As we approach mid-year, it’s a good time to take a look at your job search progress. Most everyone is gung-ho in January, but enthusiasm starts to lag after the first quarter of the year. In the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing 4 important tips to review to help you stay on track. Here’s number one!
Use LinkedIn to connect with hiring managers. Stats from Jobvite survey: 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to search for applicants, yet only 36% of job seekers are active on the site. If I haven’t impressed this enough, here’s what LinkedIn’s career exert Nicole Williams says, “If you don’t have an up-to-date (LinkedIn) profile, you’re wasting an opportunity.”
LinkedIn Tips:
Post a professional-looking photo. Why? It makes your profile 11 times more likely to be looked at. Unlike years ago when photos were considered to create prejudice, today some recruiters will skip your profile if they don’t see a photo.
Fill out the Summary section. LinkedIn is a place where you can show a little personality. Hiring managers like to see the human side of prospective candidates. And, if you want to switch industries or relocate, you can use the Summary area to explain.
List several jobs (10-12 years worth is a gauge). Did you know that if you include more than one job in your experience section that your profile is 12 times more likely to be viewed? Include a description of your duties and responsibilities so that they compliment your resume and pop for people reading your profile. Be sure to include keywords as they are a driver of searches.
Say it like it is. No need to try to fancy up LinkedIn with trite adjectives. Just tell the story. “I closed long-term sales initiatives consistently ahead of schedule.”
Mirror keywords. You may be familiar with mirroring body language in an interview – using keywords in your LinkedIn profile is much the same. Research companies you want to work for and identify the keywords they are using. If they are looking for someone with global experience and your profile says international, you may want to weave in “global” in place of “international” somewhere.
Share information. Do you want a 10 times more likely chance to be contacted about opportunities? Post an industry-related article or link on hot topics just once a week to raise your visibility.
In the next few weeks I’ll be sharing the do’s and don’ts of connecting, networking in 140 characters, and building experience.
[Graphic courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net]
