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With over 450 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is an essential platform for professionals to be part of, particularly when job hunting. Utilising LinkedIn correctly is a great way to build your professional identity and make invaluable connections with like-minded professionals and organisations of interest.
So how do you stand out to prospective employers?
We have put together 6 easy steps for you to boost your profile visibility and enable you stand out from the crowd.
1.Use your headline effectively
Tell people who you are and what you do clearly and concisely. List all the roles you perform – if you can describe what you do accurately, your profile will turn up more frequently in searches. Make it focused on “what you can offer” not “who you are” i.e. I ‘m a dynamic, resilient BDM that is keen to grown a Real Estate Agency’s success’ rather than ‘BDM’.
2.Put your best profile picture forward
Update your headshot, make sure it is current and not from 10 years ago. Digital experts say your profile is 36 times more likely to be viewed if it has a photo so get rid of that default icon as your profile picture. Keep it simple, have a clear background and make sure it is a professional shot of yourself.
3.Create your own content
While sharing and commenting are important part, creating your own original posts can have an even greater reach beyond LinkedIn and allow you to share your thoughts to a wider Audience. This is because LinkedIn posts are like a blog and so becomes part of Google searches. Keep your content up to date, relevant and always reflect your current situation.
4.Your summary is a peek into who you are
One of the most important, and often underestimated, aspects of your LinkedIn profile, your summary should act similarly to an objective statement on your CV – detailing your experience, objectives and intentions. Make sure to include why you decided to get into the industry you’re currently in, what you enjoy the most about it and the types of roles you’re seeking. Treat this summary as if it will be all that a busy employer or recruiter reads before contacting you (because it well might be).
5.Use your experience and skills to sell yourself
Provide a detailed overview of your experience by going beyond the companies you have worked for and the roles you have done. The more information you provide, the easier it is for an employer to understand who you are and what you do.
Listing your skills also offers a number of benefits: it readily outlines your key capabilities; it makes your profile more searchable to those who specifically seek out professionals with your skills; and it provides your network with an easy way of endorsing your abilities.
6.You can never have too many recommendations
These are like testimonials from past bosses, clients or colleagues and act as a great way for people to gain an insight into what your work style is like and can build up your credibility. There are features on LinkedIn where you can request these from your connections – don’t be afraid to do this.
Above all, if you want to be found by the right people, you must keep your profile up to date. From your most recent/current position, to location and status of employment, these are all vital aspects that need to be consistently updated to reflect your current situation.