What should you omit from your LinkedIn profile?

I love acquiring new skills and admit my professional life suggests I’m somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades. So, what do you do if you’ve had different careers and want to create a LinkedIn profile but are afraid of being seen as a scatterbrain? Would you list all your careers and education? I didn’t. But deciding what to leave out was a challenge. Ultimately, I focused on professional experiences and certificates I’d achieved in three main areas: teaching/instructional design, technical writing and financial sales. I bid adieu to my 5-year career taking care of disabled people and my 3-year career making architectural models. No need to mention my commercial driver’s license, fork lift license, or the CISCO internetworking certificate I never used.

Happily, I noticed several of my classmates’ LinkedIn profiles show career shifts too. I was especially humbled by my eminent professor’s LinkedIn profile. She has degrees in software development, politics, counselling, technical writing, instructional design….and in several other fields – an extensive and impressive list of academic accomplishments. I am proud to have been taught by her. I am impressed by the quality of my professors at UL and I am even more motivated to learn.

Here’s the intro to my new LinkedIn page:

Course EL5082 requires students submit four design portfolio projects. After pondering what 4 projects to write and design, I’ve chosen to create two websites, one online training course using Articulate Rise, and one podcast. When completed, I’ll upload them into an app called Portflow.

I have a tough few months ahead of me. But I’m excited for the future. Wish me luck!

Obi Ikeako.

February 24, 2025.