Are You Maximizing LinkedIn as a Job Seeker?

In an increasingly digital world, there are less opportunities to shake hands and give over your hard-copy resume. In due time, LinkedIn has become the modern-day vehicle for job seekers to share their experiences, skills and qualifications with future employers.

In the time it takes you to pull up your Google Chrome browser at the start of each work day, a recruiter is able to search your name in LinkedIn and view your entire profile. Because this is so easy to use and access, it’s important to ensure your information and experiences are detailed and up-to-date and that you’re focused on consistently building your network. Even for those who are not currently seeking employment, LinkedIn is a great platform for building a personal brand, hosting creator content and networking with those inside and outside of your industry.

While updating and building your profile can seem overwhelming and time consuming, you’ll be maximizing your potential for finding your next job and getting in touch with other professionals who will help elevate you to the next level.

Start by building your personal brand.

Building your personal brand is a must. Start from the top of your profile and work your way down. Luckily, if you’re in the job search, you’ve probably got the basics down on your resume, which you can transfer over to your LinkedIn profile.

The most important part of your profile might be your LinkedIn summary, which is the first thing people see on your profile outside of your headshot and basic information. Make sure your summary is attention-grabbing and also details your professional story of what you’ve done and where you want to go as a job seeker.

When it comes to detailing your experience, stick to three to four short bullet points that are detailed, yet straight to the point. Highlight your greatest accomplishments that will be relevant to the clients and/or jobs you want to attract. Be sure to have a high-quality, professional headshot and be creative with your description and interests enough to show some personality. Add your education, volunteer work and whatever else you would want to make sure a potential employer knows about you. Do you have any websites or materials you’ve created? Any articles or thought pieces you’ve produced? Add it to your profile! This part is all about you and the amazing things you’ve done. Be creative and have some fun!

Don’t wait for the recruiters to find you.

Completing your profile isn’t enough to be relevant in the workplace. LinkedIn’s algorithm rewards users with complete profiles, so it definitely proves to be helpful. But, as much as LinkedIn is a great tool for recruiters, it’s a great tool for job searching. Think of it as any other job board – like Indeed, Glassdoor or our internal job board. LinkedIn is meant to be a source of truth and a resource for you to find job openings for which you may be qualified. In fact, in a lot of cases and with a complete profile, you’re able to apply with just your LinkedIn profile instead of spending what could be hours filling out a job application on the client’s third-party page. This platform is about making your life easier, but you can’t solely rely on recruiters to find you and reach out just because you’ve got a profile.

Expect to hear from recruiters and managers who come across your profile and pay attention to them.

According to MyComputerCareer, 87% of recruiters think that LinkedIn is more effective than other job boards at vetting job seekers. While just having a profile won’t guarantee you finding a job or being found by a recruiter, it significantly increases your chances of being found or noticed, especially if your profile is built out completely and contains important keywords. If your profile is complete and contains easily identifiable information, it’s more likely that potential employers will contact you if they think you’re qualified or would be a good fit for the positions they’re seeking to employ.

Use LinkedIn to network as much as possible.

Most people have probably used a friend or acquaintance at one point or another to direct them towards a job opportunity. Sometimes it’s just about who you know! If you agree with the former, it’s a good idea to use LinkedIn to keep building out that network of yours. Your network can include people inside or outside your industry or field. Maybe you incorporate thinkers who are different than you so that you can learn more or stay on top of trending thoughts and opportunities outside your scope. Maybe you incorporate others in your field to get to know for when you’re looking for that next opportunity.

Your LinkedIn network can help you as much or as little as you prioritize it. Needless to say, don’t be afraid to reach out to those who are outside your immediate network. Is there a thought-provoking leader in your industry? Is there someone you met at a college alumni event years ago that you want to reconnect with? You never know where other people can lead you.

LinkedIn is a useful tool if you dedicate some time to understanding its benefits and capabilities. We all have a list of achievements, accomplishments and successes. This is just a way for you to highlight your skill set and be noticed by potential employers.

In addition to that list of achievements, we all have a list of dreams. Maybe it’s that you want to further your education, learn a new skill or be virtually trained by some of the greatest leaders in the world. LinkedIn provides an opportunity for you to do all of those things, to learn from others and to connect with the world around you, all in hopes that you can continue to add to your list of successes and find your perfect job.

Let’s connect!