If you're stopping to read this, chances are good that you're not maximizing your LinkedIn Profile in a way that will actually get you hired.

Here are 3 common pitfalls to avoid when setting up and using LinkedIn for a job search:

1 - Failing to use all the space provided.

You’re guilty of this if your summary is comprised of just a few sentences, your work history only includes titles (and no description of your achievements), or you skipped sections like Interests or Specialties.

These are valuable pieces of data that not only educate readers on your career, but also serve to boost your searchability quotient. Character limits in LinkedIn include:

• Headline – 120 Characters
• Status Field – 140 Characters
• Summary – 2,000 Characters
• Specialties – 500 Characters
• Company Name – 100 Characters
• Position (Job) Title – 100 Characters

If you're not close to maxing out each category, you're definitely missing key opportunities to sell yourself!

In addition, many recruiters surf LinkedIn for candidates that possess specific skills or career experience. By adding more information that contains key search terms, your odds of being found based on a keyword search (and subsequently recruited!) can rise dramatically.

Want proof? Take a look at my LinkedIn Profile (or first search "executive resume writer" in LinkedIn.) You'll quickly see why every word counts.

2 - Conveying a message that is inconsistent with your traditional resume.

There’s no way around it – employers will be trolling the Web for information about you, even if you’ve already sent your resume to them to review. The problem comes in when your job history, core competencies, or achievements seem different online than on paper.

After creating both your resume and your LinkedIn Profile, I recommend printing them out, and reviewing information such as job dates, education, job titles, and employer names side-by-side. You’ll be able to spot any discrepancies quickly.

In addition, reviewing the profile this way allows you to see if it delivers the same value proposition message as your resume.

If you missed mentioning highlights of your career (such as metrics on revenue generated or cost savings), you can incorporate this data back into the profile so that it aligns with your brand.

3 - Mistaking a resume summary for a LinkedIn summary.

The LinkedIn summary area is designed primarily to present a snapshot of your brand and value proposition. However, many people mistake this for the resume summary of qualifications, and insert a long paragraph.

I can't say this enough: Web copywriting is different than writing for printed or emailed documents! You’ll need to create a profile so that it can easily be read online, using first-person style, with presentation techniques intended for the Web.

Rather than use your resume summary, instead write a more personalized account of your background and qualifications, breaking up the text visually so that employers can quickly scan through for key words. Font treatments such as bullets or all caps can help to deliver more punch.

Remember, your career isn't identical to anyone else's. Why settle for making your LinkedIn Profile blend in when it can promote you with a differentiating, powerful message?