How to Optimize an HR Business Partner LinkedIn Profile

Are you looking to optimize your HR business partner LinkedIn profile? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

The job of a human resources business partner (HRBP) is to align the functions of human resources with the strategic goals of the organization. To do this, HRBPs must maintain a deep understanding of both the business and the people.

The HRBP’s role is to strategize, plan, and execute initiatives that will support the business. They collaborate with leadership to develop and implement plans that improve communication, culture, performance, and work-life balance within the organization.

They must identify trends and issues within the organization, and develop creative solutions that address these challenges. By functioning as a bridge between the human resources department and the rest of the organization, HRBPs play a vital role in the company’s success.

One of the most important tools for HRBPs is LinkedIn. It allows HR business partners to connect with employers, clients, and other professionals in the network. It also provides a platform for HR business partners to share their knowledge and expertise with the wider community.

Whether it’s a new job opening or staying updated with the latest industry trends, HR business partners cannot undermine the importance of having a well-optimized LinkedIn profile.

With more than 830 million members in over 200 countries, LinkedIn is an important part of your personal branding. Over 87% of employers use it on a regular basis to hire top HR business partners. To date, it has helped 35+ million people in finding their dream jobs. With over 57 million companies registered on LinkedIn, now is the time to optimize your profile and get a better job.

Not receiving job invites? Low profile views? No client inquiring about your services? It’s time to roll up your sleeves and start optimizing your LinkedIn profile.

Steps to Optimize an HR Business Partner LinkedIn Profile in 2022 – Algorithms Unlocked

We’ve studied why it’s important to have your LinkedIn profile, now let’s dive into the tips and tactics for creating and optimizing one for you. Let’s create a strong and free lead magnet for your HR business partner profile.

1. Make a Strong First Impression With Your Profile Photo and Video

Before recruiters get to know or study you, they will look at your profile photo and determine how confident, reliable and competent of an HR business partner you are.

How you look has a great impact on your chances of getting a call from potential employers. Whether you believe it or not, your looks, such as professional attire and a smiling face have an impact on the chances of landing your dream job.

Did you know that you can now add a professional video to your profile photo? Please note that this feature is available on the LinkedIn app for iOS and Android. You cannot add a profile video from the website.

1. Tap your profile photo, then tap View Profile
2. Tap the Add icon on your profile photo, then tap Add profile video
   1. Enable the camera and microphone access to record a profile video
      1. From here you can:
         1. Record: Tap the record button to record a profile video
         2. Upload: Tap the Gallery icon to upload an existing video from your gallery
         3. Add Prompts: Tap Prompts to choose a prompt to answer in your video

Please note that it should be more than 3 seconds and less than 30. Within 30 seconds, give a short introduction, and mention your name, job role and why should clients or prospective employers hire you.

This is the competitive edge you need to stand out from other HRBPs on LinkedIn.

But how to take the right profile photo? Here are some practical tips:

• Use a Professional Headshot – Not having a profile photo is similar to covering your face when meeting someone in person. In today’s digital age, it is not acceptable anymore. Recruiters won’t call you unless they see you on LinkedIn. The first impression that you create is by having a LinkedIn profile picture. In one study, recruiters view you as more competent, influential, and professional if you smile in the profile photo. Many HR business partners do not have a smiling photo.
  
• Wear Professional Clothing- HR business partners need to project confidence in their profile photos. And the best way of doing it is not by wearing striped T-shirts of vibrant colors. You can do it by wearing professional attire. Do not wear clothes that may project you as a casual person. What works on other platforms may not work on LinkedIn, which is why you need to wear professional attire in your profile photo.
• Choose a Recent Image – If you’re 35, uploading an image when you were in your twenties, won’t strike a positive impression on recruiters. To project confidence, upload a recent photo, not older than 1 year. Every human being ages. Go ahead and project it with confidence on your profile.
• Keep It Simple – Your profile photo should be simple, and not cropped out of your friends or family pictures. Uploading a group photo won’t strike a positive impression on recruiters.
• Be Consistent – As an HR business partner, we recommend you have your personal website and use one high-res picture across all digital platforms. This includes your LinkedIn profile, Twitter handle, Instagram page, Facebook page/profile, and your personal website. It helps in building your brand image and will make it easy for recruiters to recognize you.
• Follow the Standard Size – Your photo should be your best representation and consume at least 60% of the total frame.
• Use filters appropriate to your environment and attire- There are 6 filters to enhance your profile photo on LinkedIn. Select one that best represents you. The spotlight filter can highlight and enhance the quality of your LinkedIn profile photo.

This is an excellent example of a professional LinkedIn headshot for an HR business partner manager at Google:

2. Be Smart With Your Profile Headline

This 220-character line summarizes your career profile as an HR business partner. Be smart with it.

Use it to advertise yourself.

After your profile photo, the headline will draw potential employers and recruiters in contacting you. It should be simple, yet elegant.

The following is a job title:

“HR business partner at XYZ Company”

How about you rewrite it this way?

“HR business partner | 7 Years of Talen Acquisition Experience | HRBP Expert | Growth-oriented Certified HRBP | 

The above headline you see has relevant keywords about your position and describes your years of experience.

The headline will appear in your LinkedIn invites, messages, and activity. Every time you comment or send a message to someone, the headline will entice others to read your message.

Looking to become an HR business partner? Enroll in our top-rated HR business partner certification right not to upskill your knowledge and excel in your career to become a professional HRBP:

Follow these tips to improve your profile headline:

• Use the elevator pitch strategy to persuade employers
• Take inspiration, but don’t copy other HRBPs’ headline
• Add relevant keywords
• Keep it under 200 characters
• Focus on your key skills and what you can offer as an HRBP
• Add a call-to-action

Here are things you should not do with your headline:

• Don’t stuff keywords
• Don’t use emojis
• Don’t show as open to new jobs as it will not have a positive impact on employers

An example of a good headline is as follows (Jennifer B. HR business partner at State of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority ):

3. Make Getting in Touch With You Easier

There will be hundreds, if not thousands, of LinkedIn profiles with your name. Although rare, many of them may also be HR business partners. So, how do you differentiate and make it easy for employers to contact you?

An excellent method to differentiate is by customizing your profile URL link. You can be unique and make it easy for recruiters to approach you.

Here are some tips to personalize your profile URL:

• Have 5 to 30 letters or numbers
• Use a variation of your name or professional brand
• Make a different URL with numbers or skills if one isn’t available with your name
• Add relevant keyword of your HRBP certification if possible

Share your profile with others using this link. You can also add a portfolio, resume, and personal website to your profile to further make it unique and attractive for employers.

The best way is to have your own website. There is no better way to personalize yourself than having your own real estate on the internet. Look around in your circles. How many HRBPs you know have their personal website? But if you have one, it will improve your chances of landing a high-paying job with a strong career outlook.

Here’s how to add a link:

1. Click the edit icon on the top right of your profile
2. Scroll to the bottom and click Add website under the Website section
3. Paste the link of your portfolio in the first field and write the text for the link in the text field

Here’s an example:

You can also add in your email, contact number, address, and links to social profiles. Here is what a customized URL with links to the portfolio will look like:

4. Give Your Sweet and Short Introduction

Now that you have a professional profile photo and a lucrative headline, what’s the next step?

Your introduction. This is your time to shine by telling the world how reliable, competent, and professional HR business partner you are.

Not having an introduction is similar to not answering about yourself during the interview process.

But why do you need an introduction?

It is imperative potential employers and recruiters get to know you beforehand. Paint a vivid picture of your career snapshots with words to persuade employers in contacting you.

This is a 2000-character space. Don’t limit yourself to past work experiences. Talk about how you as an HRBP can add value to your clients.

Here are some relevant keywords you can add to your introduction. The idea is not to stuff the introduction with these keywords, but to use them in a manner that describes your persona:

• HR business partner
• Talent acquisition
• Talen retaining
• Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS)
• Performance management
• HR policies
• HR consulting
• People-oriented
• Labor relations
• Change management

Focus on what differentiates you from other HR business partners. Here are some tips to take into account when writing your HR business partner LinkedIn profile introduction:

• Who you are
• What are your skills as an HR business partner
• Your achievements with past employers
• The projects you initiated
• The impact of projects
• Use people-oriented language
• Write in a formal but simple English
• Be yourself and exclude mentions of the tasks you didn’t do
• Add in your USP (Unique Value Proposition)
• Optimize your profile with multiple keywords related to HR management and leadership

Here is what an HR business partner’s profile should look like:

5. Upload a Customized Resume to Your Profile

Every job is different. While your LinkedIn profile is complete, employers will demand a soft copy of your resume.

But why?

Recruiters are busy people. They have enough on their plate. Many recruiters won’t open your profile time and again to skim through it. It’s better to have a 1-page resume to go along with your profile.

Your LinkedIn profile is a summary of your career, and you as a person.

Your resume is a one-page snapshot of your work experience, education, and skills, customized for each managerial position.

Here is one way of adding a resume to your profile:

1. Create a new post and then click on Add a document option at the bottom of the window
2. Browse to your folder and select the resume
3. Add relevant hashtags and mention yourself when creating this post
4. Click on Post to post your resume

6. Show Your Brief Work History

Your introduction has made a big impact on potential employers. But now, they want to see your past work experience to justify your claims.

The Experience section on your profile highlights current and previous work experience. This should be the same as on your resume. Potential employers, search consultants, and clients will skim through your work experience to determine your job responsibilities.

Here are some tips on optimizing your work history on LinkedIn:

• Add Company Name – Include your company name. Most of the time, the company will be on LinkedIn. Once you start typing, you can see it in the drop-down menu 
• Enter the Job Title – Mention your exact job title, such as “HR business partner”, or “Senior HR business partner.”
• Add the Location – Mention “New York City, United States”, instead of “United States.”
• Provide the duration – Do not mention dates. List your experiences in months and years, such as November 2021 to Present, or November 2021 to June  2022
• Write Description – Use 3 to 6 bullet points to describe your role.
• Mention Achievements – Provide a number with your achievement. For example, “Automated the recruitment and day-to-day management by introducing an HRIS program resulting in 25% productivity.”
• Attach Media – Include links to projects, videos, or presentations. These will create a positive impression on potential employers. For HR business partners, you can include presentations on recruitment strategies, training videos, HRIS, and a business plan

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Do not mention irrelevant work experience
• List the most recent work experience at the top
• Focus on achievements with numbers
• List your areas of focus
• Do not forget to proofread before publishing

83% of employers expressed their concerns about LinkedIn profiles having spelling and grammar typos. You have poured an incredible amount of time into writing and optimizing your profile. Don’t ruin it with one small mistake. If you are not good at English, hire a professional writer and proofreader to do this part for you.

This is what your Experience section should look like (Monica Peter):

7. Mention Your Education and Skills

Education and skills are important sections because they highlight your expertise and qualifications. If you are seeking a new job or trying to attract new clients, feature your education and skills on your LinkedIn profile. Doing so will give you a competitive edge and help you to achieve your professional goals.

Human resource business partners need at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field. But if you have a master’s degree, employers may prefer you over others.

Employers also value soft skills such as strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

Profiles with a filled Education section have 10 times more profile views than those with no education.

There are three different sections on LinkedIn to add to your education:

1. General education
2. Certifications
3. Courses

Here is what you need to add in the Education section:

1. Formal education
2. Degree
3. The name of the educational institute and the years attended
4. Relevant certifications
5. Online or physical courses

Here is what the Education section on LinkedIn should look like:

Some employers also prefer candidates who have HR certification from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) or the HR Certification Institute (HRCI). With over 3000 learners and a stellar 5.0-star review, you can also find certifications that HR university offers.

Here is a screenshot of an HR business partner’s profile with all the certifications:

LinkedIn is all about making connections – whether that’s connecting with potential employers, clients, or business partners. And one of the best ways to make those connections is through volunteer work.

Volunteer work demonstrates your commitment to a cause, your leadership skills, and your ability to work well with others. It also shows that you’re able to step outside of your comfort zone and take on new challenges.

For HR business partners, LinkedIn is an essential tool for building relationships and expanding their network. Through volunteer work, you can connect with individuals who share their values and are passionate about making a difference.

As an HR business partner, you can show volunteer experience in the following ways:

• By working at an NGO
• By providing consultation to a community and helping them in hiring the best talent
• By giving volunteer hours at a company that has a policy of giving back to the community
• By helping a community project through HRIS

Employers want to see that you are someone who is willing to give back to the community and make a difference. Volunteering provides you with valuable skills and experiences that can benefit your professional career. For instance, if you volunteer for an organization that focuses on HR, you can learn valuable skills that you can then use in a paid position.

It reflects as a positive indicator of a candidate’s character and work ethic. 

Add relevant skills and ask others in your network to endorse you. Here are some for an HR business partner:

1. Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills
2. Excellent organizational skills
3. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
4. Ability to delegate tasks
5. Training and development skills

Remember, relevancy is the key to success.

Here’s an excellent example of listing volunteer experience and skills:

8. Broadcast Your Location

Employers and search consultants use location filters to narrow down their search results and find the most reliable HR business partner. If you are not using your accurate location on your profile, chances are you may end up not receiving any response from clients or employers.

9. Request Recommendations From Connections

While many people view recommendations as a vote, the truth is that they can have a significant impact on your job prospects.

Most recruiters not only look at qualifications and experience but also pay attention to what other people are saying about them. If you have a lot of positive recommendations from respected professionals, it will make you more attractive to potential employers. If a candidate doesn’t have any recommendations or negative ones, it could deter potential recruiters away.

HR business partners with recommendations justify their skills.

Here’s a perfect example of recommendations:

Reach out to your previous hiring managers, colleagues, and clients. Ask them to share their work experiences with you. There are two ways of getting recommendations:

1. You can request it from someone in your network
2. You can write a recommendation for others, and have them write one back for you

10. Use the Creator Mode

If you’re a content creator or plan of becoming one, then LinkedIn should be your first choice. Many YouTubers and content creators on other social media platforms have now started flocking in to LinkedIn to share their views in a professional manner.

LinkedIn launched the Creator Mode to make it easy for users to post long-form articles, videos, and audio files with a wider audience and grow followers. To become a content creator on LinkedIn, enable the Creator Mode from the Settings. You will now have access to a new set of tools, including the ability to tag articles with keywords, schedule posts in advance, and view analytics about your audience.

By creating content on a consistent basis, you develop authority in your topic.

Set up your profile on creator mode and start publishing content relevant to HR management. Here are some topics you can cover in the form of articles, blog posts, and videos:

• Who is an HR business partner?
• What are the top qualities of an HR business partner?
• What are the education, qualifications, and skills you need to become an HRBP?
• HRBP in the modern workforce
• What certifications can you get as an HRBP?

Here is what this feature does:

• It changes the Connect button on your profile to Follow, helping you grow your audience
• It lists your posts and followers on the profile
• It highlights posts to help you prioritize showcasing your content over work experience
• It gives access to the LinkedIn Live feature, which helps build and nurture a community of followers.
• It gives access to a newsletter feature, which means whenever you publish a LinkedIn article, subscribers receive push and email notifications.

Here is an excellent example (Jennifer B):

Conclusion

LinkedIn profiles are important for human resource business partners because they provide a way to showcase their skills and experience to potential employers. Employers often review LinkedIn profiles when making hiring decisions, so it is important to make sure yours is up-to-date and accurate. Now that you’ve gone through the entire guide, it is time to start implementing it. 

If you are new to Human Resources and are looking to break into an HR Business Partner role, we recommend taking our HR Business Partner Certification Course, where you will learn how to build your skillset in human resources business partner realm, build your HRBP network, craft a great HRBP resume, and create a successful HRBP job search strategy.

Josh Fechter

Josh Fechter is the founder of HR.University. He's a certified HR professional and has managed global teams across 5 different continents including their benefits and payroll. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.