LinkedIn for Teachers: How to Improve Your Profile and Land Your Dream Job

Do you have a LinkedIn profile that’s been languishing in the background? Or maybe you’ve been meaning to create one but wondered if it was worth the effort. Even if you’ve never considered using it before, LinkedIn is for teachers, not just those with corporate jobs.

Read on to learn why it’s important to create and maximize your own LinkedIn profile to achieve your teaching goals and get the job you’ve always wanted.

Why Every Teacher Should Have a LinkedIn Profile

Trust us, every teacher should have a LinkedIn profile. There are so many other educators on LinkedIn that you’re practically guaranteed to find others in your area of expertise. This is true regardless of whether you work in early childhood education, higher education, or somewhere in between.

Connecting on LinkedIn is especially important if there are few resources or networking opportunities where you live. Let’s face it, not every community has the ability to enrich its teachers. But when you join a global network, you take enrichment into your own hands.

In addition, many organizations post their job listings exclusively on the platform. A good LinkedIn profile gives you the opportunity to apply for a position you might never have seen otherwise.

Why Don’t More Teachers Use LinkedIn?

If LinkedIn has so many opportunities, then why don’t more teachers use it? Learning a new social media platform can feel intimidating, and many educators believe they don’t have the time or training to branch out into new areas of technology. And, often, they’re just not aware of the opportunities available through the platform.

As technology use grows, sites like LinkedIn are the future of educational networking and job hunting. It’s a free online marketplace of ideas, best teaching practices, and instant access to hundreds of thousands of your fellow teachers. Imagine what you’re missing out on by not making the most of this incredible resource!

What Makes a Good LinkedIn Profile for a Teacher?

A good teacher's LinkedIn profile contains many of the same elements as good LinkedIn profiles in general. At a minimum, your profile should:

• Be complete
• Be current
• Be regularly updated with any changes
• Have a professional-looking profile photo
• Include your teaching history and certifications

It only takes a few simple steps to get everything set up, and the whole process is fairly quick.

Easy Ways for Teachers to Boost Their Profiles in Job Searches

When you decide it’s time to look for another role in education, you want your LinkedIn profile to stand out. Why? Because organizations often use LinkedIn to weed out candidates and gather more data about applicants. If your profile is out of date or incomplete, you could be overlooked entirely or ranked lower than other candidates.

Practice our easy tips below to make your profile stand out from the crowd.

Update Your Profile Picture (You Can Take It at Home)

Make sure your profile picture is current, not something from ten years ago. And, even though it can be a photo you’ve taken yourself, it should still look professional. Save those funny pet photos and goofy faces for friends and family. Remember, LinkedIn is a networking site for professionals.

Add a Background Image

LinkedIn allows you to create a background image that is displayed behind your profile picture at the top of your profile page. You can choose the basic image that LinkedIn provides for free to everyone, or you can upload another photo or image you like better - also for free.

Remember to keep your background image professional as well, since this is one of the first things potential employers and fellow educators will see when they view your profile.

Turn on “Open to Work” So Recruiters Can Find You

If you’re thinking of looking for a new teaching position, you should really consider letting LinkedIn’s powerful network help you out. Did you know that in 2023, there were over 98,000 teaching jobs listed on the site?

You can let all those recruiters know you’re available for work by adding the “open to work” badge to your profile with a simple toggle switch in your settings. This lets you stand out from the crowd when they’re looking to hire.

Write an Interesting Headline and Bio

You want to grab recruiters’ attention as they scan dozens and dozens of applications. If you have a catchy hook in your “about me” section (or bio) and a tantalizing headline , recruiters are more likely to give your profile a second look.

Include Keywords in Your Bio

The goal of being on LinkedIn is to be seen so you can network and (possibly) find a new position. One of the best ways to get noticed is to add the right keywords to your bio. These should highlight your areas of expertise and unique experiences, and could include terms like:

• Special Education
• Art Therapy
• ESL Instruction
• Reading Intervention Specialist
• Library Media Specialist

You can do a quick online search to see which terms are popular and where the needs are greatest in the education industry if you’re stuck on what to choose. (Just be sure they accurately reflect your certifications, skills, and experiences.)

Connect with Former and Current Coworkers

Although it may feel awkward to connect online with coworkers you’re already connected to in real life, it’s actually one of the best ways to begin building your LinkedIn network. You can easily request new connections based on the connections your coworkers already have, and then expand your own network from there.

And, of course, it’s a great opportunity to touch base with former coworkers. (Plus, getting referred to positions through colleagues is one of the best ways to find new opportunities.)

This makes it look like you have good relationships with current and prior coworkers, which recruiters love to see.

List Skills, Certifications, and Extra Curriculars

Don’t forget to add any special skills , certifications, and professional extra-curricular activities you’re involved in. These will not only help recruiters looking to find qualified teaching candidates, but they’ll also enable you to connect more easily with others who share your qualifications and interests.

Swap Endorsements and Recommendations with Connections

Are you insanely good at giving presentations? Maybe you’re skilled at teaching other teachers. Let the LinkedIn universe know by asking connections to recommend or endorse you for a specific skill that may not otherwise be apparent from your resume, profile, or posts.

You can also recommend and endorse others - which is another great way to deepen your online community. But, be sure you know the connection well enough to endorse or recommend them for something they’re actually good at.

This is an especially crucial element to add if you’re in the market for a new position, as it adds credibility and weight to your profile.

Create a Simple Post and Share It

Keeping your profile active is as simple as occasional updates and posting every once in a while. Maybe you have a unique way to teach fractions. Or maybe your school does something that you think everyone should know about. Share what you know with others on the platform to increase engagement and continue to grow your network.

Not only will this help keep your profile active, but it will signal to recruiters that you know what you’re talking about and have the necessary skills and experience for the open positions they have.

Highlight Important Experiences in Work History

Maybe you’ve had some incredible opportunities in your position, like leading a teacher’s summit overseas or organizing a public event with your class or school. Be sure to highlight any unique and exciting experiences, including promotions and honors you’ve been awarded.

While it may feel like bragging, it helps recruiters understand that you are an expert in the education field and lends legitimacy to anything you post on the site.

Join Education-Related Groups

As of March 2023, there were approximately 3,500 teacher groups accepting additional members on LinkedIn. Even if you’re not looking for a new position, you don’t want to miss out on these amazing connection opportunities LinkedIn provides.

Send a Personal Note

If there’s an educator you admire and would love to ask a few questions or bounce ideas off of, feel free to reach out via private message . You can even contact recruiters directly if you have your eye on a specific position, school, or organization.

So take the plunge and reach out to a potential mentor, engage with colleagues, and connect with recruiters by contacting them directly. Just be sure to craft your message carefully so the recipient understands what it is you’re asking for or offering.

Get Free Professional Development from SOLVED

When you’re ready to take the next steps in your teaching career, you’ll need to use technology in some form or another to get where you want to go. If you’re like many educators, that can feel daunting. But don’t let it overwhelm you - we’re here to help!

SOLVED is here to help with some of your trickiest technology issues and bring you and your colleagues into the digital age. We also provide professional development for you and your teaching team to help you enhance the learning environment in your classroom.

Whether you need help with your school’s website, marketing, data or technology, SOLVED is here to help.