Top Three LinkedIn Tips

Dear Cassie,

There’s so much out there about LinkedIn. What are your top three tips to maximize LinkedIn as a job seeker?

Thanks!

LinkedIn Novice

 

Dear LinkedIn Novice,

Your question is excellent and I agree there is an overwhelming amount of information related to LinkedIn out there. In fact, I myself have written about LinkedIn time and time and time and time again. 🙂 Though your request is reasonable and below are my top three tips for maximizing your LinkedIn profile.

  1. Complete your profile as much as possible. When recruiters are sourcing candidates on LinkedIn we typically run advanced searches and the more complete your profile, the higher it will appear in our search results. Completing your profile is easy! When you go to edit your profile, LinkedIn provides blue boxes at the top in which you can add summaries, position descriptions, languages, etc. The site actually walks you through the process. Aim for an “All Star” i.e. wholly complete profile.
  2. Use a picture, but make sure it’s at least somewhat professional in nature. Because LinkedIn is technically a personal social media site, your picture does not have to be you in a suit. It really can be anything you want, just know, if you don’t maintain a professional image, it’s a risk. My photo is not my official Impact Advisors’ photo, but it is professional in nature. Do NOT use your wedding pictures, photos with cleavage, anything that your mom wouldn’t like, cartoons, you with a whole bunch of other people, your baby, or a glamour shot of you from the 80s even if it is Throwback Thursday. If you are seeking a job, you should project a professional image. OK, then why risk it and use a photo at all? Because according to Forbes, recruiters are seven times more likely to click your profile if you have a picture.
  3. Be active! Just setting up a profile won’t get the job done i.e. get you the job. Be active on LinkedIn – share status updates; post articles you think are interesting; join and participate in groups to foster professional relationships; and connect, connect, connect with associates, colleagues and friends. Often networking isn’t about the person you know directly, but all of the people s/he knows. Think solid line to the person you know, and dotted line to all those that they know.

Good luck to you LinkedIn Novice! If you learn anything else you find highly valuable out there, please share with us in the Comments.

Have a question for me? Post it in the Comments!

Cassie

   

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