Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage

Nearly everyone has a LinkedIn profile, but not many job seekers use theirs to its full potential. LinkedIn is a great place to network, get job leads and help you land interviews. Follow these tips to create a LinkedIn profile that works for you during your job search, helping you secure a position that meets your needs.

Keep Your Profile Up to Date

Set aside time to give your LinkedIn profile a thorough cleanup on a regular basis. Start by taking a look at your photo and headline. If you don't have a current, professional photo, ask a friend to take one, or set up an appointment with a studio. First impressions matter. Choose a headline that leans toward the type of positions you are applying for even if it better describes your potential than your last position. Don't lie, but make sure potential recruiters know that you see yourself as someone who is competent to work in their industry.

Next, remove outdated information and short-term job positions that have nothing to do with the positions for which you are applying. If you have a resume connected to your LinkedIn profile, take a deep look at it. You want to make sure all the information on your LinkedIn resume matches the information on the resumes you are sending out. Your LinkedIn resume is a great place to include visuals, such as charts and graphs, to show how your actions made an impact in your previous jobs. Another option is creating an infographic resume that highlights your achievements. This provides employers with a visual summary of your career to supplement more traditional resumes you send out during your job search.

Go Exploring

LinkedIn is a great way to get your name out there in your industry. When you apply for jobs, take a few moments to visit the profiles of people who are likely to see your resume. Check out people in human resources, your future boss and other key players in the company. Before you start, take a quick look at your privacy settings to make sure that you are not browsing anonymously. In this case, you want people to see your name in their “See Who’s Viewed Your Profile” section. That way, when they see your name on your resume, it will be familiar, increasing the chance that you score a job interview.

Create Content

Adding useful content to LinkedIn groups is a great way to show your competence and get noticed. Start by joining groups related to your industry. Then add your own articles and comments to continue conversations and grow your network. This tip is especially useful for recent college graduates and others with less experience. Through your content, others see your strengths and learn more about your ideas. This leads to more people visiting your personal LinkedIn profile and potentially adding you as a connection. More connections provide you with more leads during your job search.

Consider your LinkedIn profile a direct extension of your professional persona. Keep it up to date and ready to support your job search. Creating content and increasing the size of your network help get your name out there so you can land more job interviews and find a position faster.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net