LinkedIn dominates the market for helping organizations hire new employees. For candidates, it should be the first website to visit when looking for a new job. After refining your resume, the next step should be to update your LinkedIn profile. With most recruiters using this platform to discover top talent, ensuring your profile stands out is crucial. Here are some strategic tips job seekers should be aware of to enhance your LinkedIn presence and get the most views.
- Craft a Compelling Headline
Your headline is the first thing everyone reads, so make it count. The headline should either be a generic job title encompassing your professional identity or a description of your work specialization. If you title yourself, make it clear and straightforward without cheesy descriptive words like “top-notch”. Opt for a clear, professional title like “Senior Cloud Security Engineer, or a specific descriptor like “AWS Certified Security Engineer specializing in cloud architecture and security infrastructure.” For more on titling yourself clearly, check out “Insider Tips: Top 5 Essential Resume Hacks.” - Take a Super Cool Profile Picture
Rule number one is to have something. If you have no picture, readers get suspicious that you are hiding something. When updating your profile, ensure your photo is recent (less than three years old). If you can, get it professionally done, or do it at home with free headshot software. It’s definitely worth it. You can still be creative and show your personality with a picture taken at an event or outdoors. Just avoid cropping out your head from an old group photo with low resolution. - Narrate Your Story in the About Section
The About section of your LinkedIn profile is similar to the summary on your resume. Many repurpose their resume summary for this section, which is perfectly fine. Otherwise, it is an opportunity for you to show your personality and share your story. Specifically: Introduce yourself, highlight specializations, denote niche skills, and detail selected experiences. Mentioning personal interests or achievements can add a unique touch. For example, I’ll never forget the candidate who wrote about climbing every 14’er mountain peak in Colorado. You never know when the reader might better identify with you through common interests. - Add a Current Job, Even When Unemployed
If you recently updated your resume, this part should be easy. I recommend mirroring the exact content from your resume’s current work experience. If you already put in all the hard work on your resume detailing work projects, achievements, and keywords, why not reuse it? Ideally, you want 7-12 bullets, written in the third person, present tense. If you think this is too much, you can edit it slightly and shorten it. Also, your current job is really the only job that needs bulleted experience listed. You can add some for your previous jobs, but any role past 10 years ago just needs a job title. - Pick the Right Industry
This is a small but significant update you shouldn’t forget. You can find the drop-down options when editing your intro. When you add an industry, other people can more easily find your profile when searching for someone in your industry. It enhances your profile’s discoverability and connects you to relevant opportunities, connections, and content. A well-crafted profile reflects your career journey and paves the way for future opportunities. Remember, your LinkedIn profile is a living document of your professional life. Regular updates and refinements reflect your career and keep you relevant in the evolving job market. Make your profile a true representation of your professional self. Need more help? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at BridgeView for additional guidance.
