LinkedIn is undeniably the best social media platform for professionals looking to improve their careers. With the ability to search for jobs, network, and upload your digital CV, LinkedIn allows you to see and be seen. Recruiters and Headhunters will be able to view your profile whether you are actively seeking employment or not.
As companies can now search for you, it makes the hiring process more straightforward and faster, keeping you ahead of the competition. It also means that opportunities you may not have noticed or considered come to you.
For those who aren’t up to date with LinkedIn…
Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can just add your CV and you will be approached with the perfect job. While 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find and vet candidates, there are also 467 million users worldwide. You still have to do everything possible with your profile to make sure it attracts people.
Scott Stevens, the Account Director, EMEEA Search Staffing at LinkedIn explained that your profile shouldn’t be a copy of your CV. As it is the first thing a recruiter will see, it’s crucial that your profile tells people about you while leaving them eager to find out more. Your profile is the “conversation starter”.
8 Ways to increase your ‘searchability’ on LinkedIn
- Your profile must be kept up to date – frequent updating of your profile, in particular employment history and job titles, means you are 18 times more likely to be found in searches. If you haven’t changed jobs, think about updating your skills.
- Check your settings – you have to allow your profile to be searched for. In the Communications section of LinkedIn, click on Receiving InMails from LinkedIn Partners and make sure it is on Yes. The Messages from Members should include InMails and not only Introductions.
- Are you Open to Opportunities? – While recruiters are filtering potential candidates, the make only be interested in profiles that are Open to Opportunities, or actively seeking new employment.
- Ensure your profile picture is suitable – and professional. There is no room on LinkedIn for photos of crazy nights out or your pet doing something silly. There are plenty of other social media sites for this. Having a quality, professional photo means your profile is viewed 21 more times and you will receive 36 more messages (according to the LinkedIn statistics).
- Have a creative header – it isn’t necessary for your header to be your job title. Similar to your profile, the header must be something short that grabs the recruiter’s attention at the same time as being professional.
- Keep your profile and your CV different – pasting your CV into your profile doesn’t show potential employers much effort made. You should use your profile to let people see what is not in the CV, expand on your accomplishments, include links or references where possible.
- Do some research into job descriptions – if you look at other job descriptions that are posted in your field, you will be able to discover keywords that recruiters use in their searches. You can then integrate these keywords into your profile so that you are more likely to be discovered.
- Make the most of the Experience section – Scott’s advice is to use this section to tell your story. Go into more detail about where you have excelled, what you have brought to the table in previous positions.
Additional Ideas to Get Your LinkedIn Profile Seen
If you want to go a step further, it is a good idea to join groups and take part in discussions. Doing so will enhance your networking as it will also allow you to stay up to date with the latest news and events in your industry. To show off your expertise, you can write blogs and publish them on the Pulse platform where thousands of people can learn from you, an excellent way to show recruiters that you take initiative.