In an age when social platforms are redefining professional interactions, LinkedIn is becoming an indispensable tool in many people’s careers. Is this also the case for scientists? How do you use LinkedIn in a research context?
What’s LinkedIn for?
The benefits of the platform for scientists
LinkedIn is the world’s most widely used professional social network: in 2024, the platform is home to over a billion people from 200 different countries and territories. This powerful tool offers a multitude of benefits:
Expand your network and keep in touch
LinkedIn can be perceived as a simple bank of CVs and job offers… But the platform offers much more than that! It allows scientists in all fields to connect with colleagues, researchers, students and professionals to build and maintain a rich and diverse network. With LinkedIn, your news reaches everyone in your network at the click of a button.
Establish a strong brand image
Establish a strong brand image Votre LinkedIn, c’est comme une carte d’affaires virtuelle : vous pouvez la personnaliser à votre image. Que ce soit via une page personnelle ou d’entreprise, vous pouvez façonner votre profil et vos publications afin d’avoir un impact significatif dans votre communauté. Parfois, notre réseau nous connaît virtuellement avant même de nous rencontrer. En cultivant une présence distincte sur LinkedIn, vous serez facilement identifiable lors d’une rencontre en personne.
Increase your opportunities for collaboration
LinkedIn is a real showcase for sharing your research with as many people as possible. Indeed, by publishing your research on the platform, you increase its visibility and can receive constructive feedback, opening the door to new collaborations. This can propel your projects even further! Specialists working in the field or in industry can also benefit from possible collaborations. What’s more, content creator – be it articles, podcasts or any other media – can easily find and contact experts on a given topic.
Access scientific news and resources
LinkedIn is a platform rich in scientific content. By joining LinkedIn Groups relevant to your field or following influential pages, you can stay up to date on advances and discoveries in your sector. The platform also offers an invaluable source of inspiration for creators and journalists, thanks to its high-quality scientific content. People working in industry can also find innovative practices within the platform.
Boost your career
Did you know that every minute, six people are hired through LinkedIn? The platform is an excellent way to find job offers or be contacted by recruiters. Among other things, an up-to-date profile increases your chances of getting noticed in a job search. But how do you do it?
Learning to use LinkedIn: optimizing your profile
You’re now ready to create or optimize your LinkedIn profile. Here are a few best practices to consider when building a solid profile:
Profile photo
Your profile photo is essential: it increases the likelihood of your profile being visited by 7 times! It should be of good quality, well framed and ideally set against a neutral background. Opt for a professional portrait-style photo so that you’ll be easily recognizable when you meet your network. Make sure your face is well centered, as the image will appear in a circular frame. This attention to detail will reinforce your credibility as a scientist and make you more approachable.
Cover photo
Often overlooked, the cover image is one of the first elements to catch people’s attention once on your profile. Take advantage of this image to illustrate your area of expertise or your scientific projects. The image should be of good quality and have a dimension of 1584 x 396 pixels to avoid any unwanted stretching or cropping. As social networks are constantly evolving, the frame of this image may change in the future. Look at it once a year to make sure it’s still displayed optimally. Generic visuals are available on the platform or in image banks, but it’s best to create personalized – and therefore more appealing – ones using tools such as Canva, PowerPoint, Affinity Designer, Inkscape and many others. We recommend Canva for its ease of use and comprehensive free version. Artificial intelligence tools can also be considered for creating interesting images.
Professional title
Located directly below your profile photo, your title tells others about your area of expertise or specialty. Be specific: rather than simply writing “Researcher”, a title like “Researcher in molecular biology | Expert in genome editing via CRISPR-Cas9” immediately gives a clearer picture of your skills. In fact, this title is visible everywhere on LinkedIn when your name appears: in “likes”, comments, suggestions for profiles to follow, and so on. It’s a crucial piece of information that invites users to consult your profile. Use the keywords that anyone interested in joining your professional network is looking for.
Summary
The summary is an important space; it’s an overview of your experiences and achievements. Write it clearly and concisely, highlighting your skills, current projects and goals. Don’t hesitate to mention publications, conferences or scientific collaborations in which you have participated. Focus on what makes you unique in your field and select topics relevant to the network you wish to develop. Here too, use keywords so that your profile appears more often in searches from your industry. Remain accessible, however: a human tone is more effective than excessive use of technical terminology.
Experience
When adding your professional experience, describe your concrete achievements under the job title: projects you’ve worked on, examples of tasks performed, results obtained, impact of your research, interdisciplinary collaborations, etc. This clarifies and enhances the impact of your work in the scientific world.
Inclusivity
Your LinkedIn profile can become more inclusive in a few simple steps. First, specify your pronouns in the dedicated section; this reflects your gender identity and indicates that you respect others’. Then, if you wish, you can add an audio recording of the pronunciation of your name to your profile.
Shine on the platform
Now that your profile is well established, it’s time to shine on LinkedIn with your publications, articles, re-posts and comments. As we all know, when it comes to standing out from the crowd, the devil is in the detail…
That’s why IMPAKT Scientifik offers online training specifically tailored to the realities of scientists. Whether you’re looking to increase your visibility, attract collaborators or strengthen your brand image, Social Networking for Scientists (EN) gives you the tools you need to succeed. It covers how to define your image, presents concrete examples of content strategies, explores best practices for creating your publications and posting them at the right time, and provides a wide range of tips specific to the needs of scientists. You’ll learn, for example, how to successfully launch your research lab or company page. To take your LinkedIn presence to the next level, access the training course here!
We hope you enjoy this article and find it helpful. If you have any constructive comments, please do not hesitate to contact us at contact@impaktsci.co.
Writer: Sandrine Lamothe
Illustrations: Sandrine Lamothe and Emilie Dubois
