Whether you’re accustomed to the traditional paper CV or have yourself signed up for all the modern jobsites, the perfect LinkedIn profile is not only easy to create but bound to catch the attention of hiring managers. It can even be said that a good LinkedIn profile is as valuable as a well written CV.
If you’re a LinkedIn pro or novice looking to freshen up your profile, follow these tips to present yourself professionally using your skills and experience to draw the employers in!
Picture Perfect!
Your photo is the apple of your profile! This is where on-looking eyes will be drawn to first. Unlike a CV, it’s important to make sure you add an up-to-date, clear, and professional image of yourself. Take extra care to make sure your face is visible, and your photo choice is appropriate to represent your professional self.
Connecting Correctly
LinkedIn is very different to the likes of Facebook for example. Depending on how you choose to use your social media, LinkedIn encourages you to make connections with other like-minded individuals within sectors and industries you have ties to. You’ll want to find content where you can respectfully contribute to discussions and make connections to the people you interact with. This also applies to creating your own LinkedIn content and encouraging useful and engaging discussions to make better connections in your network and frame your professionalism in the best way.
Heed Your Headline
It’s no mistake that your LinkedIn headline is directly under your profile picture. This can be considered on par in terms of importance with your photo. Pay extra attention to this headline and be sure to use the full character count, including tags for what skills you possess. An example of this might look like:
Recruitment Advisor | Recruitment Solutions | Head Hunting | Interviewing | 2013 Graduate | mybusiness123.com
Prioritise Your Page
With around 80% of consultants searching LinkedIn through their phone, it’s important to ensure your important information is always shared at the beginning of your profile. This will enable recruiters and hiring managers alike to search your profile more readily for the key items they’re looking for. This will boost your chances of getting noticed and even having employers reach out to you with their vacancies.
Once you’ve organised your LinkedIn profile, you’ll want to check how it looks on your phone so you’ll know where you might need to make changes and get a more rounded view of how other people will see your profile.
Custom URL
You’ll notice LinkedIn give you a randomly generate URL for your profile. You can change this and make it more unique to you. Not only does this help with SEO searches, but it also looks more professional too. You can change your URL by going to the ‘manage public profile’ option in your profile settings and choose the option to customise your URL.
Content Inclusion
Your profile should look like your CV with more opportunities to showcase any portfolios, discussions, certificates, and experience. Much like your CV, you should tailor these details to the job you’re looking for. For example, if you’re looking for a role in marketing, you should focus your profile on relevant marketing skills you possess and link to a portfolio of projects and content you have produced. Include relevant work history and mention areas where you have gained or developed relevant skills.
You can really use this space to talk about your achievements and any certifications or qualifications you have acquired over your career.
Bear in mind, you’ll have more success in finding a job with your LinkedIn profile if you keep your information concise. Recruiters and hiring managers can read hundreds of profiles a day looking for the right person to fill a vacancy. By keeping your information brief and informative, it makes it easier for anyone looking at your profile to get the gist of your experience and capabilities.
Disclaimer: All our articles and guides express the views of FINTEC recruit and do not constitute legal advice. Our articles provide general information and any third-party website links used are for the convenience of the reader, user or browser and we do not endorse content of third-party sites.