In the growing age of social media LinkedIn has become one of the key players. Not only a platform for sharing your digital CV, but LinkedIn also gives you the chance to showcase your professional brand, grow your network and attract the right opportunities.
Before I got into recruitment I will admit, I didn’t even have a LinkedIn Account. Which seems bonkers to me now, as it’s the first and last thing I check every day and is constantly open on my desktop. Whilst a staple for me in my recruitment career now, I personally think before, I didn’t understand its value. Don’t make the same mistakes I did in not utilising it to its full potential.
Did you know that LinkedIn has over 1 billion members (yep you read that number right), across 200 countries and territories? Over 58 million companies have LinkedIn profiles with around 25% of LinkedIn users being key decision makers. That’s a hell of a lot of connections you could be making!
If you are not an active user, I hope this article will help you see its potential. Whether you are actively on the job hunt or just keeping a curious eye out there, sprucing up your profile is worth the effort and to be honest it can be minimum effort. LinkedIn doesn’t just have to be for the job seeker. Over 2 million, posts, articles and videos are shared daily, so it is the perfect way to position yourself as an expert in your industry and dare I say it an influencer!
Sooo…how do you do this?
Create a Headline that Tells Your Story
Your headline is one of the first things that people notice. This section doesn’t just have to be about your job title, think of it as your personal pitch platform! Whilst the character limit is 220, only 40 characters are visible, so this is something worth keeping in mind.
A candidate who recently stood out to me had #innovativedisruptor on their profile! I loved this and told them so when I spoke to them as they went against the grain.
- Use of mix of keywords and value statements
- Example: “Talent Acquisition Specialist | Helping Companies Find Top Life Sciences Talent | Advocate for People-First Hiring”
Another top tip I only recently discovered myself is that your LinkedIn URL on your profile is only a default ie. /sophiemalyon-12547A. You can adjust this and make it more personal and memorable, ie. sophiemalyon91.
Unsure of where to find this – look at the top right of your personal profile on LinkedIn. Click “Edit public profile & URL”.
Don’t forget about your default banner. Whilst not necessarily adding value to your profile, choose a banner that lets visitors know who you are, what you do or who you work for. Fun Fact: The size for a personal banner is 1584 X 396 pixels.
Upload a Professional Profile Photo
Let’s not deny it we all want to put our best selves first in our profile pictures, because personally I know potential employers or connections don’t need to see a picture of me as I roll out of bed! However, be mindful that first impressions do matter. Make sure the picture is clear, high-quality and showcases you. Whilst we love to know you go on incredible holidays abroad with friends, we also want to know which person you are 😊!
- Wear attire appropriate for your industry.
- Aim for a clean background with good lighting.
About Section
This is your opportunity to share more about your career journey, achievements, and what drives you. In this section be creative, showcase your personality and give people a reason to connect with you!
- Open with a hook—what excites you about your industry or role? Make your first line count. The first line of text in the “only section” is the line people can see as the rest is hidden unless you click “see more”. Give people a reason to click.
- Highlight your expertise, skills, and goals in a conversational tone.
- As with any social media platform LinkedIn pages are generally skimmed over quickly. In your about section make sure keywords are on show. Keywords can be duplicated in your about, skills and experience sections.
- Close with a call to action, such as “Feel free to connect or reach out”. Don’t forget if you feel comfortable to, to add your contact info. It can be easily forgotten!
Skills and Endorsements
The skills section isn’t just for show, it helps your profile appear in recruiter searches. LinkedIn doesn’t need to be a static list of past jobs. Think of strong action words that showcase your skills and accomplishments, making you an asset and stand out.
- Add skills that align with your career aspirations.
- Prioritise skills relevant to the roles you’re targeting.
Fun Fact: Did you know that profiles that have 5 endorsed skills, get up to 17 times more likes on their profile! You can get your skills endorsed by others, simply by enabling your endorsement settings to “yes”.
Showcase Your Work in the Featured Section
Don’t let your accomplishments hide! You have worked hard to get to where you have so why not let them shine! Use the featured section to display:
- Case studies, presentations, or articles you have contributed to.
Did you know that you can pin your best content? Click the three dots at the top right of any content and click “Feature on top of Profile”. Profile visitors now won’t miss out on any of your key content!
- Links to portfolios, projects, or significant achievements. You can also pin your website using the link option to direct profile visitors to your website!
Tailor Your Experience Section
Your experience should go beyond a list of tasks, focus on impact! It can be easy to ramble off a list of role responsibilities (which don’t get me wrong are very important) but this is the perfect time to specify your career achievements. This could be a statistic, projects, productivity or recognitions.
- Highlight key achievements using metrics where possible.
- Use bullet points for clarity and readability, or small paragraphs. Large bulks of text can be difficult to read quickly, and keywords can be missed!
- Don’t forget to add details of your educational background/ licenses and volunteer work.
Build Connections Thoughtfully
Networking isn’t just about quantity; it’s about quality. Ensure your connections are relevant and try develop your network regularly! Yes… it would be cool to have 20,000 connections but if they aren’t relevant to your industry, interests or aspirations, they could just be clogging up your feed and may be less likely to engage with your content.
- Personalise your connection requests. I know we have more creative juices in us than simply writing “love to connect”! Be thoughtful in why you would like to connect allowing for a two-way conversation to unfold.
- Engage with your network by commenting on posts, sharing insights, and celebrating others’ successes.
Keep Your Profile Active
Consistency is key to staying visible. Do you know if your profile is visible? Make sure your profile visibility is set to “on”. This can be edited in the “Edit public profile & URL” section. Your profile will then be available to potential colleagues, clients and future connections.
If you are looking at building your network or simply wish to stay more active, here is a simple rule to you may find useful – 20/10/5/1 Rule. This can be amended either on a daily or weekly basis.
- 20 connections, 10 engagements, 5 reach-outs and 1 post (share, repost, or write your own content)
Get Recommendations
This section can be easily forgotten, however is a valuable feature that can significantly enhance your professional profile. And who doesn’t love validation for their efforts!
- Ask colleagues, managers, or clients for recommendations that highlight your key skills.
- A little goes a long way! Return the favour by writing thoughtful recommendations for others.
Conclusion
Sooo to wrap it up, LinkedIn is more than an online platform for your CV. It’s your personal brand, professional portfolio and ticket to new opportunities.
Remember, LinkedIn isn’t just for job seekers. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, staying active, networking thoughtfully, and showcasing your achievements can elevate your career. Think of LinkedIn as a dynamic tool: the more effort you put into it, the more value you’ll gain.
Why wait? Take these tips, spruce up your profile, and step confidently into the professional spotlight! Whether it’s landing your dream job, expanding your network, or positioning yourself as a thought leader, the possibilities are endless.
