Along with your CV, LinkedIn is a great way to market yourself to potential future employers and to keep up to date with current news such as job offers and relevant blogs. If you are new to LinkedIn or need a quick refresher, then check out some of our top tips below:
Visual:
Profiles with a display picture could reach up to 14 more views than someone without! However, a selfie from a night out with the girls may not be the best choice, instead, opt for something professional and understated. Also ensure the photo is as recent as possible, not one copied from Facebook 5 years ago. If you decide to upload a profile banner photo then be selective, something as simple as a photo can say quite a lot about someone, so you want to ensure you give the right impression, but don’t be afraid to express yourself and to show your personality.
Personalise your LinkedIn URL:
When creating a profile on LinkedIn you will be automatically allocated with a messy, random combination of letters, numbers and backslashes. To avoid this and to stand out amongst others, make yours personal. For a step by step guide follow this link below: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/87/customizing-your-public-profile-url?lang=en
Keep your profile active:
Try to log into LinkedIn daily. This will ensure you keep up to date with the latest information as well as reaching out to new connections. The key to LinkedIn is to network, network and network some more! As well as logging in as often as possible, ensure your profile is up to date. Our lives are constantly changing and therefore your LinkedIn profile should be constantly updating also. Keep your location, current job title, and up-to-date qualifications refreshed on your profile.
Focus on your headline/summary:
This is most often the first and sometimes only part of your profile that a recruiter may read. This is your chance to sell yourself and to convey all your relevant information. Avoid rambling on for too long or repeating yourself – keep it short and snappy.
Connect:
Connect and network with as many people as possible. Don’t just stick to people who you personally know, but reach out to those who you haven’t necessarily met before or worked with before. This will enable your content to be viewed by a larger pool of profiles and may open the door to many future opportunities. Furthermore, personalising your ‘request to connect’ message will make a great impression and avoid the automatic ‘robot message’ sent out by the majority of profiles.
And finally….never lie:
This applies to CVs as well, lying will only make things difficult for yourself later down the line. Be honest and open about your current skills, experience and ability. With honesty, determination and the help from the team at Spec Recruitment you will be sure to find your perfect job!
Information sourced from Undercover Recruiter and The Muse
