Category: Career Advice, Social Media
Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Yes, we guessed you had! Have you ever taken the time to look at it from a recruiters or employers point of view, though? Today, you’re competing against almost 500 million plus users for attention. Even if you may not actively be looking for a job, LinkedIn has become the world’s largest recruitment database.
By putting some time into building your profile, you can stand out from the crowd. Here’s how to set yourself apart from the competition!
#1. Revisit the basics
As simple as it sounds, ensuring you have an up-to-date professional profile picture is key. Remember that LinkedIn is a professional networking site—it’s not Instagram or Facebook—and therefore your profile picture should reflect that. Remember this photo could be one of the first impressions you give a potential employer!
Once you have a great picture, the next step is to ensure you have a clear, keyword-rich headline. LinkedIn will suggest a headline based on your current/previous job and company, however, you are able to edit this. A good tip is to write some that quickly and simply describes exactly what you do. If you want your profile to be searchable, think about including keywords that relate to your experience and industry. Make sure it’s not too long though! No more than 7-8 words as a title is best.
From a recruiter’s perspective, the summary section is a gateway to the rest of your profile. Your summary should contain either a few very short paragraphs or, ideally, bullet points of your main achievements to date! Remember to keep them concise, otherwise, the reader could skip past all of your successes!
Read more: 6 things you’re probably doing wrong on LinkedIn
#2. Show yourself off
Now you’re creating a great first impression to your profile viewer, it’s time to show yourself off!
One of the first things a recruiter or a potential employer will look for is how relevant your experience is to the position they’re filling. Help them out! Under the experience section of your profile, clearly list your current and past positions and what companies/organisations you’ve worked at, with accurate dates. try to clearly list the key responsibilities you have had by offering some detail on your key achievements throughout your career. Be creative with your profile! Don’t be afraid to use multimedia and add a few work examples or any relevant campaigns to really make your profile stand out.
If you’ve progressed within your current business, show that off too! Make sure you’re showing what promotions/job changes you’ve had. However, don’t be inclined to list every job you’ve ever had. Keep it relevant to your career aspirations – the paper round from when we were all 16 probably isn’t relevant anymore!
#3. Be active
Recruiters will be looking at how active you are on LinkedIn. There’s a feed of activity right up at the top of your profile. What gives a better impression? A blank space or a feed full of likes and comments on stories related to your industry? Readers may look into who you’re following and what you’ve been sharing as this can show to recruiters that you’re passionate about your work and the sector you’re in.
Some advice to start becoming active? Use the status updates to your advantage! Begin to share industry-relevant content.
Read more: The 5 LinkedIn mistakes that might be costing your job offers
#4. Join networking groups
When it comes to your network, consider becoming a part of a few LinkedIn groups. These are great places to expand your knowledge around your industry, find like-minded professionals, and build new business relationships. Join groups that match your professional interest. You can start engaging in conversations, and you’ll quickly find others that want to connect with you. This gives you a great opportunity to expand your network.
#5. Actively seek recommendations
Possibly the most important part of a killer LinkedIn profile is building up your recommendations. Recommendations are a fantastic way to show off and can act as a type of reference. Ideally, you should aim to have at least two recommendations for each of your past jobs. Having multiple recommendations from past roles will really add extra depth to your profile. Readers will be looking at recommendations as a way to confirm your excellence! It’s a testament to your strengths and shows what you’ve accomplished.
Read more: How to request recommendations on LinkedIn
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If you’re still unsure of how to differentiate your profile from the competition, then 3Search can help, we have industry specialist consultants that can offer further advice on your LinkedIn profile and general job search. We’re a specialist marketing, digital and tech recruitment agency working across the UK. Learn more at 3Search.co.uk.