Your LinkedIn profile is more important in your job search than you might think. Many hiring managers like to use LinkedIn to prescreen their candidates before interviewing them. Here’s a few tips to give your LinkedIn page a professional feel and a good representation of your skills.
Choose a Great Profile Photo
You can’t judge a book by it’s cover, but your profile picture is undoubtedly going to be the first thing people notice when looking at your page. Choose a profile photo that is clear, professional, and representative of your personality. Make sure that you are the only person included in your photo and if at all possible, use a clean headshot taken by a photographer. But perhaps the most important tip, smile!
Loosen Up Some
Unlike your resume which should stick to outlining your skills and experience, LinkedIn is a great place to show off a little bit more of your personality. Use your summary to show what your goals are and what inspires you in life. Don’t be afraid to jazz it up with your hobbies and interests. This is a social media platform after all, just keep it professional.
Make Connections
Utilize the connections feature of LinkedIn to professionalize your profile. Connect with past employers, coworkers, and professional friends. Maybe add your LinkedIn profile to your email signature to show your contacts that you are on the platform.
Let Employers Know What You’re Looking For
If you’re not currently working, use the ‘current position’ field to indicate your strongest skill and the type of position you’re searching for. your current position is displayed under your name and profile picture in search results, so this one of the best chances you have to snag a recruiters attention. You can still use this tip even if you are currently working, just make sure it doesn’t indicate that you’re looking to leave your current employer.
These are just a few simple tips that can greatly maximize your potential to be noticed on LinkedIn my hiring managers and recruiters. This social media platform is a great tool for making connections in the business world and as long as you know how to utilize it, can be the key to getting you hired!
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