LinkedIn is a social media site that we have all signed up for at some point of our lives, probably when we were first year university students and had absolutely no need for it, and promptly forgotten all about.
Statistics suggest LinkedIn is one of the most useful job search tools; 97.3% of managers around the world used it as a recruitment tool in 2012, according to Bullhorn Reach’s survey, which used data from 160,000 recruiters. Whether you are currently employed and open to opportunities or in between jobs, you can use LinkedIn to reach your career goals.
Here are six tips to make the most of your LinkedIn account:
Make sure your profile is 100% complete
You may have filled in all the necessities, uploaded a photo and filled in your job history, but make sure LinkedIn tells you your profile is 100% complete. (Have you reached the required 50 contacts? Have you added your academic qualifications and relevant skills? Do you have a summary? Have you described your work experiences individually?) Unless your profile is complete, you’ll be harder to find, thus depriving you of the full benefit of the network.
Be compelling
What makes a recruiter click on your profile as opposed to the hundred others in the search? Use a friendly, but professional photo. Create a headline that compels others to learn more about you, instead of using your current position as a headline. Be succinct but descriptive, and use keywords that recruiters are likely to search for when looking for someone with your background.
Modify your profile
Don’t just set it and forget it. Keep an eye on how often you are coming up in searches and how many people are viewing your account (scroll down and look at the right side of the screen for this information). If you’re unhappy with the numbers, adjust your headlines and try different descriptions to try to capture additional traffic.
Customise your Linkedin URL
Make sure to customise your URL and select your name, or, in case you are unable to secure your name, some version of it. Your customised URL is much easier to share, put on business cards and resumes, etc.
Update frequently
Linkedin is not Facebook but it is still a social network, for you to share insights, information and links to interesting articles, or simply pass along links shared in your network. The idea is to be at the forefront.
Follow companies
You will be able to learn in depth about a company that is active on Linkedin if you follow them using the “Insights” option. You will also be among the first to find out if they post new jobs.
