Social Media Perth recently highlighted LinkedIn as the most popular social media platform among Fortune 500 companies. It’s also commonly reported that most recruiters will seek out candidates on LinkedIn, either via their own searches or when reviewing applications. If you’re not on LinkedIn, and if you don’t optimise your presence on this platform, you’re far less likely to be identified and/or singled out as a job-seeker. Furthermore, even if you’re not currently seeking work, an active and engaging LinkedIn profile could be beneficial to both your own and your employer’s professional prospects. It could open up pathways of opportunity you hadn’t imagined venturing down.
“LinkedIn is an easy, modern way to maintain a Rolodex of connections that may be helpful in your career. That person you met at a conference five years ago may very well wind up working at your dream company, or that colleague from your very first job may know a hiring manager you’re eager to contact. With just a quick message you can reconnect and pursue a new lead.” (thebalancecareers.com)
Here are five key ways you can improve your career prospects via LinkedIn (most of these are likely to contribute to higher search rankings):
- Keep it visual
First and foremost, it is essential to include a headshot image in your LinkedIn profile. It has been reported by LinkedIn that members with a photo receive 21 times more profile views and 9 times more connection requests. In addition to this aligning with the appeal of more personalised digital content, you’re telling potential employers and affiliations that you take your profession seriously –you mean business. Keep your LinkedIn profile photo personal but business-like, showing you from the shoulders up with a friendly, open look – also keep it age, experience and industry appropriate.
- Keep expanding
As I discussed in a previous blog, there are many benefits from broadening and deepening your LinkedIn connections – both individual and group-based. 500+ LinkedIn connections has been nominated as the ‘golden’ amount, to boost your findability as well as your credibility. The more relevant, quality connections you have, the more likely you are to appear in cohorts’ searches as someone who shares first, second or third connections (you’re well-known and trusted). The more you interact in industry group forums, the more likely you are to be recognised and remembered.
“Because it hosts more than 600 million professional profiles, which means nearly an unlimited supply of network connections and job opportunities. From seeking a new job to maintaining your personal brand, LinkedIn is an important part of being a full-fledged professional in any industry these days.” (topresume.com)
- Keep engaging
In addition to continual engagement on LinkedIn helping to promote your personal brand offerings, including your business expertise, it’s going to improve your algorithm-influenced search rankings. Bearing in mind that this platform’s auto-feed only enables a certain amount of posts and shares to be seen by others (20% has been estimated), the more active and interactive you are on LinkedIn, the more likely you are to be found and viewed. You could consider sharing industry-relevant blogs and articles (including your own), ‘quotes of the day’ and/or business shifts and announcements.
“LinkedIn is the most popular professional social networking site out there, which means if you have a B2B business, or cater to other professionals in a specific industry, it could be the ideal platform for growing your business.” (socialmediatoday.com)
- Keep it impactful
As with other career documentation such as resumes, you only have a minimal amount of time to convince prospective recruiters (and others) of what you can offer them professionally. My recent blogs about the importance of bullet points and keyword optimisation both highlighted why well considered, concise, brand-selling content is going to be career beneficial. Once you’ve attracted readers to your LinkedIn profile via higher search rankings, crisp, immediate and appealing detail about yourself is more likely to ensure they keep reading and feel compelled to connect/contact.
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Walton’s Words has extensive experience in helping job seekers compile professionally written, career-selling documentation. We can help construct resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, selection criteria, and any other documentation that will help you win your dream role. So drop us a line or give us a call if you’d like some assistance with your next career step.
