As a job seeker in our modern world, you almost certainly know how important it is to have a presence on LinkedIn.
But being “present” on the platform isn’t enough to get noticed – not by a longshot.
Rather, you need to be present, active, and essentially immersed in the world of LinkedIn if you want to have any chance of getting not simply noticed – but actually contacted – by potential employers via the channel.
Let’s go over some of the main things you’ll need to focus on doing to make all this happen.
4 LinkedIn Tips To Get Noticed
Tip #1: Completely Flesh Out Your Profile
As we said, it’s not enough to simply have a LinkedIn profile – you need to have one that truly represents who you are as a professional.
While completely filling out your LinkedIn profile will certainly take a bit of time and dedication, leaving any section blank will likely stand out to potential employers and recruiters as a red flag that they should look elsewhere. Think about it like this: the people behind LinkedIn gave you the ability to provide this and that information because they knew employers would want to know these things about their potential hirees.
That said, you want to be sure your LinkedIn profile includes:
- A headline defining your name, location, and professional title
- A clear and concise summary of your professional career
- Your pertinent work history, education, and certifications
Not only will filling out all of this information allow you to stand out to potential employers, but it will also make your profile more likely to be seen via LinkedIn’s search function.
Tip #2: Use a Professional Photo
Repeat after me:
LinkedIn. Is. Not. Facebook. Or. Instagram.
While it’s pretty obvious that LinkedIn is an online network for professionals, it’s not uncommon for individuals to post unprofessional (and unflattering) pictures of themselves to their LinkedIn profile.
Perhaps even more common, however, are instances in which individuals post pictures that they think look professional – but that were clearly taken in a rush or as a second thought.
That said, your LinkedIn photo should at least seem like it was taken by a professional in a studio. That means you should appear in your picture as if you’re showing up for a job interview: professional clothing, clean appearance, serious yet casual demeanor. Additionally, be sure the background of your photo is plain, with no people, objects, or scenery visible; again, make it at least look like a studio photograph.
(Of course, if you actually can get to a studio, this may be the best course of action.)
Tip #3: Build Your LinkedIn Network
It’s also important to remember that LinkedIn isn’t just an online job board – it’s a social network.
Again, let’s reiterate: it’s a professional social network.
That said, you’ll want to connect with other individuals in and outside of your industry or niche, and engage with them often and appropriately. This means liking, sharing, and commenting on other people’s posts (in meaningful ways, of course), joining groups, inviting others to groups, and sharing your own content (both on your page and in groups).
For one thing, having a substantial following and an active profile essentially shows potential employers that you’re active within your industry’s various communities – meaning you truly care and are dedicated to your career. Secondly, having a larger network increases your chances of being noticed by individuals within your peers’ networks. Finally, those within your network who are familiar with your work can vouch for you via recommendations and endorsements – which, of course, definitely won’t hurt your chances of being noticed.
Tip #3: Make Regular Updates
As we alluded to in the previous section, you want to continue to maintain and improve your LinkedIn profile over time in order to show potential employers that you’ve continued to grow as a professional.
Obviously, as you gain new experiences in your professional life, you’ll want to add such information to the appropriate sections of your profile.
If you’ve been in the same position for some time, though, there are still a few other ways you can continue to update your profile. For example, you might decide to pen a blog post or two related to a hot topic within your industry that interests you. Again, this will show potential employers that you’re actively interested and engaged in your industry – not simply “looking for a job.”
Finally, you’ll want to tweak existing parts of your profile over time, based on your ability (or inability) to connect with potential employers. This will require some experimentation; perhaps your headline isn’t catchy, or your summary is too long; maybe the last position in your job history is from years ago; maybe it’s clear that you haven’t logged onto your account in months. Whatever the case may be, take a look at your profile from the eyes of your ideal employer – and make the appropriate changes as soon as possible.
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