• Expert
• Attention to detail

These terms are bland, overused, and do little to set you apart from other nursing assistants.  

3. Let Your Personality Shine Through Writing about yourself is never easy, but it is essential that your profile express who you are. Avoid creating a dry list of qualifications, experience, and skills; instead, take a conversational tone and refer to yourself in first person to talk about your achievements, passions, and dreams. Explaining what drove you to become a nursing assistant in the first place is a great way to begin. If you really want to make an impact, add some photos, a video, or a slideshow showing you practicing as a nursing assistant.   Creating an effective LinkedIn profile means having plenty to say about yourself. Sign up for a certified nursing assistant program to gain training, qualifications, and practical experience.