Create Winning LinkedIn Cover Stories To Stand Out To Recruiters

In the online world, people implement a variety of strategies that helps them stand out from other recruiters. Sometimes it can be a well-crafted resume or a detailed active social media profile. However, the most used online platform for job hunting is Linked In. With over 800 million users worldwide, it’s not easy to stand out but with a LinkedIn cover story, that’s a different story. With enough time, and using the right tools, you can create an awesome cover story on LinkedIn and stay different from your peers, let’s get started.

Introducing Cover Stories

Have you ever wondered how to stand out to recruiters on LinkedIn? Cover Stories are the answer. So, what’s the big deal about them and what are they? A LinkedIn cover story is a short 30-second introduction video, a user can add to their profiles, and is quite similar to the profile video function on Facebook or Instagram stories. It was rolled out by LinkedIn in early 2021. With a LinkedIn cover video, you can share your skills and experience with your network in a short and engaging video clip. We have seen the concept of stories in popular social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, etc. but how does this concept work on LinkedIn, an online platform with over 800+ million active users worldwide?

Being a video, you can share your professional skills and work experience with your network, in short, easy-to-edit interactive video clips rather than writing lengthy essays about yourself. When it comes to LinkedIn creator cover stories, on the desktop, they usually reside in the same area where your cover photo is and only become visible when a person clicks on it. However, on the mobile app, a silent preview will start playing automatically after someone lands on your profile. 

Who is eligible?

Now that you know what LinkedIn covers stories are, the next obvious question is finding out if they are ideal for only those people looking for a job and the answer is no. Any individual can leverage the benefits and become successful. Business owners can easily promote their products and services by making an entertaining and interactive short video. Those people looking for a job can use the cover story feature to boost their branding and utilize this new video element on LinkedIn, the possibilities are endless.

Tips on how to post a story on LinkedIn

Even though cover story videos are helpful in the long run, making one that truly stands out takes considerable time and the right execution. If you are first-time in this field, following the tips mentioned here is the best option to choose.

Define your purpose

Why are you making a LinkedIn cover story? Are you looking for new job opportunities or looking to promote your business services? Having a well-defined purpose is essential to get started otherwise your video won’t even succeed in the first place at all.

Start working on the script

This is the most important part of LinkedIn covers. How well this part is prepared determines your overall success. Since this is a short video, it’s not possible to stuff in a lot of content which means that you must highlight the key points. This includes the points you want to get across the video such as introduction, career highlights, certifications, quick statistics from recent projects (if having work experience), career accomplishments, topics of interest, etc. Once the key points are sorted out, flesh them out into a full script. If you are a freelancer, you can share your services or offers too.

Prepare drafts and have them reviewed

No LinkedIn creator cover stories are ready to shoot on the first attempt itself, It takes a lot of time, making rewrites and reviewing to refine the final version. When you are preparing the script, it is recommended to read the sentences aloud as you write. This is to ensure that the sentences sound natural. After each draft is prepared, have it reviewed by your trusted team members, get their feedback and incorporate them into your script as you see fit.

Set up your video shoot space

Now that your purpose is defined and the script is ready to shoot, the next stage in how to post a story on LinkedIn is setting up an ideal place to shoot the video. Before shooting the video, you must pay attention to the quality, lighting and sound of the area being filmed and also the device used. Any sort of visual or audio distractions must be avoided at all costs. If you are not sure about these factors, hiring someone experienced is a good idea.

Dress accordingly

What good are your LinkedIn creator cover stories and mighty achievements if you are not dressed for the part? It is always wise to wear an outfit you are comfortable with that matches the job you are applying for as it gives the viewers a sense of professionalism. Apart from dressing, sharing your personality is a bonus. It shows what kind of person you are and gives an impression about you to people. 

Understanding the Technical Parameters

Before you begin the whole shoot and script writing process, it is important to understand how to stand out to recruiters on LinkedIn and the various technical parameters in making LinkedIn cover stories. First of all, they can only be created on smartphone devices through the LinkedIn mobile app or upload a pre-recorded video as your cover story. The viewers, however, can watch the video on either a desktop or mobile. The LinkedIn cover story is in a 9:16 aspect ratio and the best way to do that is by using the portrait video mode on your smartphone. Also, if you plan to shoot the video using a digital camera, you can use premium video editing software to adjust the visual and audio aspects of your video after recording. 

What are the Pros & Cons

Even with a useful technological feature like this, LinkedIn creator cover stories have their set of pros and cons which are worth knowing if you are planning to come into this sector. Videos are more engaging than written content however, some people may find it cringe. Therefore, let’s carefully check out the various Pros & Cons before you learn how to add a LinkedIn cover story.

Pros:

• Immense opportunity to share your personality
• Helps make our online profile more lively 00100
• HelpA improve speaking and video content skills

Cons:

• Potential for bias in the recruitment process
• People with less technical knowledge may find it difficult to master
• Poorly prepared script or video quality may not give the intended results

Conclusion

LinkedIn is one of the most powerful social media tools and featuring innovative features such as cover stories is something worth taking the advantage of.  If you plan to make a stunning interactive cover story video, making use of this amazing platform is the first way to get started. Building a compelling video, not only boosts your job hunting chances but also makes viewers feel that you are worth considering for their team. Just make sure to follow the various tips on how to post a story on LinkedIn mentioned above and you are good to go.

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