A professional networking site like LinkedIn provides invaluable resource for making contacts. When utilizing LinkedIn to make recruiters identify you as a potential employee, it is important to know some LinkedIn dos and don’ts to enhance your profile.
“Every person is his or her own brand.”
― Reid Hoffman, Executive Chairman and co-founder of LinkedIn
The Dos and Don’ts of LinkedIn
What is the first thing recruiters see when they are looking for potential candidates? The LinkedIn profile and the information provided in the profile will serve as the first impression. So, instead of risking a wonderful opportunity, why not get it right the first time?
Dos
There are a few key strategies which can be applied to your current LinkedIn profile, regardless of your current employment status. These suggestions will help you connect to the recruiters faster and more effectively.
❖ Your Profile Picture
Needless to say, your picture is one of the first things people notice on your page. Depending on this picture, recruiters will make judgments as to what kind of person/employee you may be. So, keeping a professional-looking, current picture of yourself is essential.
❖ Write a Captivating Headline
After your profile picture, the headline is the next piece of information by which recruiters judge you. If the headline is too long, uninteresting, generic, and/or vague, recruiters aren’t going to browse your profile.
❖ Complete Your Profile
It may seem a lot of work, but putting all the details in their appropriate boxes makes a whole lot of difference. Your concentration should be on the “quality” of information filled in your profile, rather than “quantity.” Include keywords that recruiters are sure to be impressed with. So, complete your profile, and do pay special attention to including your specialties, skills, experience, and even volunteer work, as they take the front seat.
❖ Make Your Profile Public
This one doesn’t require much explanation as to “why” your profile needs to be public. However, I will say one thing―the more exposure you get, the better are your chances of landing the right job.
❖ Send Generic Connection Requests
Take ample time to figure out how and what you’re going to write in your message while sending a connection request. With your requests, you’re not only widening your circle of potential clients, alliances, and/or employers, but you’re also marketing yourself to everyone.
Don’ts
Now that we’ll be discussing the what-not-to-do aspects of a LinkedIn profile, there are certain factors which can hamper your chances. Hence, these following points should be kept in mind while preparing and updating your profile each time.
❖ Forget Your Account
If you think that adding your friends and colleagues to your list is enough, then you’re missing out on connecting with people who can actually make a difference in your career. It’s important that you connect with people on a regular basis, keeping in mind that they are from your field of expertise.
❖ Provide False Information
It’s not uncommon for people to embellish a bit in their resumes or profiles. When recruiters go through your profile, they have no reason to think that the information provided in untrue. So, if you have overemphasized or included skills in your profile that are faulty, it will backfire one day.
❖ Leave Your Summary Section Blank
Writing the summary is again essential. This section works in answering one of the first few questions asked during face-to-face interviews, “Tell me a little bit about yourself.” So, here is an opportunity to sum up “who you are”, “what you do”, and “things you are passionate about” in a few words.
❖ Forget the Groups
Join groups that are specific to your profession, interests, and expertise. This way, you can reach more people with very little effort. So, no forgetting those groups. Remember, when your profile is public, everyone can see what you’re doing.
When you create your LinkedIn profile, make sure to factor in all the above-mentioned elements. Apart from this, allow your profile to be in the work-in-progress stage at all times. Why, you ask? It’s because recruiters are always looking for candidates who keep updating their skills and knowledge in their respective fields. This way, you will have a huge advantage over others and be able to snag a position you’ve always dreamed of.