LinkedIn is fast becoming the most trusted recruiting method out there, with a whopping 93% of recruiters saying that they use the social network to vet potential clients. So it stands to reason that having an eye-catching and detailed profile will set you apart from the competition. If you’re a job seeker looking to revamp your LinkedIn profile, then you’re in the right place! Check out our how-to guide below to whip your profile into shape…
6 steps to make your LinkedIn profile work for you!
Step 1: A gripping profile headline
Your profile headline is the sentence that appears just below your name. It’s the first thing people see and it tells your story. This headline can simply be your job title or a concise summary of your skills. For example, a headline might read “B2B Content Marketer”, or it could be more elaborate, “I create enthralling content for the digital landscape that brings tangible ROI”. Both are acceptable, but the most important thing about this section is that it’s tailored to attract your target employer. That’s why you should also take a second to visit your LinkedIn dashboard – you can find it on your profile – and set your profile to ‘Available’. This lets recruiters know that you are ready for business and, best of all, it shows up right next to your headline.
Step 2: A fresh and “profesh” profile picture
You should, at all costs, avoid using casually snapped photos with bad lighting. A professional headshot is the most advisable course of action. If that is out of your budget or too time consuming, here are some simple guidelines to follow:
- Make sure to get someone else to take the photo or at least use a tripod.
- Find something smart to wear.
- Locate a plain background, such as a wall, to pose in front of so that nothing will distract from you.
- Set your camera so that you are capturing a headshot (that’s your head and shoulders!).
- Look directly into the camera, with open body language and a warm smile.
- Snap!
An unusual trick for capturing a great photo is to cough while laughing! Even if it’s just the silliness of the action that causes you to laugh, it’s a great hack for turning a stiff smile into a genuine one.
Step 3: SEO/Keywords
For anyone not embroiled in the world of digital marketing, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it is the key to ranking first in any search engine. We recommend picking 3 keywords that you want to rank well for and mentioning them about 8 times in your profile. For instance, if you specialise in UX design you will want to rank for ‘design’, ‘UX’, and perhaps ‘customisation’. You can include these words throughout your profile in your headline, bio, education, recommendations, experience, skills & endorsements and accomplishments. You can also customise your LinkedIn URL to suit your needs. It’s best to have it simply set to your name, but if that’s taken you can be a bit more creative and consider including some more of those juicy keywords.
Step 4: UVP in 200 Characters
If you are in sales, you will be familiar with a UVP (unique value proposition) and the benefits attached. For your LinkedIn profile, you should think about what you can bring to an employer, instead of focusing solely on yourself. There is a 200 character preview shown in the biography section when someone visits your profile, and to see more the visitor has to click to continue reading. These 200 characters are where you must make your assets shine. Think first of who you are, the type of work you do, and most importantly – why you do what you do. Combine these aspects into 2 or 3 sentences, almost like an elevator pitch, and this way you will get the message you want across in a succinct, memorable format.
Step 5: Recommendations
Recommendations from the right people, containing the right information, will work wonders for your LinkedIn profile. We suggest reaching out directly before requesting a recommendation through LinkedIn. This will give you the opportunity to have a chat before they post anything, during which you can let them know what kind of job you’re looking for, and the skills necessary for the position. With some recommendations you will be able to directly ask them to highlight certain skills, and with others it will be enough just to mention the role you’re applying for. This can help with building up your keyword strength, as well as the overall value of your profile.
Step 6: 100+ Connections
Your LinkedIn profile only really starts to gather strength when you have a network of over 100 people, which might sound daunting to someone who is used to working in smaller teams or has held the same job for a long period of time. Luckily enough LinkedIn is not like other social media platforms, in that you do not necessarily have to know someone in order to connect with them. LinkedIn will suggest people in your field for you to connect with, contacts from your emails, and people you may know. Don’t be afraid to click the connect button, because in the professional world people are happy to build up their own profiles and know what is going on in their industry.
Not content to sit back and wait for the jobs to come to you? Why not check out our jobs page to see what opportunities we have available at the moment! You can always get in contact with us directly for more information.
