Your LinkedIn Profile 101

LinkedIn has become a very important part of your job search. It is equally important for recruiters as we look for and check out candidates.  So, how do you maximize your profile to get our attention.  First, you must understand what we see.

If you apply for a position on LinkedIn, the hiring manager will be notified and they will see:

• Your Name

• Your Headline

• Current Job Titles

• Past Job Titles

• Names of your colleges/universities

• The number of recommendations you have

• The number of connections you have

• Contact information.

They will also be given the option to open your resume, if you sent one.

It’s important to keep this in mind as it is the same information a recruiter would scan if they looked you up in the program.  LinkedIn scanned your information, and a recruiter does the same.

Now if a recruiter was going to look for possible candidates, they would start their search using keywords. If a search was for a VP, Integrated Marketing, the keywords might be Integrated marketing and then a recruiter might also include a job title (AVP or VP) or other specifics. The information that would show up would include your name, your headline and sometimes your current/past employment (depending on how your profile is set up.) A recruiter can then click in to see your whole profile.

If your information does not match what we are looking for, then chances are we won’t open your resume or click to see your whole profile.

To maximize your chances of being found:

1. Know what you want and change your headline to optimize this. Use these 120 characters wisely. You can’t be everything to everyone.

2. Make sure the job titles on your resume match up with the ones on LinkedIn. 

3. Describe what you have done at each position concisely highlighting any major accomplishments. Make sure to identify an industry clearly (b2b, consumer, hospitality, tech etc.)

4. List the skills that are important in your field.

5. Recommendations/Endorsements should support these skills.

6. While you don’t need a million followers, your network should be robust enough to show that you are active in your field.

7. Include links to your portfolio/blogs etc. if they are pertinent to your job search.

8. Be professional. A current head shot, consistent profiles across social media, correct grammar, and spelling.

Be concise, consistent and current to be noticed.