LinkedIn Goals for Entry-Level Tech Professionals

The LinkedIn profile habits that make Aussie tech professionals look outdated and how to fix them. I’ve reviewed hundreds of tech LinkedIn profiles across Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. Here are the signals that instantly date your profile plus the fixes that make hiring managers actually reach out: ❌ Headline = current job title only. “Software Engineer at X Company” tells me what you do, not why you matter. ✅ Replace with: your value prop or niche in one line. Example: “Full-stack engineer specialising in TypeScript and scalable fintech systems.” ❌ About section = copy-paste of your CV. Blocky paragraphs. Corporate tone. Reads like a template. ✅ Replace with: 3 short paragraphs that show personality + proof. 1️⃣ What you do 2️⃣ Why you’re good at it (impact, metrics, results). 3️⃣ What you’re exploring next. Example: “Cloud engineer with 6 years improving deployment pipelines and cost efficiency across AWS. Recently led migration that cut infrastructure spend by 40%.” Here’s a quick example from a client: Before: “Results-driven professional with strong teamwork skills.” After: “Backend engineer with 5 years in Go, building APIs supporting 1M+ monthly users.” That’s the difference between adjectives and evidence. ❌ Experience section = duties and buzzwords. Looks like a job description, not a story of progress. ✅ Replace with: outcomes and results. Example: “Built internal monitoring tools that reduced production incidents by 35%.” ❌ No recent activity. A silent profile signals stagnation — even for top performers. ✅ Replace with: light visibility. Comment weekly or share one insight from your current project. Recruiters across Sydney and Auckland also check your activity before they reach out. Visibility = credibility. There are two things that matter more than fancy banners or buzzwords: 1️⃣ Write like a human who knows their craft. 2️⃣ Make it easy for someone to grasp your value in 10 seconds. A LinkedIn profile isn’t about showing off. It’s about being easy to find when opportunity starts looking for you. Liked this? Make sure to follow me, I have some exciting things in store for you for 2026 :)

I don’t know what I’m doing this winter break. is the sentence I’ve heard at least 20 times this week (and honestly… real). Winter break is such a weird in-between: too short to make huge plans, enough to travel somewhere for a week-ish. Too long to sit around doom-scrolling until the first week of January before school. And when everyone else is posting their “2025 goals” and “New Year, New Me” lists… it’s easy to feel like you should be doing more. But here’s the truth: You can make small, meaningful progress in 2.5 weeks — without turning your break into a bootcamp. So I made a list of 33 realistic things you can actually accomplish before the end of the year (and most take ~an hour). Not to “optimize productivity,” but to help you feel a little more grounded going into 2026. Pick 3… or pick 10… or pick none. You’re allowed to rest and still grow at the same time. Here are 33 things you can do this winter break if you feel a little directionless: 1. Update your LinkedIn profile (headline, About, experience) 2. Refresh your resume with new projects or roles 3. Create a 2026 version of your portfolio 4. Apply to 5–10 early career programs 5. Set up LinkedIn job alerts for your dream companies 6. Do 1–2 coffee chats with alumni or professionals 7. Make a list of companies you want to target in spring/summer recruiting 8. Draft a “career brag sheet” summarizing your year 9. Take new headshots (your camera + natural lighting) 10. Write a 2025 reflection: wins, lessons, pivots 11. Redo your LinkedIn banner to match your personal brand/university/etc 12. Read one industry article a day 13. Reorganize your Notion or Google Calendar system 14. Sign up for one free online course or certification 15. Update your featured section (projects, newsletters, awards) 16. Practice X amount of mock interview questions (behavioral or technical) 17. Rewrite your elevator pitch to use for the "why question" in an interview 18. Start a mini-project or case study you can complete in 48 hours 19. Polish your portfolio case studies 20. Apply to scholarships, fellowships, or mentorships 21. Create a list of people you want to reach out to in 2026 22. Build/design a simple digital product (Notion template, resume guide, etc.) 23. Clean up your email + unsubscribe from spam 24. Rewrite your professional bio 25. Try a new side hustle or skill you’ve been curious about (I've been wanting to learn more about vibe-coding!) 26. Update your skills section on LinkedIn 27. Reflect on what you don’t want next year 28. Write thank-you messages to mentors or professors 29. Join 1–2 online communities in your field 30. Create a “2026 Vision Board” (Pinterest or Canva) 31. Read a book or listen to a podcast in your industry 32. Organize your files, photos, + workspace 33. Choose one goal you want to commit to in January Have an amazing winter break for all my fellow students! _____________ 💙 Like or share the list! ☻ Follow Arlina Yang for Day 19 of #LinkedMas tomorrow

The time to start networking is now. As professionals, sometimes we think “I don’t have the time to network.” The truth is, we all have the same amount of time - but spend it differently. If you hop on a Teams call today and HR joins with your boss and you are told your role is eliminated, one of the first things you might think of after the shock clears is: “who do I know that can help me find my next role.” That moment is not the time to begin to think about your network, it was actually 5 years ago when you got that promotion and the expanded responsibilities. Your professional network is as important as continuous learning, building skills for the future and being a high performer. Here are some ways for you to create space to network as well as practical tips: 1. Celebrate promotions and new roles of colleagues or people in your LI network. Take an interest. When someone leaves for a new company, put a reminder on your calendar for 90 days out and check in with them: how is X company and the new role going? 2. Develop a list of your top 10 companies you’d like to work for and see who you know that works there or connect with people there and begin to create connectivity: keep me in mind if you hear of a role that might be a fit and I can do the same for you. 3. Be willing to respond to LI messages from people you don’t know who might be seeking a role: answer questions and connect them to recruiting - I’m not sure about that role but here are a couple of recruiters in my company that might have more info. 4. Pay attention to where skills are going in your area of specialization and make the time to get entrenched and curious: when interesting roles surface internally or externally you want to have these skills not be caught on your back foot. 5. Be active on LinkedIn. Engage with posts, create your own content and share thought leadership around key topics or where your area of specialization is headed. Pro tip: don’t make the mistake of thinking LinkedIn is only for your external network. It can be equally important or even more powerful for building your internal network and brand at your current company - which can lead to new roles, expanded roles and other exposure. #opentowork #networking #careerjourney #careerprogression #skills #futureofwork

Most tech professionals only think about their career when they need a new job. By then, it's too late. You're scrambling to update a stale LinkedIn. Reaching out to cold contacts. Trying to remember what you accomplished two years ago. Competing against people who've been planning for months. Most people wait because they think career building is "extra work." It's not extra work. It's insurance. The best opportunities don't go to the most qualified. They go to the most prepared. 7 habits that separate strategic tech professionals from reactive ones: 1️⃣ Keep your story sharp One sentence: "I help X do Y by Z." Update every 3 months. Clarity beats cleverness. 2️⃣ Build relationships before you need them Message one person weekly in your target space. Ask a thoughtful question. No ask. Just curiosity. 3️⃣ Track wins as they happen "Career Wins" doc. One entry every Friday. Metrics make it real. 4️⃣ Focus your positioning Pick one role, one level, one company type. Cut everything else. Confusion kills opportunities. 5️⃣ Stay visible when you're not hunting Comment on two posts weekly in your target space. Share insight, not praise. Be known for thinking, not liking. 6️⃣ Practice interviews like any other skill Record yourself answering 3 common questions. Watch. Cut the unclear parts. Repeat. Weekly reps make it natural. 7️⃣ Control inputs, not outcomes Set weekly targets you own: One meaningful conversation. One story refined. One skill sharpened. Consistency creates momentum. Momentum creates confidence. Confidence creates opportunities. Stop waiting for the "right time" to think strategically. The right time was six months ago. The second best time is today. Position yourself before you need to. React, and you're already competing from behind.

In the past 3 years, I’ve reviewed hundreds of LinkedIn profiles and helped those people land roles in startups. And after all those reviews, one thing is clear: LinkedIn isn’t optional anymore. It’s your public storefront, your first impression. And the #1 way you get surfaced to the people who can change the trajectory of your career. Upwards of 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to source talent, and that number is even higher in startups, where hiring leans heavily on personal networks and warm signals. So if you’re trying to land a startup role in 2026, your profile needs to work for you, not against you. Here’s exactly how to make yours stand out in today’s market: 1️⃣ 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴. Skip the fluffy adjectives. Make it unmistakably clear who you are and what you do. Use this framework: “Job Title | Skills | Who you help + your unique value prop” Your goal is simple: make someone reading it immediately understand your value. 2️⃣ 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁, 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳. One strong, quantified achievement per role is enough, but it has to hit hard. Not tasks. Not responsibilities. Impact. What did you change, fix, improve, or grow? The fastest way to stand out is to show you’ve done work that moved the needle. 3️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. You’d be shocked how many qualified people are invisible in searches simply because they forgot keywords or left out industry-specific skills. List the tools, domains, and functions you actually want to be hired for. Set your “Open to Work” preferences to match where you want to go, not where you’ve been. 4️⃣ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁. Pin one post that backs up your positioning line, something that demonstrates your expertise, your perspective, or a recent win. It doesn’t need to go viral. It just needs to show you’re a credible operator who thinks deeply about their craft. Optimizing your LinkedIn profile isn’t glamorous, but it’s one of the highest-leverage hours you can spend on your job search. 📌 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 - you’ll want it when your next interview loop starts. 👋 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗲, Kyle Thomas, for practical startup job-search strategies + weekly curated job lists. ✉️ 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵? DM me to learn how Early can support you.

New Year, New Career? The phrase "new year, new me" floats around every January, but when it comes to career growth, the excitement fades by February. Why? Because setting career resolutions is easy – sticking to them is where the challenge begins. So, if you’re serious about making 2025 the year of career breakthroughs, here’s a better way to approach it: 1. Be Specific – "I want a better job" isn’t enough. What does better mean to you? - Is it higher pay? - More creative freedom? - Remote work? - A leadership role? Define it. Without specifics, you’re chasing a vague idea. Try this: “By April, I want to transition into a project management role in a tech company that aligns with my passion for sustainable innovation.” 2. Break It Down – Small steps lead to big wins. A career shift doesn’t happen overnight. Break your goal into quarterly or monthly milestones. Q1: Update your LinkedIn and resume. Q2: Network with 10 professionals in your target industry. Q3: Take an online course or earn a certification. Q4: Start applying, interviewing, and negotiating. Suddenly, it feels achievable. 3. Skills Over Job Titles – Focus on the journey. Maybe the dream job doesn’t exist yet. But the skills needed to land it do. Focus on upskilling. - Soft skills: Communication, leadership, critical thinking. - Hard skills: Master a new software, coding, data analytics – whatever aligns with your goals. - Ask yourself: What would make me 20% more valuable by mid-year? 4. Accountability – Don’t keep it to yourself. Tell a friend, mentor, or even LinkedIn about your goal. Public accountability keeps you committed. Plus, your network might open doors you didn’t expect. Example post: "In 2025, I’m focusing on transitioning into UX design. If you're in the industry, I’d love to connect and hear about your experiences!" 5. Celebrate Small Wins – Momentum matters. Each step counts. Landing one interview or gaining a new skill deserves recognition. Momentum keeps the fire burning. 📌This year doesn’t have to be another cycle of "what ifs." Take small, intentional steps now, and by the time December rolls around, you'll be glad you started today. 👉 Thinking of making a career shift this year? What’s the first thing on your list? #career #hr #newyear #careergoals #chro #careerdevelopment

Applying online feels like shouting into the void. You're up against thousands of applicants, experienced pros, and recent layoff victims. Here's how to do it: 🧵 1/9: Stop relying on the 'Easy Apply' button. Your new strategy is direct outreach. Cold emailing is your secret weapon. → Identify 5-10 companies you actually want to work for. → Find the hiring manager or team lead on LinkedIn. → Send a concise, high-value email: Who you are, why them, and what problem you can solve. Attach a project or idea, not just a resume. 2/9: Your LinkedIn profile isn't just a resume, it's a billboard. → Optimize your headline for the job you want, not the one you have. → Post content/comments about your industry. Show your expertise. → Send personalized connection requests to people at your target companies. No generic invites! "I saw your post on X and found it insightful..." is a great start. 3/9: Networking events (virtual & in-person) are back. Don't just collect contacts, build relationships. → Goal: Have 2-3 meaningful conversations, not 20 superficial ones. → Ask questions: "What's the most exciting project you're working on?" → Follow up within 24 hours with a personalized note referencing your conversation. 4/9: Leverage AI to work smarter, not harder. → Use tools like Kickresume or Teal to optimize your resume for specific job descriptions. → Use ChatGPT or Gemini to draft personalized cover letters & outreach messages (then edit heavily!). → Practice interviews with AI simulators like Yoodli to get real-time feedback on your speech. 5/9: Automate the tedious parts so you can focus on the human parts. → Set up specific Google Alerts & LinkedIn job alerts for niche roles. → Use a tool like a simple Notion or Trello board to track your applications, contacts, and follow-up dates. → Connect your job tracker to your calendar to automatically create reminders for follow-ups. 6/9: The "More" is about building proof of work. → Create a simple portfolio website (Carrd, Webflow). → Write a blog post or create a short video analyzing a trend in your field. → Contribute to an open-source project or create a small project that solves a problem you have. Show, don't just tell. 7/9: Treat your job search like a sales process. You are the product. → Create a target list of "accounts" (companies). → Your "leads" are the hiring managers and team members. → Track your "funnel": outreach sent → conversations had → interviews scheduled → offers received. This gamifies the process and keeps you motivated. 8/9: Putting it all together. Your week should be a mix: → 20% applying online (to have a baseline). → 40% direct outreach & follow-ups (cold email, LinkedIn). → 20% networking & relationship building. → 20% creating content or projects (building your brand). 9/9: The market is tough, but a systematic, multi-channel approach puts you miles ahead of the competition. Stop competing. Start connecting. You've got this.

The most overlooked LinkedIn opportunity that can dramatically boost your tech job search: Strategic storytelling on your LinkedIn profile. Most people treat their LinkedIn profile like an online resume, just copy-pasting bullet points without adding any new value. But if your profile mirrors your resume exactly, why should a recruiter bother clicking the link? Your LinkedIn profile should tell the deeper story behind your resume—the context, collaboration, and impact that a one-page format can't capture. You have 2,000 characters per role description, yet most people waste this space by copying over three short resume bullets. Instead, every role description should include: - The teams and stakeholders you collaborated with - How you applied your technical skills to drive results - The specific challenges you solved and overcame - Meaningful project details that showcase your problem-solving process Do this consistently, and you'll stand out from the thousands of CS graduates using generic profiles to compete for the same roles. Tag someone who needs to see this (and maybe offer to review each other's profiles)!

✨ The new year brings new opportunities—but only if you’re ready. Here’s how to position yourself for success in the first quarter of 2025: 1️⃣ Audit your online presence First impressions happen online. Whether it's your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or even your social media, make sure they reflect who you are and where you're headed in your career. 👉 Quick Tip: Update your LinkedIn headline to include your current role + key skills or achievements. Example: “Project Manager | Delivering complex IT solutions ahead of schedule & under budget.” 2️⃣ Set SMART goals for Q1 Clarity is key. Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals for the first three months. 👉 Example: Instead of saying, “I want to grow my network,” try “I will connect with 10 new professionals in my industry each week and engage with their content meaningfully.” 3️⃣ Reconnect with your network Opportunities often come from those you already know. Take the time to reach out, check in, and rekindle old connections. 👉 What to say: “Hi [Name], it’s been a while! I noticed you’ve been working on [project/topic]. Would love to catch up and hear more about it. Let me know if you’re free for a quick virtual coffee!” 4️⃣ Identify key opportunities Look beyond job boards. Keep an eye on your target companies for new projects, leadership changes, or expansion plans that could signal upcoming opportunities. 👉 Proactive Strategy: Create a shortlist of 10 companies and start engaging with decision-makers by commenting on their posts or sharing thoughtful insights. 5️⃣ Build a habit of consistency Consistency wins over motivation. Whether it’s updating your skills, building your network, or applying for roles, showing up regularly is what creates long-term success. 👉 Action Plan: Block time each week to focus on job search activities—networking, upskilling, and applications. Treat it like an important meeting you can’t cancel. 💡 Final Thought: The first quarter is the perfect time to build momentum. Whether you’re looking for a new role or seeking to grow in your current one, positioning yourself early gives you a head start on making 2025 your most successful year yet. 🔖 Save this post to revisit your action plan, and if you’re ready to dive deeper into a career strategy that works, stay tuned for more posts coming your way! 🚀 #CareerDevelopment #JobSearch #NewYearGoals #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth

I’ve helped 1,000+ people land their dream jobs in the last 3 years. Here are the strategies that worked for them: 1️⃣ Treat Your Job Hunt Like a Job in Itself: - Most people desperately need a job, but they don’t treat job hunting seriously. - Schedule time daily for job searching, networking, and following up. Use Google calendar for this. - Research companies and tailor your resume for each role. Follow up consistently—persistence pays off! 2️⃣ Network Before You Need a Job - Networking isn’t just for when you're jobless—it’s an ongoing investment. - Engage with professionals on LinkedIn through comments and DMs. - Connect with people in your target companies before you need a referral. Here is a plan you can follow: Send 5 connection requests every day. Comment on 10 posts every day. Create a post about your learnings per week. 3️⃣ Master the Art of Cold Emails Cold emails can open doors to opportunities you never even knew existed. Make it a habit to: - Reach out to at least 3 new people daily. - Personalize your message—explain why you’re a great fit (skills, experience, proof of work). - Use tools like Apollo, EasyLeadz, or RocketReach to find emails. 4️⃣ Tap Into Your Existing Network Your next job might come from your college alumni or ex-colleagues. Search for your target company on LinkedIn > Find people you’re already connected with (alum or colleagues) > Ask for an intro it works most of the time! 5️⃣ Prepare Like a Pro Getting an interview call is only half the battle. Research the company, common questions, and past interview experiences. Practice mock interviews (with a friend or ChatGPT). Prepare answers for questions like: ✅ "Tell me about yourself" ✅ "How would you improve X product?" ✅ "How do you handle stakeholder challenges?" Remember: "If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail." 6️⃣ Deserve What You Desire - You can’t just wish for a job—you have to earn it. - Acquire the right skills through courses, projects, or mentorship. - Talk to people in your target roles to understand what they actually do. - Build proof of work (side projects, blogs, open-source contributions). Most importantly—be genuinely passionate about what you do. After all, you’ll spend your most valuable time and energy on it. P.S. I am on a mission to help people get their dream jobs in product management. If you are PM or aspiring PM looking for your next role, do send me a message or comment below, I will send you curated resources to help you get your next PM role! Best of luck.