This article is sponsored by Careers by KevinMD.com.

Whether you’re looking for a new position or just wanting to connect with colleagues, LinkedIn is a great resource to advance your career. As a healthcare professional, having an online presence can understandably make you uneasy, especially when it comes to concerns about privacy or potential HIPAA violations. However, in today’s technological age, having some type of online professional profile is essential to landing your next job, and LinkedIn is your best option to build one.

Although your LinkedIn profile is important, it shouldn’t be a digital carbon copy of your resume. Take advantage of the opportunity LinkedIn gives you to not only explain your skills and experience with more depth, but to showcase the many dimensions that make you unique.

Tip: Turn off your activity when you’re updating your profile. If not, your connections will be notified of all the updates you’re making. This is especially important if you’re looking to change jobs and don’t want to alert your current employer!

Here are six easy ways to improve your LinkedIn profile:

1. Upload a current, professional profile photo. Profiles that include a photo are 14 times more likely to be viewed, so it’s important to have one. If your profile picture is more than a few years old, consider updating it to a more current photo. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words. Make sure your photo is professional and reflects the image you want to portray.

2. Create a unique URL. Make your LinkedIn profile URL as unique as you are by creating a custom URL (For example: linkedin. com/yourname). A custom URL makes your profile more professional and allows you to add the link to your resume so others can connect with you on LinkedIn.

3. Customize your headline. Every time you change jobs, LinkedIn defaults your headline to your updated title. However, by customizing your headline, you can include specific keywords employers may search for. For example, if you want to spotlight your experience, you could change your headline to “Internal Medicine MD with 20 years of experience,” which will increase the chances of your profile showing up in both LinkedIn and Google search results.

4. Update your contact information. It’s simple, but oftentimes overlooked. Check the contact information section of your profile to make sure your information is up to date. Remember that everything you post in this section is public, so don’t share any contact information you’d prefer to keep private.

5. Make your summary personal. The thought of writing a summary can feel daunting, but it’s an important component to creating a great first impression and is the gateway to your profile’s search engine optimization (essentially your online findability). So, take the time needed to make your summary unique and personal to you. Don’t forget to showcase your strengths and achievements, along with your passions, interests, and goals.

6. Be a thought leader. Want to really stand out on LinkedIn? In addition to keeping your contact information, education and experience up to date, show potential employers that you’re on the cutting edge of the medical advancements by sharing relevant articles and engaging with posts from colleagues.

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