LinkedIn is giving job-seekers more ways to stand out and add personality to their profiles. The networking platform is introducing video Cover Stories, as well as a toolset specifically for content creators.

New Customization Features for LinkedIn Profiles

Instead of letting your LinkedIn profile talk for you, why not do the talking yourself? Video Cover Stories allow you to do just that, giving you the chance to introduce yourself and showcase your skillset as soon as someone clicks on your profile.

Once you upload a short video introduction to your profile, an orange ring will appear around your profile picture. When someone visits your profile, the clip will begin playing without sound. Recruiters can click on your video Cover Story to play it with audio—LinkedIn notes that an auto-captioning feature for this is "coming soon."

LinkedIn Cover Story Example
Image Credit: LinkedIn

LinkedIn outlined these dynamic Cover Stories (and more) in a post on the LinkedIn Blog. Aside from the Cover Story, LinkedIn now lets you include your preferred pronouns in your profile, which will appear right next to your name.

LinkedIn rolled out Stories in September 2020, a feature that functions much like Stories on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. Stories are made for sharing a quick update about your professional life, and are only visible for 24 hours. A video Cover Story, on the other hand, is a more permanent showcase of your personality.

LinkedIn Rolls Out Tools for Creators, Too

In an attempt to cater to content creators, LinkedIn is unveiling creator mode. Any users with an interest in influencing others in their field can add hashtags to their profile—such as, #design or #hiring—to show others their specialties.

Creator mode will also place the Featured and Activity sections at the top of your profile, and will also swap the Connect button for Follow.

LinkedIn creator mode
Image Credit: LinkedIn

Lastly, LinkedIn Live broadcasters will see some changes as well. Instead of always displaying a static background picture on a broadcaster's profile, LinkedIn will now show a video of their current broadcast.

Getting Noticed on LinkedIn

LinkedIn isn't as simple as it used to be. With the introduction of video Cover Stories, it can be even harder to stand out in a wave of potential recruits.

But when used correctly, a video Cover Story can likely boost your chances of making more connections and potentially landing a job. Recruiters often use your resume and LinkedIn profile description as a way to feel out your personality—a video introduction, however, can really bring your personality to life.