Nearly every week someone asks me, “I currently have two jobs” [sometimes related, sometimes unrelated]. “Should I have two LinkedIn profiles?”
The answer is simple: No. As a matter of fact, the LinkedIn User Agreement does not permit a person to have two profiles.
But how you list the two jobs depends on your LinkedIn strategy. To help you understand your options, let me take you through several multiple-job scenarios and show you how you can get the results you desire and avoid confusing people who view your profile.
If you’d like to discuss these types of profile strategies and get simple tips for using LinkedIn to land the job of your dreams, take advantage of my special one-hour $197 LinkedIn consultation. This consultation will take place on the phone, and I’ll share my desktop screen with you. I will email your marked-up profile to you prior to our session. Click here to learn more and book your session.
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Scenario 1: Career-related full-time job and part-time job unrelated to your career—and probably never will be related to your career
As long as you’re confident the part-time job will not be part of your future employment or career, I’d recommend you leave it off altogether.
One exception to this is hobbies that may provide a bit of income and that people in your network might find interesting—like playing drums in a classic rock band that does weddings and parties or a side gig as a photographer or artist if your work could be displayed in homes or businesses. In these cases, I would include a current job entry. Place it second on your profile, and share information that may help you get gigs for or sales to your connections or their friends and acquaintances.
You might also find it advantageous to add a short paragraph at the bottom of your About section to tell people about your part-time job or hobby.
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Scenario 2: Career-related full-time job and part-time job related to your current career or a potential future career
Keeping your current full-time employer in mind and any possible repercussions, I would include an additional current experience entry for your part-time job. Place it in the second position on your profile, and mention in the description that this job is part time. Then explain in your About section which job is full time and which is part time—clearly emphasizing that your full-time job is your passion.
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Scenario 3: Non-career-related full-time job and career-related part-time job or side business
Include two current experience entries, the first being your career-related part-time job or side business and the second being your non-career-related full-time job. Make sure the first entry is loaded with your most important keywords relating to this job or side business. Share loads of details about your responsibilities, accomplishments, and whether you are open to being contacted about full-time employment in this field.
Your headline should revolve around this part-time career-related position or side business. Use your About section to bring clarity to your current situation as well as where you want to end up—in all cases being sensitive to your current employer if you don’t want to lose your job.
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Scenario 4: Full-time job seeker or student and part-time job unrelated to your career or any potential career
Include a placeholder current experience entry that says you’re a student or job seeker, and spell out the kind of job you’re looking for and what skills and experiences you can bring to your future employer. State when you’re available for hire. In addition to including keywords in the description of your experience, put them in your headline and title.
It’s up to you whether you list the part-time job or not. Stating that you are gainfully employed will be looked upon favorably by some employers. If you can show how the skills you’re developing at the part-time job can be helpful in the job you’re seeking, that’s obviously a good thing. Just be clear that this is a part-time job you’re doing while you seek full-time employment.
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Scenario 5: Full-time job seeker or student and part-time job related to your career or a potential future career
As spelled out in Scenario 4, include a placeholder current experience entry (displayed first) that includes the kind of job you’re seeking, when you’re available, etc., and include pertinent keywords as mentioned above.
Include a second listed job entry about your part-time job and your desire to find full-time employment in this field. Explain in detail the skills, responsibilities, and accomplishments related to this part-time job so that the potential employer will see how you are ready for a full-time position in this field/industry.
When you embark upon changing your LinkedIn profile for any of the above reasons, be clear, truthful, and mindful of your career goals—and LinkedIn will help you get where you want to go.
SPECIAL OFFER
If you want me to see how “job search ready” your profile is as part of my full profile critique and also help you develop strategies to find your next great position, then take advantage of my special one-hour $197 LinkedIn consultation. This consultation will take place on the phone, and I’ll share my desktop screen with you. I will email your marked-up profile to you prior to our session. Click here to learn more and book your session.
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This post with guidelines for making your LinkedIn account professional has been very helpful to me. thanks!