It’s time to find a new role. You’ve refreshed your resume and submitted applications, but in today’s digital world, a refreshed resume isn’t enough.
Enter LinkedIn. While you’ve been waiting for an interview invitation, your fellow applicants have been showcasing their expertise, making connections, and building a personal brand on this platform. With over 810 million members, an up-to-date and engaging LinkedIn profile can help open doors to individuals and opportunities you may not have otherwise been aware of.
LinkedIn Profiles are an excellent way to provide more information about yourself, beyond your resume and cover letter. Today we’re sharing 5 tips for revamping your LinkedIn profile to help set you apart from the rest of the applicant pool.
1. Complete Your Profile
This may seem obvious, but the amount of incomplete LinkedIn profiles is staggering. Be sure to add a recent photo as your profile picture – a headshot or image with your face taking up about 60% of the shot will be great! Include a background photo that helps catch their attention and shows visitors to your profile more about what matters to you. Add details in each section of your profile that enhances your story and the skills you would bring to a potential employer.
Check your dashboard (found on your profile page) to find your profile strength – beginner, intermediate, etc. Your goal is to achieve All-Star status. All-Star profiles are 40% more likely to receive connection requisitions and messages about opportunities.
2. Include Keywords and Search Terms in Your Skills Section
Infusing your profile with keywords can help you be found by recruiters on LinkedIn. The platform recommends jobs that match your profile and skills. Review your skills section regularly to ensure new skills are being added and existing skills match the roles you’re interested in pursuing.
You can include up to 50 skills in this section so don’t worry if a keyword doesn’t quite make it into the experience section. Instead, add it to your skills section and watch new recruiters and potential employers start looking at your profile.
3. Write a Summary That Makes People Want to “See More”
Your LinkedIn summary is one of the first impressions you’ll make on a potential connection. It should include keywords and relevant information that entices your reader to learn more about you. This section reveals only a few lines of text before asking your audience to “see more”.
Your goal for this section is to get your reader to click “see more” and for them to scroll through your profile to learn more about your professional experience.
4. Share, Share, and Share Some More!
There are three primary things you should share with your LinkedIn network: industry updates, content you’ve created for the platform, and examples of the work you’ve done.
Sharing industry updates shows that you’re staying on top of trends and major changes, and keeps you showing up in your network’s feed in a way that adds value for them.
The more you share and engage with LinkedIn content, the more you establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. A natural next step is creating and sharing your own long-form content with your network. LinkedIn articles are a great way to spark conversation and engage with your audience. Keep an eye on the comments and be sure to respond to each of them!
LinkedIn is a great place to share case studies of your work. What brand collateral have you produced and what sort of results did your contribution lead to? Let these case studies speak to your abilities and really showcase what you could bring to a new role.
5. Take a Skills Assessment
LinkedIn offers online tests that allow you to demonstrate your abilities and showcases them with a verified skills badge on your profile. LinkedIn has revealed that candidates with verified skills are roughly 30% more likely to be hired for roles they apply for! Don’t worry if a test doesn’t go as you’d expected. Displaying your results is entirely voluntary and you can retake the tests as your skills grow and evolve.
About Congruence Talent Solutions
Our team of experts offer decades of experience and knowledge to connect high-caliber candidates with strategic opportunities for career advancement within our corporate partner firms.
At Congruence Talent Solutions, we know that trust and discretion are of the utmost importance, and have a deep and abiding commitment to protect your privacy throughout the placement process, whether direct or contract.
Click here to learn more about career opportunities with Congruence Talent Solutions.