There is no denying that companies are looking for skilled candidates and top talent, but this doesn’t mean that you can forget about keeping on top of your own online presence. Having a top LinkedIn profile is a key way to remain proactive in your job search, and it’s the ideal place to be found by recruiters and headhunters.
If you are seeking a new role, you need to have a LinkedIn profile that helps you to stand out. This should involve having up to date information, consistent activity and updates. Your LinkedIn profile should highlight your skills and experience, and make you appear to be someone that recruiters and hiring managers want to know more about. Below, we have taken a look at some of the top tips to ensure your LinkedIn profile is ready for your next role.
Profile Picture
It’s important to have a professional profile picture as part of your LinkedIn account, as this can help to grab people’s attention and get you noticed. In fact, it could increase your profile views by up to 14 times. You should choose a photograph that is clear, professional and portrays you in a good light.
It’s a good way to ‘put a face to the name’, and so you want to be looking like someone who would make a good employee. It doesn’t need to be a headshot, but it should be a photograph that gives a good first impression. Aim for a photograph that has a plain background, or attempt to remove the background if there are too many distractions.
Headline
A LinkedIn headline is there to help you to stand out amongst other candidates. It should highlight your role and what you would bring to a business, whilst also being concise. After all, a headline should be a short and snappy insight into who you are. It’s there to encourage a hiring manager or recruiter to take a look at your profile and get in touch. It’s a good idea to include your job title, key skill or expertise, and the industry in which you work.
About Section
The ‘About’ section is there for you to talk about your skills, experience and to convey your personality. It’s often the first insight a hiring manager or recruiter will have into who you are and what you do, so try to include as much relevant information as possible. You should keep this information up to date, adding new skills and experience along the way. It’s a good idea to cover topics such as your career history, your expertise, your current role and what drew you to the industry.
If you are working on an interesting project or you have recently achieved something impressive at work, mention that also. This section is also where you can give information about what you love about your role and how you have contributed for the business as a whole. For example, have you been responsible for boosting ROI?
Featured Section
If you have some work to showcase, change your profile to ‘creator’ mode and upload it to your LinkedIn. This is especially important if you have written articles, blogs, case studies, posts or journals related to your industry. You can also share videos, podcasts and projects in this section. It’s a good way to highlight what you are capable of, whilst also communicating some of your personal interests.
Skills
Adding your most desirable skills to your LinkedIn profile is key, especially if you want to encourage hiring managers and recruiters to view your profile more in depth. You should try to use important industry keywords throughout your pfole, as these are what hiring managers and recruiters are going to be searching for. The more keywords you have, the more likely someone is to find you on LinkedIn. Adding key skills also increases the number of job postings that will come your way, as the keywords in the advertisement are likely to match the keywords used on your profile.
Endorsements and Recommendations
By asking friends, colleagues and family members to endorse your key skills, you are showcasing that others value your expertise and abilities too. Recommendations work in a similar way; they highlight your experience and what others think of your capabilities within your industry. If you have worked with someone and delivered a quality project, reach out to them and ask them for a recommendation. It’s a great way for others - hiring managers, recruiters and even future clients - to see what others think about working with you. Endorsements and recommendations help to boost your credibility.
Activity and Content
You should engage with others on LinkedIn, as this shows that you are active and engaged with others on the platform. Not only does this help to build up industry connections, but it can help you to share your own content and boost your online presence. Getting involved with content and engaging with other people on LinkedIn boosts your credibility by showing that you are a personable, interesting and enthusiastic person within the industry.