LinkedIn

What is a LinkedIn profile? How it`s different from a traditional CV: A Complete Guide

LinkedIn is a social-cum-professional global platform. It enables its users to present his/her profile to the targeted segment of the world professionals. One can showcase professional record and career achievements by using its flagship page, LinkedIn profile. This profile page is vital for becoming a part of any professional environment with an aim to improve his/her living standard.

The LinkedIn profile enables its users to discover, inquire, track and connect the people in the professional world. It is an advanced tool, used to hire someone or being employed. LinkedIn profile, with its global outreach, is a helpful and most vibrant set of information that lets one stand globally with all professional credentials. This very profile is the best option for one to show off what one has delivered and can deliver in the future course.

Difference between the LinkedIn profile and CV

Generally, CV and LinkedIn profile is to get employment. However, there are several differences between the two. In this article, we bring for you core differences that set both apart.

 We will discuss these differences one by one.

1. Customized vs. General Set of Professional Information

A CV generally falls in the category of a customized set of information. For every job in target, the job seeker tries his/her best to create a CV in accordance with the requirements given in the job advertisement. In pursuing this, all the irrelevant skills, qualifications, years of experience, expertise, achievements, and strengths are not considered as parts of the CV. The resultant set of information then becomes more specific to the needs of the job and the traits the HR manager is looking for. This customization carves it a static record, designed for the customized purpose of being employed.

In contrast, the LinkedIn profile is a dynamic set of professional information. With its global outreach, it portrays a general perspective on a professional career. Moreover, this generality is not limited to information. The purpose of the LinkedIn profile is also vast in its scope and range. Getting a job, keeping one updated on industry affairs, and maintenance of a vibrant network of connections could be among the purposes of a LinkedIn profile.

2.  Length and Level of Details

Resume or CV experts and senior recruiters always suggest a shortened format of a CV. Ideally, this document may not exceed the reading time of more than a minute. As far as the length of the content is concerned, a recent study tells us that it should not take more than 3 pages, ideally 1 – 2. In other words, it does not enjoy the liberty to present a professional record. With its limited space job seeker is bound to include information that meets the requirements of the job in question.

Interestingly, the LinkedIn profile provides the liberty of space and the ability to include a variety of content. It enables one to present information in a way that appeals to the employer or hiring manager. He/she is free to tell a story, show volunteering experience or any other role played during the career. A contrasting example tries to define the level of liberty to include information in both categories:

CV:

As being a sales manager, I contributed to a 21% increase in overall sales of the company

LinkedIn Profile:

It portrays a broad picture with awards, testimonials, graphical presentation, certification of excellence, and other endorsements which one has received in recognition of his/her performance as a sales manager.

3. Limitations vs. Ease of Additional Information

The case of CV is strongly associated with the face value of the given information. It offers a limited scope to present a detailed professional career. A closer look at it reveals that the recruiters or hiring authority only consider that information that is concrete and absolute, indisputable, conclusive, checkable, and testable.

The example given above can be a case in point.

One the other hand, the LinkedIn profile can be maintained by using the following different types of content:

• Textual content
• Imagery
• Graphical presentation
• Video

The textual content can further be sub-divided into the following forms:

• Skill endorsements
• Recommendations
• Hyperlinks

This diversity helps showcase credentials as engaging and appealing.

It is show-don’t-tell scenario. LinkedIn profiling, unlike the CV, is instrumental in presenting a case appropriately in a competitive environment.

4.  Confidentiality vs. Advertisement

CV and LinkedIn profiles differ with each other by 180 degrees of angle when they come to discuss the element of privacy. Unlike the LinkedIn profile, CV is a specific, customized, and objective oriented piece of paper or document. It travels from a job seeker to a job provider. During the course, privacy remains intact as CV initiates private communication. Notwithstanding, the LinkedIn profile is famous for its social networking and an almost unlimited number of connections it helps one to maintain and promote for professional purposes.

5.  Difference of Opportunity

From the beginning, any CV has to find out itself the job opportunity. There is no other way around for it to be recognized during inactivity and getting a job. To compete for any employment opportunity the CV is bound to initiate a job-seeking process. An important thing, in this process, to note, is that job seeker plays a secondary role. Whereas, the employer acts as a primary authority and dominates the whole process. He has the power to accept or reject the CV in question.

At the same time, the LinkedIn profile is a publically available online record. Any employer can see it at any time. Its universal outreach makes it possible for one to get a job without much difficulty. Some employers always hire employees whom they perceive interesting. LinkedIn profile showcases whatever information one wants to include as his/her professional career record. There is no limit to it. This liberty paves the way for any employer to reach one with specific or desired personality, interests, professional records, experience, hobbies, and so on.

6. Tone of writing

A CV always comes with a maximum degree of formality. With extreme politeness and respectfulness, CV is a symbol of the highest professionalism. For this reason, one avoids using personal pronouns in its tone. However, the LinkedIn profile follows a little bit of a different path. Though it is also a symbol of professionalism, it holds it with a slightly lighter emphasis.

LinkedIn is one of the largest websites in the world that helps professionals to promote their careers. But it is also one of the biggest social networking platforms of the online world. Social networking always needs a conversational tone in its communication and flow of activities. It is vital to provide a comfort zone to social network users, to make possible a smoother communication among different levels of professionals. On the other hand, it is not so easy in case of professionalism that is followed by a CV.

7. Go global vs. Customized Version

A CV has always been a customized and value-oriented set of information. It shortens the path at which the message flows between the job seeker and the employer. The basic concept in this specifically designed job seeking process is that one can influence the process with greater objectivity. The customization of information paves the way for a candidate to stand with distinguishing traits and professional skills. It is easier for a CV to make a difference.

The concept of the LinkedIn profile is rather global in its nature and range. Universal outreach of professional records enables one to compete in a vast market of competitors. In other words, the concept is that LinkedIn profile blurs professional records by putting one in a global market of competition.

8. Optimization: CV vs. LinkedIn Profile

All the prominent job portals like SEEK and INDEED utilize digital techniques, known as ATS (Applications Tracking System). This technology is instrumental for screening candidates from the bulk. To get a CV passed through this screening software, he/she needs to create it by using all relevant keywords and phrases which define the job in the advertisement. In the case of CV, the task of optimization is a relatively smoother job. One can customize a CV according to the needs and requirements of the job advertised. And this way, an ATS can be passed without extra effort.

The case of the LinkedIn profile is different, which needs a little more effort, time, and skills to deliver. The optimization of the LinkedIn profile is a complex, time-consuming, and consistent job. A successful profile is one that is managed, updated, or modified by utilizing the art of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). In doing so, all the necessary pieces of information available on LinkedIn profile, need to be presented in a format and style that make the profile more accessible.

From the above lines of arguments, it is now crystal clear that CV and LinkedIn profile are two different things. The one is maintained to get a job, and the other is for portraying professional record. The former is instrumental in opening a secure and object-oriented channel of communication between the job seeker and the employer. The later is known for enabling one to go global and inspire the professional world. A CV is only with a purpose to get one a job.

A LinkedIn profile is a multipurpose and multifunctional virtual display page. The profile may include: help in getting a job, inspiring people, gathering information, and influencing connections in an online network. All these are contrasting traits which set both CV and LinkedIn profile apart. A LinkedIn profile is so loaded with information that it can serve one in the way a CV does. But a CV cannot serve the purposes of a LinkedIn profile.  

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