With the rise of social media in the recruitment world, candidates may ask themselves, how can I make sure my LinkedIn profile is up to scratch?
We’ve highlighted some of the key steps you can take to ensure you have a winning LinkedIn profile:
Step 1: Choosing a Suitable Profile Picture
Your profile picture is ultimately your first impression, and although recruiters will not judge a book by its cover, it does still play an essential role in the research process. For example, if your selected profile picture comes across as unprofessional, then the recruiter may look no further. Some essential tips for choosing your LinkedIn profile picture would be to make sure that it is a recent photograph of yourself and it looks like you, wear something professional, i.e. what you would wear to an interview or graduation, and make sure you are smiling sincerely!
Step 2: Your Headline Should Be More Than Just A Job Title
Although many people see the headline section as a chance to share a past or present job title, it can be much more than that! You can use this section to tell more of a story about yourself, why you do what you do and what interests you.
Step 3: Optimise Your Summary Section
If you don’t already have a summary on your LinkedIn profile, let this be your sign to add one! Your summary is an extra chance to tell your story, so be sure not to miss this section or, better yet, use it just to list skills you have acquired from previous jobs. Try to bring those skills to life and state why they matter to you, as well as what you have learned in the process.
Step 3: Grow Your Network!
Once you have created your profile and included critical details about yourself and your employment history, you can begin to grow your network. LinkedIn is a great way to connect with like-minded individuals in a similar realm. Another great thing about LinkedIn is that it will usually offer suggestions for people to connect with. I would recommend taking a look and building connections with individuals who are in a similar industry and went to your university and/or school; it’s a great way to boost your profile and demonstrate that you are active on LinkedIn.
Step 4: Share Relevant Content!
A great way to capture an employer’s attention with your LinkedIn profile is to share material that you are passionate about, engage with relevant content such as connections’ achievements, and also show an interest in the companies that you would be interested in working for. Staying active on LinkedIn and showing that you have a key interest in the industry can really make a lasting impression on an employer.
Step 5: Create Your Own Content
While sharing and engaging with others’ content is an effective way to navigate LinkedIn, it is equally important to ensure you are keeping your own content up-to-date. Share relevant achievements and updates in your professional life, such as graduating, completing a course, and, of course, starting a new job position! All of this demonstrates your dedication to your work and, again, your passion for the industry you are in.
For more tips on how to be a top candidate, keep up to date with Redmore Recruitment!
