Even though social media is one of the most popular ways to spend any free time, many job seekers aren’t using it to find a job. LinkedIn is by far the most popular social media platform for professionals and nearly 95% of recruiters use the site to find job candidates. On the other hand, less than 40% of workers are active on LinkedIn and are clearly missing out on a viable opportunity to find a great job.
6 Tips to Clean Up & Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
To catch the attention of recruiters on LinkedIn and find a job opportunity that can propel your career, follow these quick tips.
1. Claim Your Vanity URL
Instead of using the URL that automatically generates when you start your account and profile page, create a simple and effective one that will be easy to share with peers and potential employers. An example is http://www.linkedin.com/in/johndoe.
2. Upload a Professional Photo
Unlike your other social media profiles, it’s absolutely necessary to have a professional photo in your profile. While you don’t need a professional headshot, a cropped close-up with professional attire and tasteful smile is necessary.
3. Optimize Your Headline
LinkedIn provides a headline in your profile and it’s a crucial 120-character opportunity to make a great impression for a recruiter. Make sure you use this small but significant space to highlight your best experience with keywords that are important to your industry. This will help your profile appear in more searches on the platform by recruiters.
4. Show Work Samples
Since it first began, LinkedIn has added many new features, and one of those is the ability to show work samples within your profile. You can add anything from videos, images, documents, links, and presentations to the Summary, Education, and Experience sections of your profile. This is a great way to showcase your accomplishments or successes in real detail rather than just listing them as a bullet point.
5. Craft Your Summary Thoughtfully
Don’t take your Summary section lightly. Instead, consider it like an elevator pitch. You should concisely and professionally communicate what you do, who you are, and why you are a valuable asset to your industry. As you craft your summary, be sure to use keywords that are important to your industry and avoid sounding too much like a salesman.
6. Remain Active on LinkedIn
Now that you have an optimized profile on the leading professional social media site, you need to use it. As with other social media sites, if your activity becomes stagnant or non-existent, nothing exciting will happen. Regularly update your profile, interact with your connections, and share professional content when it’s relevant.
Find a Job to Fulfill Your Career Goals
If you’re looking for a job but can’t seem to find the right opportunity for your career goals, contact Integrative Staffing Group.
