How to utilise LinkedIn for your Job Search

With over 30 million companies represented by LinkedIn business profiles and more than 20 million job-listings posted per year, it is not surprising that LinkedIn is the top professional social networking platform.  LinkedIn offers plenty of opportunities for those on the job market and if it is utilised correctly, it will certainly have a positive impact on your job search.  Having a well written LinkedIn Profile is the first step to utilising LinkedIn for your job search.

In this article, I will outline some simple tips on how to create a profile that will make a positive impression and I will share tips on how to utilise LinkedIn for your job search.

Tips to create a positive LinkedIn Profile 

Professional Photograph

LinkedIn profiles with a photograph receives up to 21 times more profile views that those profiles with no photograph.  The first task to update your profile is to ensure you have uploaded a recent professional photograph. Remember to keep your personal photographs to other social networking platforms such as Instagram or Facebook.

Update your Headline

The next task is to create a heading that will get you noticed by hiring managers and recruiters. This headline appears right beneath your name in search results. (You can change the headline section in the “edit profile” page). You can include your job title and/or if you are actively looking for work in this section.  Keep it simple, easy to read and concise.

Correct Contact Details

Check that your contact details on your LinkedIn profile are correct. I would recommend providing a personal email address that you use regularly as you don’t want to miss out on any potential opportunities.

Keep your LinkedIn Profile updated

Your LinkedIn profile should always be amended and updated as things change for you.  Whether you have completed a course, got a promotion or a new job, make sure to add this information to your LinkedIn profile.  Highlight your recent experience and always remove outdated information to keep your profile up to date.

Ask for Professional Recommendations

Having recommendations on your profile validates your ability, character and work history. These are public testimonials made by other professionals on the network so be strategic about who you could ask to give you a recommendation.  A good starting target would be to have 2-3 recommendations on your profile page.

Tips to utilise LinkedIn for your Job Search 

Let Recruiters know that you are available for work

Recruiters and Hiring Managers are on LinkedIn. Recruiters use LinkedIn as one of their main sources to identify suitable candidates.  If you are actively looking for work, you want to let recruiters know this. On your LinkedIn profile, you can indicate that you are open to finding a new job and this will make recruiters aware that you are available for new opportunities.

Follow Companies you would like to work for

Research the companies that you would like to work for. I would recommend identifying at least 12 companies. Once you have identified these companies, you can then find the company business pages and follow these companies on LinkedIn. By doing this, you will be kept up to date with any information that is published on their business page.

Network & Connect Directly with Recruiters

You can also find and connect directly with Recruiters who work in your identified companies. (Once you are on the company’s LinkedIn Page, click “See all employees” and then you can search for a specific job title and that will generate a list of people).  As LinkedIn is a networking platform, it is great to network with relevant people who could potentially help you secure your next position.

Job Alerts

Under the Jobs heading on LinkedIn you can search for relevant jobs in your preferred location. Once you do this, it will generate a list of suitable jobs for you to review. At this stage, you can create a job alert with that information (job & location) and LinkedIn will keep you informed of any new jobs that have been posted.  I would recommend creating 3-5 different job alerts to ensure you don’t miss out on any opportunities.

Set up a LinkedIn Personalised URL

You are able to customise your LinkedIn profile URL, so you can include your first and last name instead of the numbers. You can edit this on your profile page on the top right hand corner that says “Edit public profile and URL”). This looks more professional and it is easier to share than the long list of letters and numbers.  Having a personalised URL is also good from an SEO perspective.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you have gained some tips on how to create a profile that makes a positive impression and you understand how to utilise LinkedIn for your job search.  Please share this article with anyone who might benefit from it.