Business Analyst Perspective on LinkedIn Branding

Display Name: I am often curious to know why people show their names and then add all the qualifications (educational and, or, professional certifications) they have alongside them. For example, I have seen Business Analysts do these: First_Name, Last_Name, BSc, MSc, MBA, BCS, CBAP, ITIL, PMI, PMP, CPM, etc. Respectfully speaking, I have only noticed this among my country and continent kinsmen, I have yet to come across any connections from Asia, Europe, or America doing such.

I suppose the display name is supposed to be simply your name so that it is easy for people to find you: the purpose of a display name is to provide quick identification. Cluttering it with numerous qualifications can make it difficult to read and defeat its purpose. If by all means you want to show your qualifications, add the most important one then display the others on your bio. 

Headline Description: Recently, I noticed that some BAs have opted to include business analysis techniques in their headlines; for example, terms like Agile, Process Mapping, and User Story are being used. This has prompted me to ponder the rationale behind this choice.

The common practices I have seen professionals use are their areas of expertise, the titles they wish recruiters to see, or job titles plus current employers. For instance, "Finance | Strategy | AI," "Business Analyst at ABC," or "Business Analyst | Process Improvement Analyst." I do not think there is a need to reinvent the wheel by adding techniques to the headline.

Furthermore, I've observed some BAs listing multiple job titles in their headlines: Business Analyst | Strategy Analyst | Change Analyst | Tester | Project Manager | Scrum Master, etc. If the goal is to enhance search visibility, this can be addressed in the experience descriptions. Additionally, there is a feature allowing users to add various titles for recruiters to see without overwhelming their headlines.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): I find it intriguing when I come across profiles with over 10 educational entries. Upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that many of these are likely online courses from prestigious institutions like Harvard, Cambridge, and Oxford. This raises the question: does completing an online course automatically grant alumni status at a school? I believe that LinkedIn's certifications section is more suitable for showcasing these online courses, rather than cluttering the educational section with numerous schools.

Work Experience: When you graduated from school less than five years ago, having over twenty experiences listed on your profile might seem excessive. As Business Analysts, it's crucial to prioritize and streamline our experiences by trimming the trivial and highlighting the essential ones. Just like crafting a resume, it's impractical to list every single experience online. Instead, focus on showcasing the most significant ones that align with your professional brand. Knowing when to stop adding experiences is key to maintaining a clear and impactful profile.

Open to Work Display Picture: I have seen a couple of people including “open to work” on their pictures and I often wonder about the effectiveness or potential consequences of this.  While it may signal availability to recruiters, or colleagues who may have openings in their firms, I think it raises concerns about one’s professionalism. For someone currently in employment, what would their managers or colleagues think about it when they come across such profiles? Additionally, the practice may lead to spamming with unsuitable job offers.

Given the foregoing, here are my pieces of advice. In your free time, spend time looking at the profiles of accomplished individuals in your field and glean insights into how they designed theirs. Furthermore, look at authorities and leading figures in your domain or allied ones, and learn a few things from them. Also, you can look up top-management executives like CEOs and see how they project themselves. The learning never stops and we need to keep going.

P.S: The suggestions posed above are my opinions; it is a call for consideration and not forcing a truth.