How to maximise your LinkedIn profile to help you get noticed in the job market. If you are yet to create a LinkedIn profile, consider creating one and if it’s incomplete, update it.
LinkedIn has become a key resource for recruiters, employers and peers who want to learn more about you professionally. LinkedIn has 810 million users across 200 countries worldwide, and over 57 million company profiles.. How can you maximise your LinkedIn profile to help you get noticed in the job market?
Complete your LinkedIn profile
The summary is usually one of the first pieces of information to be read and is an opportunity for you to share content to quickly distinguish yourself and engage the reader. When completed correctly, your profile should assist the reader in understanding who you are, what you do, and what you have done previously. When filling out the experience and education sections write short sharp sentences and include quantifiable information to highlight successes. Much like writing a great CV, talk about your achievements not just your job duties.
Use keywords
Use keywords throughout your profile. Recruiters use Boolean search tools which help them filter searches and navigate to relevant profiles. Using keywords will help them find you. To know what keyword to use, think about search terms that someone might use to find someone with your skills – these will likely be specific to your job and or industry.
Update your profile picture
Upload a professional photo of yourself. According to LinkedIn, profiles that include a photo receive 21 times more profile views that those that don’t. Your photos should be a headshot, in full colour and contain no one else but yourself. Ideally, your face should take up approximately 60% of the frame.
Headline
Your headline appears at the top of your page underneath your name. Let your creativity shine. Think about your value proposition and use this section as an opportunity to highlight it. What makes you unique? What are you passionate about? And what value can you bring to an organisation?
Personalise your URL
LinkedIn includes a feature that enables the user to create a customised URL which looks more professional than the randomly generated link you are provided with when you sign up. Follow these steps to create yours:
Go to your profile > Edit > Manage public profile settings > customise your profile URL.
Proof-read before you publish!
Proof-read your profile to check for spelling and grammar mistakes and to make sure that it reads well. Simple details like missing capitals in your name, company and job title can put off the reader.
Ask for recommendations
Ask for recommendations from people (e.g. colleagues or former managers) who can vouch for you and your skill set and this assist with building your credibility.
Make connections in the industry
Connecting with other industry professionals will assist in keeping you informed on what is happening within your industry. It can also increase the likelihood of learning about new job opportunities in your chosen field. As you work through applying for a new job, these connections may also come in useful as testimonials or to help you find out more about a prospective employer if they already work there.
Join groups, discussions and engage with articles
It’s not enough to simply create a profile. You need to be visible to be seen and that being active and getting involved in conversations. You might join relevant industry groups and conversations on LinkedIn. Doing so also provides the opportunity to add value by asking and responding to questions, sharing links to news articles and posting any other relevant content. Posting relevant content and sharing educated opinions can demonstrate your commitment to your industry and helps build your credibility.
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