Is your LinkedIn profile constantly attracting attention from recruiters and potential employers? Or like most people, is LinkedIn that one social media network you’re a part of but ignore until you really need it? If that’s the case, now is the time to change that because more than ever, recruiters are turning to tools like LinkedIn to look for potential candidates. According to LinkedIn’s career expert Catherine Fisher, over 30,000 companies are actively using the platform to recruit for roles so it’s not just about who applies directly anymore. Think of it as your personal branding and marketing tool.
Don’t fall into the trap of updating it after you read this and not going back. The trick to get the most out of LinkedIn is to constantly keep your profile up to date and add connections in real time. Not only will that make you more visible to recruiters and aware of opportunities when you’re not looking, it will make you look even more attractive when you do decide to go for look for something new. That’s why we’re sharing a handful of quick and easy things you can do now that will enable you to take advantage of all LinkedIn has to offer. Don’t waste time – get started today.
Include a photo and constantly review it: It may sound like an obvious one but profiles with photos are 14 times more likely to viewed on the network, according to a recent LinkedIn study and that’s not something to take for granted. So even if you don’t have a professional headshot, get a picture up there. Just save the personal-looking photos for Facebook or Instagram. The easiest way to decide whether a picture is LinkedIn-appropriate is to ask yourself firstly, whether it’s current enough, and also whether it makes a positive and professional impression. If it doesn’t pass both questions, you know what to do. The best photos are the ones of you alone, with a somewhat professional outfit (although, of course, it doesn’t need to be a suit), with a clean, unfussy background and decent lighting.
Build your network: On LinkedIn, your network is everything and can prove invaluable in providing links with potential employers. It’s often hard to keep track of your broader professional network, especially in industries where people move around quickly. So you might just find that someone from your past is now working at the company of your dreams or maybe you have a second-degree connection with a recruiter for your dream company.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you’ve worked with before and current colleagues, along with anyone you might have met at an event or want to work with in the future. The more connected you are, the more likely it is that recruiters will find you, and it also means your more plugged-in to opportunities as and when they arise. And besides, LinkedIn is designed for keeping connected so no one will think it’s weird that you request to join their network, as opposed to sending them a friend request on other platforms like Facebook. Make a habit of adding people to your network and sending quick messages of congrats on new jobs every few months. Good networking means keeping your connections strong, especially during those times when you don’t need anything from them. If you’re interested in what someone is doing, take the time to organise a catch up coffee. Think of it as a long-term investment.
Be thorough with your profile and make sure it’s complete: This is another seemingly obvious one but according to LinkedIn, incomplete profiles sabotage most peoples chances of being seen by potential recruiters so simply put, the more complete your profile is, the better the odds are that your page will be found.
It’s also important that, once a recruiter has found your page, there is enough information for them to quickly understand what your skills are, where you have worked and what people think about you. Nobody is expecting you to write a thesis, but make sure you have a summary under each role. Recruiters will often search for key words that relate to a role so it’s worth making sure you have included them in your summaries. Think of it as your opportunity to show recruiters that you’re perfect for the job they’re offering. According to LinkedIn, just taking the time to do that makes your profile 13 times more to be viewed.
The summary is one of the first things people read so use it as an opportunity to give an overarching statement about your career. This is the place to put your best foot forward so why not add any statistical data or case studies here too. You might, for example, have increased sales at your last company by 50 per cent. Don’t be afraid to say it – never underestimate the power of hardcore stats.
Make your headline compelling: You would think it’s the thing we focus on most but headlines are to be the things we ignore most when it comes to our LinkedIn profile. It’s the first thing people will read in and it’s what comes up in search so take the time to think about what you want it to say. Your headline is your current job title and company by default but there’s no reason you can’t change it. If you’re a student looking for work experience, why not add include that into your headline so you instantly create a cause to action. How would anyone know you’re actively looking for a placement if you don’t put it out there?
Position yourself as an expert: LinkedIn doesn’t start and end with your profile and it’s not something you should work on and that never come back. The more actively you engage in groups and share relevant ideas and articles for example, the more likely your profile will show. According to LinkedIn, people who actively post and participate in groups are give times more likely to get profile views from people outside their network, which could result in more opportunities. And besides, groups are a great way to meet link-minded professionals and expand your network.
Keep tabs on who views your profile: It might feel awkward keeping tabs on who views your profile and even more uncomfortable to know that people can see when you view theirs but it can actually work to your advantage. Someone checking your profile might be a lead for a potential opportunity and a recruiter or employer seeing that you have been on theirs might help bring you to their attention and also show that you’re doing your homework.
If this all sounds like hard work, well, it is but if you put the time and effort in, we promise you’ll notice a different and fast!