LinkedIn has become the Facebook and Twitter of the professional world. There are now close to 300,000,000 million professionals who are members of LinkedIn sharing their professional experience with one another. More and more recruiters and hiring managers are using it to search for potential candidates directly, rather than relying on a job board. Because this trend continues to grow, it is more important than ever to make your profile stand out from the rest.
A complete profile is such an important factor—it’s how you show recruiters who you really are. Apart from the obvious additions such as job history, consider creating a biography that tells the story of you as a professional. List goals you’d like to achieve. This can be a great first impression for a recruiter, especially if you don’t have a relationship with them.
Here are a few tips to help you put your profile in the lead.
Targeted Headline
A profile with a targeted headline can not only show that you are job searching, but helps you stand out in a keyword search. EXAMPLE: A headline that reads, “Experienced Financial Executive in NYC” contains the important keywords recruiters might be looking for.
Develop a Keyword Strategy
LinkedIn’s search feature makes it easy to find people by their name, skills and any other words that appear in their profile — which is why your chosen words should be thoughtful.
First, make a list of terms associated with your skills and experience. THINK: “What words would someone search for to find me?” If you are not certain, seek insight from a job posting you are interested in.
EXAMPLE: If digital strategy is a part of who you are, a recruiter would be likely to search for the term “digital strategist.” Make certain your words are descriptive of your skills.
Recommendations
When a member of your network gives you a recommendation, know that does more than boost your profile; it lets a recruiter know how others feel when working along side you. Referrals are a top source of consideration when being studied for hire. When the recruiter is browsing profiles, multiple recommendations in your LinkedIn profile, may sway them to consider you as a candidate.
NOTE: When asking for a recommendation from a business associate, suggest specific instances to show why you’re a candidate of value. EXAMPLE: If you helped your sales team sign 15 new clients over the year, helping to grow your company.
Results
Recruiters and employers want to know what you can do for them, so the outcome of your efforts become a very important addition to your LinkedIn profile. When you add your work experience to your profile, make sure you also list your results accordingly. Then, a recruiter can see your strengths and what those strengths can do for their company.
EXAMPLE: Sharing a result similar to: “Created a new company website, which led to a 15 percent increase in Web traffic,” indicates the duty, but also the result.
Activity
LinkedIn isn’t just about you—it’s about participating in external activities beyond your profile, which helps to build your brand. Taking part in industry groups, answering questions, connecting with others, posting articles, and endorsing members of your network, as well as updating your profile often, are all ways to show your activity. This helps the recruiter to see that you’re not only active, but that you have real interest in your space.
Participating in industry discussions or groups is a great way for recruiters to see you. They review discussions or groups as a way to find candidates. Being able to participate in the conversation and show off your knowledge is a way to illustrate why you’re a great candidate.
So, get your job search using LinkedIn! When you do, recruiters will be able to see why you’re the best candidate for the job.