Your LinkedIn profile is your online presence and a key tool for networking and job searching. With millions of people on the platform, it’s hard to stand out.
In today’s job market, an effective LinkedIn profile is very important.
LinkedIn is not just a social network. It is a powerful network of job searchers, recruiters, and professionals. In this guide, we’ll be taking you through how to optimise your LinkedIn profile to get visibility, connect you with employers, and help you land your dream job.
This article by FOR® summarizes everything you need to know about optimising your LinkedIn profile for job searches.
What is an optimised LinkedIn profile?
An optimised LinkedIn profile is a profile that is well-written and complete and showcases your skills, experience and achievements in a way that makes you visible to employers or connections. It shows your value, and professional brand and differentiates you from other candidates.
It has a professional photo, summary, work experience and skills, education and any other relevant information that showcases your qualifications and achievements. It’s also active and updated regularly with recent work experience, education, skills and achievements and has a good number of connections.
An optimised LinkedIn profile can increase your maximum exposure and visibility and make it more likely that hiring managers and recruiters find you when searching for potential candidates.
Tips to Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is a tool for social media and networking, which ideally means business toward your work. Whether you are out to find your next job, change careers, or simply wish to grow in your current career, you will want to ensure that your online profile represents you in the most favourable light possible according to the type of opportunities and employers you are looking to attract now or in the future.
Here are our top tips on what you can do today to make sure the right people find you.
Treat your Profile Like a Resume
LinkedIn is probably the biggest single mistake made by most people in their profile and treating it like other social networking sites is a biggie. After all, when a recruiter or employer looks at your LinkedIn, you don’t want to come across as casual and vague.
Some might say that an online resume would have the layout of a resume and, hence, be called a LinkedIn profile. If treated as such and filled out properly, you’re going to be more likely to show up within the first couple of pages on a search for LinkedIn users. The truth is that an impressive profile could help impress people and boost your professional network.
Upload a Professional Profile Picture
It makes a lot of sense if you have a good profile picture, as it is your first chance to show your professional brand visually. The attire is one in which you want to be seen and remembered as a professional by both your LinkedIn network and the relevant industries/companies. With many smartphones and cameras having advanced features today, like portrait mode in which the background is blurred out, there is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on getting that pro photo.
The recommended size for a LinkedIn profile picture is 400 x 400 pixels. For professionalism, ensure to take the photo in front of a plain background and let your face occupy 60% of the space. You can crop the picture at the top of your shoulders to a little bit above your head so it is more or less framed as a headshot.
Use soft natural lighting and avoid selfies. Have someone take the photo for you or set a timer. Avoid photos that are far away, have busy backgrounds or where you’re not making eye contact with the camera. Your facial expression should be smiling to show you are friendly, trustworthy and likeable.
Plan your Background Image
You want to use a background photo (or banner image) that will complement your headshot photo and not compete with it. You want to think about how the design theme, colour and look of the banner matches the style of your profile picture. The banner should be 1584 px x 396 px in file formats JPG, PNG or GIF.
Write an Impactful Headline
Your LinkedIn headline is what sets you apart from other job seekers in the social media cluster. It’s tied to the search algorithm and is one of the most visible sections of your profile. Not only should your LinkedIn headline show your professional expertise but it should also have specific keywords that will help you show up higher in LinkedIn searches by recruiters or hiring managers.
The keywords you choose for your headline should be relevant and important to your job function, expertise and/or industry and you can max out the 220-character limit if needed. Your headline should also show the value you bring to the table.
You have to paint a picture of who you are and what you can offer to your clients in 220 characters so be concise. If you have someone in your company who is good with social selling take a quick look at their profile headlines for inspiration.
Write a LinkedIn Summary
One of the most underutilised sections of a LinkedIn profile is the “About” section. The average LinkedIn user will just add a line or two and call it a day. This is a complete waste of one of the most important sections of a LinkedIn profile.
Your “About” section has to be a winner. Think of this section of your profile as the product you’re selling to your potential employers. This is the first impression that will set the tone for the rest of your profile. If your LinkedIn summary is weak a prospective recruiter/employer won’t bother to scroll down to check the rest of the profile.
A professional-looking “About” section should be detailed but concise. Don’t turn it into an essay that no one will want to read as most people skim summaries anyway. Keep the tone and language engaging and use industry jargon as needed. Provide a summary of your main technical skills if applicable.
The main point of writing a good profile summary is to personally brand yourself and show you’re fully invested in your career path. To learn how to write one check out articles, top LinkedIn profiles in your industry, social media posts and more.
Showcase your Work Experience
The “Work Experience” section of the LinkedIn profile isn’t something most LinkedIn users ignore; on the contrary, most people only fill this section out. The problem? Most LinkedIn users just fill in the bare minimum details such as tenure, company name and location which doesn’t say much.
The experience section is crucial once you’ve got the attention of your potential recruiter. In this section, you have to brag about your successes and work experiences. Make this section of your profile detailed.
To make your profile stand out what you need to do is flesh out each entry you make in the LinkedIn experience section. Fill in the details of your responsibilities, skills learned, major projects etc. Summarise all your achievements and include all the experiences that have made you grow both professionally and personally. These details will tell a lot about a person and something a good HR or employer will take note of when going through your profile.
If you’re employed keep it detailed and up to date. Recruiters are most interested in your current role. If you’re a fresh graduate state all your project work, volunteer work, and internships.
Show your Educational Background
Adding your education to your LinkedIn profile has many benefits. First, it shows your qualifications and gives employers or connections an idea of your education and expertise.
It also helps to build credibility and makes you more likely to be considered for jobs that require specific qualifications. Always list your highest qualification.
It also connects you with alumni from your educational institutions and expands your network. The bigger your network the more opportunities you will be exposed to and have access to. Networking is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door for things that excite you.
Don’t forget to use LinkedIn SEO
Your LinkedIn profile stands out because of how you use it! You may be surprised, but actually, LinkedIn has its own SEO ecosystem, completely different from regular SEO.
So, with the right words and phrases, boost your profile to the top of search results. The more you are higher in search results, the more people see you, like you are putting your best foot forward so recruiters and hiring managers find you when searching for candidates. It’s easy, and it can mean a lot to your job search.
So make sure that you are aware of LinkedIn SEO and that you use the right words in your profile. These could be skills, industry, brand, opportunities, tools, and so forth.
Conclusion
Investing in your LinkedIn profile for job searching is an investment in yourself and your career. It increases your visibility brand and credibility in your industry.
Remember LinkedIn is a moving target and your career is a journey. Keep your profile up to date and engaged with your network and you’ll get the benefits of a well-optimised LinkedIn profile. By following the tips in this article and focusing on personal branding you’ll open up new career opportunities and meaningful connections. Your LinkedIn profile is more than an online CV it’s your ticket to success.
If you want to Boost your online job search by optimising your LinkedIn profile. You can work with a specialist like FOR®’s Branding and Marketing Agency.
