What Is a Specialization on LinkedIn?

We are living in a world where every job is getting separated into different branches and each one of these branches needs its own expert. For example, I used to teach the German language for a couple of years when I was still a college student.

I used to work with kids (8-11 years old), my mother also used to teach the German language when she was a student, but there was no age limitation in the time of her teaching. Her students could be kids to older people. She even had a 70-year-old French man as a student for a couple of months.

But when I was teaching my specialization was teaching children (for the years of working in different preschools and passing some children psychology lessons). So what is a specialization on LinkedIn?

It was the exact question of one of my cousins at a family gathering. He just got his degree in IT engineering and he was optimizing his LinkedIn profile to get a decent job ASAP.

So I thought I needed to tell him the what, the why, and how of specialization on LinkedIn. Then a week or two after that party, a friend of mine asked me the same question and this incident kept repeating until I decided to write about what is a specialization on LinkedIn. Let’s dive into it, shall we?

What is a specialization on LinkedIn?

Specialization is a word that people use to separate their field of work or study from the mainstream to demonstrate their expertise. Like, an IT engineer’s specialization can be data analysis or system development, or in the case of psychology, your specialization can be different addictions or juvenile delinquency, etc.

When you get deep into a field of work or study, you can say that you are growing your skills and knowledge as an expert in one of that field’s branches.

That is called specialization, and it is strongly suggested to have the required skills, preparations, and practices before entering into the realm of your specialization, for you will be expected to have them already.

Why do you need specialization?

The modern era requires modern standards. It is not like the old times when a wise man could get expert in many different fields, like Da Vinci who was a mathematician, a physicist, an artist, etc. the modern human needs to focus on a field for there is no end in any knowledge right now.

You know that priests used to treat people during the medieval ages right? Why was that? That was because the human knowledge of medicine was so limited that even clergymen could get expert in it. What about now? It is so much different, right?

For example, in ophthalmology, we have many specialties. From prophet expert to corneal surgery fellowship and so on. In the spine section we have orthopedic specialists, spine specialists, spine surgeons, shoulder surgeons, etc.you can find them in hospitals. Our world is a world of expertise.

A recent study in this shows that by 2050, more than 90% of the jobs will be divided into smaller fields and everyone will need to specialize in a specific field to find a job. It may seem ridiculous, but you probably have to specialize in street sweeping with a special device even to sweep the streets.

This trend has started for years and none of us can stop it. Just as accountants couldn’t stop the development of computers and silent film directors and actors were forced to accept sound in their movies.

We also have to accept that when people see the word specialize in front of someone’s name, they say to themselves “Wow, this guy must be doing a great job” or “He/she has received a lot of training in such problems, it is better to hire him or to consult with this person for my problem than with someone who is not specialized at this matter.”

This happens even if the non-expert person can provide a better service or any other things that the specialist cannot.

I mean many people might be working safe and sound in their jobs for years and do not call themselves an expert, do we really need a certificate, a diploma, a license, or anything else? There is no straight answer to that one.

Yes, there are millions of people who are working without any special diploma and they are good at their jobs, probably much better than many of us who added a specialization in front of our names.

But still, for billions of people education matters too much, have you seen the job ads in recent years? Most of them are asking the applicants to have one or two specializations as necessities, especially in the tech realm. S

o considering that it might be a good idea to try to get specialized in something, right? It worked for many and it might actually work for you too.

How does specialization work?

Let me tell this one with an example of global studies (a university M.A field of study). I used to teach EDC (economics of development) in a college once and know a bit about this major.

So imagine that you get accepted into this college to study global studies. The first semester is dedicated to general courses such as the basics of economics, basics of political science, basics of sociology, art history, etc.

But from the second semester, everything gets complicated. Students now have to choose in which field they want to continue their studies.

They must choose one of several world regions such as South America, Central America, the United States, Western Europe, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Middle East, East Asia, Southeast Asia, etc. But the story does not end here. A

fter that, they have to choose how they want to investigate these areas. Economically, politically, socially, or from the eyes of culture and art?

Now that they are divided into more than 50 groups, their courses will no longer be common. Some courses are so specialized that there might be only one or two professors in the whole country who have the knowledge to teach them properly.

For example, in the department of Japanese culture and art, there was a course called Wabi and Sabi, which the faculty had to invite professors from Tokyo universities to teach. That is how specialization works.

This happens in many fields, from high-tech to medicine, to art, to physics, to astrology, etc. This is the exact form of modern science, and for this reason, having specialization in a field is one of the requirements for getting employed in a decent position.

The importance of specialization on LinkedIn

Do you see the importance of specialization on LinkedIn now? Not yet? Let me tell you that most of the recruiters who are offering a perfect job are looking for experts in a special field.

They are to find people who are specialized in a particular thing and when they find the correct candidate, they will make them an offer they can’t refuse (in the terms of salary and conditions of course).

The recruiters are also called head hunters and hunting specialized heads is their big mission.

On another side of the story, if you are the admin of a company page, you can make people trust you, your product, and your services when you add a specialization in front of your name and of course provide some documents to prove it.

For instance, imagine that you are a company owner and want to employ some contractor to design a website for your company, in which you can both introduce your products and also sell them online, so you need this website to be user-friendly, attractive, have a good UI and UX, and many other features that any company websites/online shops are required to have.

You are searching on LinkedIn and bam! You see a company page that is offering the exact service you want.

Usually what I do in this situation is to check the company page’s admin profile. I need to know if they know what they are actually talking about.

Imagine that the Admin is a woman named Susan Fox, with a professional photo and then there is this title in front of her name “head manager of the web design section in RxS design, specialized in online shop designing).

Now I can trust her and her company much easier and I will probably send her a message to consult about my website. This is the beginning of a deal.

Related Questions & Answers

What to write in specialization in resume

When writing your specialization in a resume, it’s important to highlight your key areas of expertise and specialization that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Here’s what you can include:

1. Industry-Relevant Skills: Identify the specific skills that set you apart in your field. For example, if you’re in the technology industry, you can mention your expertise in programming languages, software development, data analysis, or project management. Tailor your specialization to match the skills and qualifications sought by employers in your desired industry.
2. Subject-Matter Expertise: Showcase your deep knowledge and understanding of specific subjects or domains. This could be related to your academic background, professional certifications, or extensive experience in a particular field. For instance, if you’re in the marketing field, you can highlight your expertise in digital marketing strategies, content creation, SEO, or social media marketing.
3. Key Accomplishments: Include any notable achievements or projects that demonstrate your specialization and expertise. This could be successful initiatives you’ve led, awards you’ve received, or significant contributions you’ve made in your field. Emphasize the outcomes, impact, or results you achieved to showcase your effectiveness in your specialization.
4. Relevance to the Job: Customize your specialization statement to align with the job requirements and the needs of the employer. Identify the specific skills, knowledge, or experience that are most relevant to the position and emphasize those in your specialization. This helps employers quickly identify your unique value and fit for the role.

By clearly articulating your specialization, you provide employers with a focused snapshot of your expertise and qualifications. This allows them to quickly assess your suitability for the position and understand the value you can bring to their organization.

Can you change your specialization in LinkedIn

Yes, you can change your specialization on LinkedIn. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Edit Your LinkedIn Profile: Sign in to your LinkedIn account and navigate to your profile. Click on the “Edit” button, which allows you to make changes to your profile information.
2. Update the Specialization Section: Scroll down to the “Skills & Endorsements” section of your profile. Under the “Skills” section, you can find the “Specialties” field. Click on the pencil icon next to it to edit your specialization.
3. Revise or Add Specializations: In the “Specialties” field, you can modify or add new specializations that accurately reflect your skills and expertise. You can include keywords or phrases that are relevant to your industry or desired job roles. Be concise and specific in describing your specialization.
4. Save the Changes: Once you have made the desired updates to your specialization, click the “Save” button to save the changes. LinkedIn will now reflect your updated specialization in your profile.

Remember to keep your specialization up-to-date and relevant to your career goals. By regularly reviewing and updating your specialization, you can showcase your evolving skills and expertise to potential employers and professional connections on LinkedIn.

What do I put for specialization on LinkedIn if I’m in high school

If you’re in high school and creating a LinkedIn profile, you can still include a specialization section to highlight your areas of interest or skills. Here’s what you can put for specialization on LinkedIn:

1. Academic Interests: Since you’re in high school, focus on highlighting your academic interests and subjects you excel in. For example, if you’re passionate about science, mathematics, literature, or computer programming, you can list those as your specializations. This will give others an idea of your academic strengths and areas of expertise.
2. Extracurricular Activities and Achievements: Consider including your involvement in extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, or leadership roles. If you’ve received any awards or recognition for your accomplishments, mention those as well. These experiences can demonstrate your skills, teamwork, and dedication, even if they may not be directly related to a specific field.

Remember, LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, so it’s essential to present yourself in a way that showcases your interests, skills, and potential. By including relevant academic interests and highlighting your extracurricular activities, you can create a well-rounded profile that reflects your high school experiences and aspirations.

In a nutshell

What is a specialization on LinkedIn? That might be your question as well. Specialization is a word that many of us use to express that we are very knowledgeable in a particular field.

Maybe this issue is not very important from your point of view, but many people are currently looking for this phrase when choosing candidates.

Since LinkedIn is currently one of the most important sources of business and one of the largest job search centers, perhaps the importance of this matter will be even more tangible.

So, if you have a specialty, make sure to mention it in your title and be careful to mention the related skills and qualifications in your LinkedIn profile.

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