With over 467 million users, LinkedIn is the largest and most powerful professional network in the world. Whether you’re a recent college graduate, a business owner, or someone looking to enter a new field you need to create a LinkedIn profile. By doing so you can grow your network, gain exposure, job hunt, and connect with talented employees and employers to land a new opportunity.
If you want to get hired or make meaningful business connections, you need to optimize your LinkedIn profile. Not sure how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile? Here are 8 tips to optimize your LinkedIn profile and get hired.
1. Write a Killer Headline
The first step in optimizing your LinkedIn profile is writing an awesome headline that showcases who you are, what you can do, and what sets you apart from other job candidates. Your tagline should be simple, short, and explain what you can do for potential employers.
When filling out your headline and the form fields of your LinkedIn profile, make sure to keep LinkedIn SEO in mind. You can make sure your profile shows up in a recruiter’s LinkedIn search by including keywords employers may be searching for.
2. Upload a Great Personal Photo
LinkedIn profiles with a picture are 14 times more likely to be viewed than profiles without one. You should choose a photo that is clear, friendly, and presents you in the best professional manner.
Before you pick a photo, take a moment to look around and see what photos people in your target company or industry look like in their photos, and try to match that look. And if you can, try to show yourself in action or at work. This can help convey your passion and energy in a way that your writing may not be able to.
Recruiters spend nearly 1/5 of their time looking at the photo when reviewing LinkedIn profiles, so it’s important to have a great photo that sends the right message to potential employers. You should also try to refresh your photo regularly so your profile will be viewed more often.
3. Add Media & Projects You’ve Worked On
LinkedIn is about more than just talking about yourself, it’s about showcasing your accomplishments and demonstrating your actual skillsets. You should include video, audio, and interactive content that speaks to the talents you can offer to an employer. You should also make sure to link to an updated portfolio or website, so employers can learn more about you and everything you offer.
4. Highlight Your Achievements
Recruiters spend many hours browsing LinkedIn profiles in search of truly outstanding job applicants. If you want them to reach out to you, you need to market yourself as one of these high performers. You can do this by mentioning your accomplishments, whether they’re awards or high-level projects you’ve worked on.
You should also highlight non-work accomplishments like volunteer work and college education. By doing this you can give employers a more well-rounded view of what you offer as both an employee and person.
5. Mention Relevant Numbers Up Front
If you want to establish your professional credibility, you need to share real numbers and statistics that highlight the measurable impact you’ve made at work. Try to include numbers, case studies, and any key stats that demonstrate the results of your hard efforts.
6. Keep Your LinkedIn Profile Active & Up to Date
If you’re actively looking for new job opportunities, you need to make sure your LinkedIn profile is accurate and up to date. Recruiters will immediately abandon your profile if they notice it hasn’t been updated in years because it’ll tell them you aren’t serious about new opportunities.
Try to post new and relevant articles about your job industry to your homepage feed to keep you top of mind. Update your job description whenever your role changes or if you take on new responsibilities. And try to make a calendar of what and when to post to make sure you’re maintaining an active presence on LinkedIn.
7. Make Sure You Complete Your Entire Profile
Completing your entire profile is key to showing up in recruiter’s LinkedIn searches. And for every section you complete, the more likely you are to receive profile visits. Additional information about education, accomplishments, and volunteer work can help fill in professional gaps when you are trying to land a new role that is different from your previous roles.
You should treat your LinkedIn profile like your resume, which means you shouldn’t leave any potential employers with questions because of missing information. The little aspects of your profile can make all the difference in setting you apart from similar candidates.
8. Include Recommendations
Recommendations can boost your professional credibility and showcase the unique skills and talents you can bring to any new job opportunity. They can also help communicate the kind of worker you are, so employers will be better able to tell if you’d be a good cultural fit at their company. Nothing is more effective than a peer-to-peer professional endorsement.
LinkedIn’s recommendations feature makes it easy to source recommendations without the effort of a formal letter. Simply reach out to your colleagues, former coworkers, professional contacts, and clients to source a recommendation that speaks to everything you offer.
Questions to Ask Yourself When Making Your LinkedIn Profile
Because LinkedIn is such an important job search tool, it’s important to make sure you’re using it in the best way possible. When reviewing your profile, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- Is my picture business appropriate?
- Is my profile up to date?
- Is my summary accurate and informative?
- Can I include more keywords?
- Do I have a link to my portfolio?
By addressing these questions, you can make a high-quality profile that will help you land a job.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a new job opportunity, trying to grow your network, or connect with potential clients, you need to be on LinkedIn. By following these tips, you can optimize your profile, and find a new (and better) job in no time!
Are you currently using LinkedIn for your job search? Have any tips on LinkedIn we didn’t include? Let us know in the comments!