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.  

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