Most jobseekers will know about the importance of having a strong CV and a decent cover letter when they’re looking for a new job. In fact, if you’re still working on it, you’ll find everything you need to know about your CV right here. However, it can be easy to neglect your LinkedIn profile and write it off as just another social media platform.
However, your LinkedIn profile is going to be one of the first places employers and recruiters look once they have your cover letter and CV to hand. And for the more passive jobseeker, this is where you will most likely be approached by recruiters based on your profile.
So, what should you start doing to improve your LinkedIn profile before starting your job search?
The top of your profile is the first thing people will see when they go onto your LinkedIn page, and if they don’t scroll any further, it will be all they see. In fact, several elements such as your profile photo and headline might be all they see without even clicking on your profile.
Make sure you have a good professional photo as your profile picture, a banner image that best shows off your personality and a headline that tells more of a story than simply your current job title. For example, instead of just writing ‘Java developer’ in your headline, you could add the number of years’ experience or mention the other programming languages you’re proficient in.
Have you looked at your skills section since you first opened your LinkedIn profile? It may seem unnecessary when your experience should speak for itself but, if used correctly, the skills section can be a really important asset.
To clean up your skills and experience, review the ones you’ve listed and make sure they are all relevant and genuine. For example, did you add ‘social media’ as a skill because you use social media a lot or because you have a professional qualification or industry knowledge on proper social media practices? Make sure each skill has truly earned its place on your LinkedIn profile. Once you’ve done that, reorder them by order of relevance and choose your top three skills wisely.
Buzzwords and jargon have no place in cover letters or CVs so, why should they be on your LinkedIn profile? When describing each role, steer clear of the boring jargon that could be written by anyone about any role and focus on showcasing yourself and your skills. You don’t have to be boring to be professional.
Instead of simply describing your day-to-day tasks, talk about what makes you passionate and excited. Talk about your favourite parts of your job and why you love them. Talk about the results you achieved and what you did to get there. Tell the readers of your profile a story, show them your passion and take them on a journey.
While LinkedIn shouldn’t be written off as ‘just a social media site’, the social element of it shouldn’t be forgotten completely either. If you simply jazz up your own profile, make it perfect and then leave it to sit there without actually using the platform, you’re not getting LinkedIn’s full potential.
Follow industry experts, share interesting content, engage in relevant conversations and get to know other professionals in your space this way. The more you actively engage with content relevant to you, your profession and your skills, the more visible you will become to potential employers, recruiters and other major industry players.
Once you’ve gotten your profile up to a reasonable level and you’ve started engaging with valuable content on LinkedIn, it’s time to start publishing some of your own.
Don’t be afraid to have an opinion within your industry. You are valued for your knowledge and experience and you should show this off with your own thoughts on industry trends, expert advice and well-researched opinions. The more you do this, the more you will highlight your skills in an organic way.
It’s hard to stand out among an ocean of other professionals on LinkedIn, but the best way to do it is to show off the skills, knowledge and passion that are unique to you.
Looking for your next dream job? Upload your CV here and let one of our expert consultants have a chat with you and help you find your next move.
Man on laptop photo by LinkedIn Sales Navigator on Unsplash
