Everyone knows how important a good CV is to land the job of his or her dreams, but did you know that LinkedIn is slowly but surely being used as the standard when hiring? With everything going digital, many employers are finding it easier to track their hiring process electronically rather than using the old fashion method of CV collecting. Having good etiquette on LinkedIn and optimizing your profile are key to standing out against other applications.
Here are five sure-fire tips to get your LinkedIn profile and presence from 0 to 100 — real quick.
Use a professional profile picture
Your profile picture on LinkedIn is the first step to employers screening your application, this means that your picture should represent who you are professionally. Having a photographer take your headshot is a great option, but if you don’t have that at your disposal, using a clear selfie of you works great. Think actor headshot when selecting your picture and using one with a smile is a great way to make yourself look more approachable.
It’s Not a Popularity Contest
Although a social media platform, LinkedIn does differ from say Instagram or Facebook in that it’s less about how big your network is. LinkedIn connections should be people you know and want to follow professionally, like colleagues, clients, and friends working in similar fields. If you are going to approach someone you do not know, make sure it’s for a professional purpose like connecting with a hiring manager or potential client.
Personalize Your Requests
Whether you’re looking to connect with someone new or asking a colleague for a recommendation, the worst thing you can do is send the templated message. Personalizing the messages you send through LinkedIn is probably the single most important thing you can do when networking, especially with new professional connections. It would be like giving a birthday card without signing it. Enhancing the templated message is fine, but be sure to add a personal touch like the person’s name and adding a few of your own words.
LinkedIn Isn’t Facebook… or eHarmony
When LinkedIn first started, its users were generally career-focused professionals who understood that it was a business-oriented social networking platform. But as LinkedIn’s popularity skyrocketed, unfortunately so did its misuse. We need to use the same discretion that any company would have as their HR Policy… Remember, LinkedIn is about showcasing your professional brand, not your personal opinions or finding tonight’s dinner date.
Reach All-Star Status
Filling out your profile and all the different sections helps share more about your professional achievements and helps boost your profile’s status. Having a more complete profile allows you to show up higher in search results when employers and recruiters are searching for candidates. Make sure you focus on writing a captivating summary section and filling out full details about your current and previous job experiences, and your education.
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Image courtesy of Pinterest
By: M.J. Elle, Toronto @TheMJElle
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