How many LinkedIn profiles/accounts should I have?
Dear Deb:
How many LinkedIn profiles/accounts should I have? Should I have one for each possible career path? I am a pottery artist, registered nurse, and a wedding photographer. My instincts are to have one profile for my pottery and photography and another one for my professional life as a nurse. Do I need to use different names?
Thank you, Chris B.
Dear Chris:
I would recommend against multiple LinkedIn accounts/profiles. Most branding and career experts also recommend having just one LinkedIn account. Think of LinkedIn account as “one per person” and as a person you have many facets. We don't have to show everything on a LinkedIn profile, but we can choose the facets of your life that are most active and relevant to your professional goals - that can include goals for two different career paths.
The fact that you are a creative pottery artist and talented photographer does not take away from your nursing career. Your career as a nurse would not detract others from taking your art seriously. However, you want to create your profile with a theme to weave everything together. For example, your headline may read, “Dedicated family practice RN and passionate, gifted pottery artist and photographer.” Most employers want a candidate with many interests and talents.
If you have a question for Deb, please email debra@careersdonewrite.com. The Ask Deb column appears every Friday on our blog at the Careers Done Write website.