When you’re looking for a job, LinkedIn is a great resource to network and show off your strengths. But, how do you compete with hundreds of other job seekers? An incomplete profile isn’t going to cut it. If you want to make the most out of your LinkedIn experience, it’s time to get serious and update your page.
To help you out, we’ve gathered five ways to improve your LinkedIn profile so you can land that job you’ve always wanted – or, at least, get their attention.
Choose the Right Photo
First impressions are crucial. Your profile photo is one of the first things recruiters will judge you on. To stand out from the rest, your photo should be professional, yet approachable. If you’re in an active or creative field, it may be beneficial to post a photo of you performing a job-related task. One recent experiment by Jason Seiden found that an action photo (in his case, public speaking) resulted in more opportunities than standard profile photos.
Get Personal
There’s nothing more off-putting for a recruiter than reading a boring LinkedIn profile. You’ve seen them before: a bland, typical summary that starts off in third person and sounds like the user copied it straight from a sample resume online. Recruiters are looking for real and unique people. Let your personality shine through your profile, but keep your info on topic.
Complete Your Profile
Imagine a recruiter is looking at your LinkedIn profile right now. Do you feel as though it represents you well? Is it detailed and engaging? If you answered “no” to either of these questions, then you have some work to do. This is your chance to go into detail and use relevant keywords, rather than meaningless buzzwords, to show off your skills and accomplishments. Don’t be lazy while filling in the information. They’ll notice that too.
Be an Active User
Your profile might be perfectly polished and attractive, but if you aren’t actively engaging with others through the site, you’re missing out on possible opportunities. Having 500+ connections is great, but if you don’t show up in others’ feeds occasionally, you’re likely to be forgotten. LinkedIn is a great tool for networking, so use it wisely. The saying often holds true: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
Be a Groupie
LinkedIn Groups are an excellent resource, and they can do wonders for your job search. Join a group that relates to your industry and start engaging. You never know who you’ll meet. This is also a great way to stay active and get your profile out there.
Stop leaving your LinkedIn profile in the dark. Actively work on improving your content while continuing to use it as a networking tool. Your hard work may just pay off in the end.
