What can you do to be more visible to recruiters on LinkedIn?

Did you know that having a LinkedIn profile has become as important in a job search as a resume? In fact, it’s often the first place that people look when you apply for job and where recruiters go to search for potential candidates. It gives readers an initial sense of whether or not you are a person they may want to explore further. If you are in the market, or even if you aren’t, it’s critical that the information you include on LinkedIn is current and relevant.  You never know when that perfect opportunity might present itself!

So, how can you make sure that your LinkedIn profile is all that it could be? First, it shouldn’t be just a cut and paste of your resume.  In the article, Why Your LinkedIn Profile Is More Compelling Than Your Resume, the author states: “…think of [LinkedIn] as a way for you to create an online representation of yourself and develop a reputation among millions of other professionals.” This is your personal branding page – it’s an opportunity to present a more comprehensive view of yourself that goes beyond what you include in a resume as well as to communicate a bit of your personality. Review your profile on a regular basis to ensure that it is sending the right message and that it’s up-to-date.

Your photo also plays a big part in your profile.  In fact, “LinkedIn users with a photo are 11 times more likely to have their profiles viewed than those without a photo.” Whether taken by a professional photographer or not, your photograph should be “professional”, of just you, looking straight at the camera and, of course, current.

You want to stand out to recruiters.  Help make sure you have a better chance of being found by updating all sections of your profile, including:

• Profile URL – Customize your URL (usually a version of your name) so that you can easily be found on LinkedIn
• Headline – Tells the recruiter upfront if you are the type of person they may be looking for.  It can determine if recruiters will continue to review your profile.
• Keywords – The appropriate keywords in your profile can make a big difference in being found; you can even see what search terms are being used most often in your industry with Google trends
• Summary section – Tell recruiters/employers about yourself– Who you are, what you do, how you can help them.
• Experience – Detailed specifics on your career
• Interests – What else can you tell people that will make you stand out—for example, what are your hobbies, do you do volunteer work

As the saying goes, don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today! Make sure that your LinkedIn page is the best it can be.

Staci Bender Epstein