Today, recruiters from almost every profession and industry are using LinkedIn to search for quality candidates to fill positions within their company. This is great news! It has never been easier to be found and contacted by potential employers. The world is at your fingertips! However, this means it’s at everyone else’s fingertips too, and with over 500 million people using LinkedIn it might seem impossible to get noticed by recruiters. Luckily there are plenty of easy ways to boost your profile and get more attention.
Fill out your profile. A complete profile is a great way to show employers who you are and how you are qualified. Data from LinkedIn shows that employers spend about 20% of their time looking at your profile picture, so make sure you choose a professional, high-quality photo that makes them want to click on you! Be sure to write a great headline (not just your major, but something that speaks to your passion) as that will show up next to your picture in searches.
Use keywords. Recruiters looking for potential candidates on LinkedIn often type in specific keywords into the search bar. Try to determine the keywords related to your industry and your specific skills and abilities.
Share. Post relevant articles on your profile to share them with others. This shows that you are interested in your industry and passionate about the profession!
Build connections. As the saying goes, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Cast a wide net and send friend requests to everyone you know on LinkedIn. Show great initiative by connecting with recruiters of the companies where you want to work.
Stay active. LinkedIn is a social media platform for professionals. Think of it as your online résumé. This means you should be checking it and updating your profile (not to mention your résumé) just as much, if not more, than Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. An active account shows that you care about building your network.
Spread your profile. As much as you can, you should be sharing your LinkedIn profile with the world. Add a link to your résumé, your email signature, and your social media bios.
LinkedIn has revolutionized the way our society connects professionally. With these tips in your back pocket, you’ll be able to stay on top of your game and stay up to date with the most widely used professional social media platform on the web. Plug in, Connect, Link in! For more help developing your LinkedIn account, click here.