What top-tier business leaders are saying in their LinkedIn profiles

A new study from Grammarly shows there are a number of language-based techniques that can be used when it comes to putting together a more memorable LinkedIn profile.

Using data gleaned from 750 profiles of entry-level workers, managers and directors at Fortune 500 companies, Grammarly has compiled top tips to help develop a profile that stands out from the crowd.

Use the lingo

Using industry-specific language in the right context can send the signal that you are a part of that industry.

According to Grammarly, directors use more industry terminology in their profiles, at a rate of three times that of entry-level workers.

The top professional terms used across profiles (with directors leading the way in the use of each word) are “leader”, “strategic”, “solution” and “innovative”.

“These kinds of terms help recruiters easily search and find qualified candidates on LinkedIn,” Grammarly recruiter Angela Ritter advises.

“Having common business language on your profile is important, but you have to be prepared to talk about your expertise with those terms.”

Business leaders talk more about what they have done

Don’t be hesitant to promote your experience and achievements.

Grammarly found directors and managers are more likely to fill out their profile summary and wax lyrical about the big wins in their work experience entries.

Directors filled out their profile summaries 51% of time, followed by managers at 48% and entry-level employees at 42%.

Directors averaged 97 words across their profile summaries and managers 80, with entry-level employees, by contrast, averaging 70.

Further down the page, managers took the lead with 192 words for each work experience entry, with directors averaging 169 and entry-level workers lagging with 106.

Business leaders use recommendations

Directors and managers both receive and give more recommendations.

According to Grammarly’s study, directors received a total of 519 recommendations, followed by managers with 277 and entry-level employees with 61.

When it comes to giving recommendations, directors that Grammarly tracked handed out 532 in total, with managers handing out 267, followed by entry-level employees with 24.

While it is understandable that as experience grows more recommendations will be received and given, it’s suggested doling out recommendations could be a strategy for employers to stand out earlier in their careers.