my head – it’s so…big!
linkedin announced in september that users would be getting a “new experience” on their profiles. the waiting ended this week as linkedin pushed user profile updates to all users. coincidentally, user profile updates for twitter were also pushed out to all users this week, which I covered in a separate post.
as of this week, linkedin upgraded all users to the new look. just as twitter adopted some of the facebook look, linkedin also caught a mild case of facebook fever. specifically, the new profiles focus more on the social aspects of the profile, with a more prominent photo and headline. in other words, linkedin user profiles continue to evolve from the “online resume” look.
compare the faboo new look above with stodgy old me at left. I mean really old – I grabbed this from a 2010 post – but linkedin’s layout stayed pretty much like this. current position and prior work history and education were laid out resume style. headline and name were given equal weighting. but the cosmetic improvements in the update are just the beginning. with the new profiles, linkedin is giving users the chance to give their professional personae some razzle dazzle.
recommendations and work samples – in context
linkedin recommendations have always been helpful for users that asked for them, but often getting them in front of prospective clients and employers was like pulling teeth. the old profile showed how many I received, but there was no easy way to see them and they were held separate from position descriptions that could make them more effective. in the updated profiles, recommendations are displayed with the position for which they were received. only the first two are shown, but users can determine which two in the settings. and there’s even something extra – users can now feature work samples, too!
creating a portfolio of work samples
simply choose edit profile at the top of your profile page and you will see three icons appear on the various profile modules. the middle one will pop up a spot for the URL of a video or other online media.
enter the url and linked allows edits to title and text. large thumbnails of the inserted media will appear at the bottom of the module where the item is placed.
clicking on an item brings up a gorgeous gallery with the item highlighted and other added media below.
more info on other fun stuff as i happen across it.