Python Developer LinkedIn Profile Guide & Tips

Don't underestimate how much a well-developed LinkedIn presence can help future Python Developers secure a job in the field. A well-crafted LinkedIn profile shows professionalism, builds credibility, and tells your story in several ways that differ from your resume.

Optimizing your LinkedIn is a business in itself. But before you hire someone to redo yours, check out the following guide and LinkedIn tips.

How to Make a Python Developer LinkedIn Profile

The LinkedIn platform can serve a number of functions for professionals. While some users consider it a kind of Facebook for business, LinkedIn has grown far beyond its origins. 

Today there are over 800 million LinkedIn users worldwide. Some use it for job searches, others use it for sales prospecting, and others use it mainly for branding. And yes, some still use it only as Facebook for business.

A working LinkedIn profile requires some of the same items as your Python Developer resume, like contact information. However, other aspects are specific to LinkedIn, like a professional headshot and a compelling headline. Read on to ensure your profile is not a clone of your resume.

Determine Your Audience

Determining your audience might seem easy at this stage: you're looking for a Python Developer job. You must target your profile toward upper management in the companies where you apply, right?

Yes and no. 

While you want to reach and impress these people, you also must broaden your appeal. Unlike a resume, a LinkedIn profile should be a marketing tool where you are the brand. That means your profile should appeal to hiring managers, recruiters, and people outside your field.

One of the best ways to do this is to set aside your resume and tell your story without it. The About section of LinkedIn serves this purpose. Keep it brief. If LinkedIn gives you space for 2,500 characters, use only 500 or less. Your audience should be able to breeze through it in a few moments.

When you build a LinkedIn profile, your connections will most likely be people you know from work and friends or former classmates. As you connect with them, some will automatically endorse you in the Skills section of the profile. Return the favor. Endorsing others and receiving endorsements builds credibility.

Get A Professional Headshot

Your Profile photo is not an area to be frugal. If you're using a selfie, delete it and replace it with your best headshot.

Think of your Profile photo as a highlight of a digital business card. You must use it consistently across all your business-related social media accounts, including LinkedIn. Your Profile photo should give a viewer a realistic vision of you at your professional best.

LinkedIn provides tips for headshots, but they cut users more slack than you need. If you already have your dream job, you can dress casually for your newest Profile photo; otherwise, professional dress is essential.

Among their most notable tips is one about filters. While you can make small, subtle changes, you shouldn't need to make many. Your photographer should already have sent you all the photos in high-resolution format. Finally, don't use a Photoshopped picture even if your photographer provided one. You want to show up for interviews looking like your photo—not ten years older.

Replace the Default LinkedIn Headline

LinkedIn's default Headline is terrible: your job title and company name. You might think that's okay, but the problem is that the next section is your current position.

Your Headline tells a story in six to eight keywords. A good Headline section might read:

• Python Developer | React, NodeJS, Java | TS/SCI Security Clearance
• Software Engineer | Python Developer | Back End
• Junior Developer | Python, C# | .NET Developer

Don’t worry about using all the space available here. Your Headline should be compelling but also contain keywords. Stuffing this section with too many keywords makes readers less likely to read them all. List your current or potential position and top skills, then move on.

Use Keywords–Sparingly

Keywords are essential to your LinkedIn profile as well as your resume. While you can strengthen your profile by using the right keywords throughout it, you must avoid the error of keyword stuffing.

You can think of your LinkedIn profile as part of search engine optimization (SEO). Use too many keywords, and your profile will sound spammy. But if you use too few keywords, it will be less attractive to recruiters and hiring managers.

Use LinkedIn as a search engine to understand how to optimize your profile. Look for results like Python Developer and Junior Python Developer. The most appealing profiles will attract you for organic reasons. Also, review profiles of people with headlines like Branding Specialist or LinkedIn Profile Writer for ideas on formatting Headlines and About sections.

Top keywords for Python Developer profiles include:

• Django
• MongoDB
• SQL
• Flask
• Back-End
• Full-Stack
• Engineer
• Algorithms
• Data Structures

Follow Relevant Accounts

Following relevant accounts can help you make more connections and build your network. Search by job title, industry, location, or other criteria.

Again, think of the search for candidates from a recruiter's or hiring manager's perspective. They use the LinkedIn search bar by job title, location, and keywords like those mentioned above. You can find relevant accounts to follow using criteria relevant to your industry.

When searching, click the All Filters button below the search bar. Here you can filter your search by categories like Location, Language, and Services like Software Development, Web Development, and Application Development.

Searches like these can lead to many connections and some prominent accounts to follow. Advanced search is an excellent way to grow your LinkedIn connections strategically.

5 Python Developer LinkedIn Tips

Turn Off Profile Notifications

One of the most common rookie mistakes on LinkedIn is part of the platform: you must manually change your settings to avoid making this mistake.

LinkedIn periodically changes its interface, possibly making it more difficult to find certain key features. For this feature, your change is a one-and-done prospect.

• First, click the Me icon at the top of your Profile page.
• Click Settings & Privacy.
• Under Settings, click the Visibility tab.
• Under Visibility of Your LinkedIn Activity, check the Share Profile Updates with Your Network button.
• If set to On, toggle it to Off.

If you do not perform this action, and your default setting is On, your network will receive notifications for any change to your profile—even something as minor as adding or subtracting a word.

Avoid Controversial Posts & Comments

If you have spent time on social media, you have seen bad behavior—especially in comment sections.

You might assume that no one on a professional platform like LinkedIn would be so foolish as to post opinions about religion or politics. But you'd be wrong. Some of the most-viewed posts have hundreds of comments beneath them on controversial topics like race, politics, gender equality, and other hot-button issues.

You might also feel tempted to join the fray. In a word: don't. There's little to no upside in knowing that around 50% of people who read your post will disagree, some of them strongly enough to reply.

Remember that LinkedIn will highlight your profile activity, including likes, comments, and any articles or documents you post. Stay above the fray on LinkedIn when it comes to controversial topics.

Become A Super-Connector

As you grow your network, your first move most likely includes uploading your contacts list from another device like your phone or desktop. Connecting with former classmates or co-workers can be fun, but it's not likely they know someone who needed a Python Developer position filled yesterday.

However, many people post what they need on LinkedIn, and maybe you can help them. Let's say a fellow bootcamp graduate needs a new admin, and you know an admin looking for work. Why not connect them? Message the fellow graduate to let them know you saw their post and can give them a referral. If they are open to it, follow up by sending their contact info to the admin you know.

Many LinkedIn users and other networkers build connections quickly through this type of giving. Once you reach more than 500 LinkedIn connections, your profile will no longer list the exact number. Instead, LinkedIn's algorithm automatically changes that number to 500+ at the top of your profile. Congratulations! You have now become a super-connector. 

Add Interests

This category is a great way to meet more people. LinkedIn breaks it down into Top Voices, Companies, Groups, and Schools. You can connect with your college or university, follow relevant companies, and join groups that interest you.

Top Voices accounts typically belong to users with massive followings, like LinkedIn executives, corporate CEOs, and marketing gurus. Some have hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of followers. Unless you know them personally, you should follow a few rather than ask them to connect with you.

Remember that fellow LinkedIn connections can see your information and updates, whether you know them or not. Like Facebook networking, you might maintain strict privacy controls, where only current Connections can see your other Connections. However, keep your Interests section viewable to everyone. It can help you build your Connections while you sleep.

Avoid listing interests or hobbies on your resume. Save them for LinkedIn, where you can join or create a Group. To find Groups, click My Network in your Profile. Under Manage My Network, click Groups. Then use the Search bar to find relevant Groups. A search for the title Python Developer brings up over 300 results, some with thousands of members.

You can also join groups relevant to interests other than Python. Recruiters often like to see a well-rounded individual, whether they belong to the Harvard Business Review Discussion Group or groups with names like Big Data & Analytics, Data Science Central, or Business Analyst Professional.

Get Feedback & Recommendations

Always be open to feedback and recommendations from trustworthy instructors and other professionals. Like resumes and cover letters, your LinkedIn profile should be a work in progress—whether or not you feel you have already optimized it.

One of the best resources for LinkedIn profiles may be a mentor from a bootcamp or certificate program like Noble Desktop's Python Developer Certificate. Their expert instructors provide four 1-on-1 mentoring sessions as part of the curriculum. Mentors can help with portfolio reviews, keep you on track as you learn, and offer priceless advice for your interviews, resume, and LinkedIn profile.

Whether you're at the start of your Python development career or leveling up from your first Junior Python Developer role, an engaging LinkedIn profile can serve you well both online and offline.

Learn the Skills to Become a Python Developer at Noble Desktop

To become a Python Developer, everyone needs a range of skills and knowledge. Most people start with basics, like functions, variables, and the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP). Progressing to a development role also can include additional server-side languages like React (JSX), machine learning algorithms, and object-relational mapping (ORM).

Noble Desktop offers a range of online and in-person Python classes and bootcamps for development, data science and analytics, FinTech, and cybersecurity. Instructors with practical expertise teach these programs, which feature small class sizes to ensure individual attention. Each graduate receives a certificate of completion and can even retake the course for up to one year at no additional charge.

Many Python novices review some free online resources to prepare for one of these courses. Noble Desktop’s Learn Hub includes a comprehensive guide to learning Python for development or data-centered roles. Here you can check out free on-demand courses and tutorials on topics like exchanging Excel for Python and making a Twitter bot with Python. 

If you’re new to Python training, you might want to start with an immersive course like Noble’s Python Programming Bootcamp. However, you can also save by taking this bootcamp as part of their immersive Python Developer Certificate. This program provides Python fundamentals before taking participants through in-demand tools like Django REST, Git, and SQL. Check course listings for more details, including prerequisite information.