According to a Kinsta blog, a study found that 122 million people received an interview request through activity on LinkedIn with 35.5 million having been hired by a person they connected with.
Therefore, it is unsurprising that 3 people are hired through LinkedIn every minute. So, if you are looking for a new role, it is vital that you use LinkedIn and use it properly!
LinkedIn essentially acts as an extension of your CV so that when recruiters or potential new employers find your profile, they can reach out to you about potential roles that might suit your experience.
Even if you do not find a new job directly through LinkedIn, this professional network will be utilised by employers during the recruitment process to get to know you better.
In this blog, we discuss common mistakes people make on Linked In, as well as ways in which you can optimise your profile. So, keep reading to find out more:
Profile Pictures
There are two key rules when it comes to your LinkedIn profile picture.
The first is to make sure you have a profile picture! The second is to make sure it actually looks like you and is reasonably professional. Your photo is a window into who you are so does it portray the right image you want to put across?
Remember your LinkedIn profile photo is the first impression for anyone looking at you, make sure it’s a good impression.
Fill in the ‘about’ section
This is your chance to make yourself stand out so, and with a 2,000-character limit, you have every opportunity to demonstrate who you are, your experiences and what you are about. If you are looking for a new opportunity, make sure it’s up to date so the right people are reaching out and connecting.
List your skills
Did you know that you can list up to 50 skills on LinkedIn?
Not only do these highlight your areas of expertise, but they act as keywords when others are searching for specific skills. So, your Profile will reach more people and help you to grow your network.
Get yourself some recommendations
If you are thinking about a career change most of us would probably check reviews on a company we are interested in.
So, why would you assume your new employer wouldn’t do the same?
Recommendations on LinkedIn are personal, direct, and proof that you are good at what you do!!! So, reach out and get a few from those you have worked with or for.
Make your URL personal
A very small tweak to your LinkedIn profile, but it can make a huge difference!
For example, mine reads: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-mason-0603652/ compared to www.linkedin.com/arandombunchoflettersandnumbers
People will be able to find you a lot easier, more directly and it also looks more professional.
So, how best can I utilise my profile?
Once you have addressed all the issues we have discussed in this blog – and make sure you fill in every last detail – you don’t want to leave potential new employers wondering about any gaps – the next step is to start a discussion. Create some regular posts (ours are a great example), or if you’re not that confident – like / share / comment on other posts. All of this will build on your Profile, engage with a wider network and build more relationships.
Finally, continue to connect with people in your wider network. You never know, you might just connect with someone that ends up being an excellent contact to have.
You can find us on LinkedIn both on our company page, and you can connect with our recruiters individually. We look forward to seeing you over there!
