Leveraging Your LinkedIn Profile: Tips for Curating Your Online Presence
There are numerous online platforms dedicated to career growth. From job boards to social media networks, employees who are serious about moving up in their chosen field should understand the importance of leveraging these platforms to help them succeed. Among the many websites and apps available to us, one reigns supreme in terms of blending the world of professional networking and job hunting: LinkedIn.
A facebook-esque, career-centered, social-professional site, LinkedIn is the place for individuals to connect with colleagues and showcase their career trajectory. Employers and recruiters are very active on LinkedIn, using the site to post jobs and to source potential candidates for open positions. Having a carefully curated profile that accurately represents your skills and experience can be invaluable in landing you your next career opportunity. As a company focused primarily on talent sourcing and recruiting, we want to provide you with a few tips for crafting an exceptional LinkedIn profile that will attract future employers.
First and most obviously, keep your job experience up-to-date. This is a no-brainer. When reviewing applications on the site or when sourcing potential candidates, hiring managers and recruiters are looking for accurate information about your current and past roles. If your profile information is out-dated, you may be missing out on numerous opportunities.
Interested in finding a new job? LinkedIn allows users to alert recruiters and hiring managers that they “may be open to work.” Including this on your profile lets us know that it would be beneficial to us to reach out to you— thus, bringing more potential new career ventures to your attention.
In addition to listing past and present job experiences, it pays to also include specific field-related skills you possess. LinkedIn allows you to not only include these skills on your profile, but colleagues can endorse you, letting potential employers know you are competent in these areas. Think of skills endorsements as mini professional references.
LinkedIn is a networking site, so don’t forget to do just that! Connect, connect, connect. You don’t have to connect only with those colleagues you’ve known and worked with for years; reach out to professional acquaintances, former classmates, etc. Having a robust number of connections indicates to recruiters and hiring managers that you are likely active on the site, and thus worth reaching out to for potential job opportunities.
Lastly, make sure you proofread. It goes without saying that typos and grammatical errors can be off-putting to employers and recruiters alike. So, take an extra five minutes to ensure that your profile is error-free.
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