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There are over 500 million members on LinkedIn. These members consist of recruiters, businesses, investors, colleagues and your day-to-day job seekers. So how can your LinkedIn profile help you stand out when you are searching for employment?
First impressions
There’s no denying it; first impressions are EVERYTHING. When you go to an interview you dress to impress, right? Well, same thing goes for your LinkedIn page. The first thing users see when they scroll through LinkedIn is your profile image. Do you have a professional image of yourself or is yours a selfie taken in your living room or maybe not even a profile picture at all? This social media network is made for professionals. Take a look at your profile picture and make sure it shows who you want it to show. Consider having a professional or photo savvy friend take your picture – don’t forget to dress the part as well!
Attention to details
What does your LinkedIn headline say about you? Likewise, what does your bio section say? Your headline is not your current job title and your bio should be personal. Keep in mind a couple of things when editing these sections:
- What are you looking for?
- What are you passionate about?
- Who are you? Don’t write your bio in third person, this is your personal profile.
Skills update
Whether you are a tenured professional or just starting your career, you have skills. Be sure to list these in your profile. Listing at least five skills could give you 17 times more clicks to your page. It can also enable your followers to endorse you and prove you are qualified. Recruiters and potential employers look at these items to see if you are qualified for the position.
Job searching
Struggling with job search engines like Indeed, ZipRecruiter or Monster? LinkedIn is the number one job search engine to use. LinkedIn makes it simple for you to easily apply for jobs, search specific companies, and see how your experiences stand out against the competition. Apply filters when searching using industry specific terms to narrow down your results. This could help you connect to the right individual that will land you your next opportunity.
Build connections
Networking is such an important skill and LinkedIn is a great tool apply that skill. Connect with old classmates, teachers, co-workers, family and friends to see how you may share connections with others. You may be applying for a position and notice that a friend or past co-worker is connected to someone in the company you are interested in. Building connections may even help you find your next career opportunity.
Not your resume
While you do want to list all of your past employment experience and other accolades, be sure your LinkedIn profile doesn’t read exactly like your resume. Pro tip: update your profile regularly – at least every six months – to ensure that you capture what you are doing in your current position. Include quantifiable details if possible.
Be active
Maintaining a LinkedIn profile is similar to keeping up with your Facebook newsfeed but professionally. It is a great place to share articles, blogs and business updates. This is an important activity to keep you engaged with those you follow and connects your followers to your profile. Remember to stay active on your LinkedIn account, especially when you are looking for a job.
Now that your LinkedIn profile is looking great, we want to help you build those connections! Student360 will help you network with potential employers that will be great connections on LinkedIn.
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