LinkedIn isn’t just for those who are currently working. It is an ideal social media platform for those who are actively seeking a career or a new job opportunity. If you’re just occasionally updating your LinkedIn profile with a few of your recent accomplishments - you’re doing it wrong. See below for a few tips on how to stand apart from the crowd on LinkedIn to get noticed by recruiters.
- Make Your Headline Stand Out
- Your headline on LinkedIn is your personal brand seen by those who are visiting your profile. This headline (just below your name) is what will show up when a recruiter conducts a search on LinkedIn. It has the ability to put your profile at the top of searches depending on which keywords you include. Try not to use a generic headline like “Recent graduate seeking employment,” but instead use a headline like “IT Specialist Looking for a Company to Excel At”. This small step will make a big difference in your job search.
- Follow Your Dream Companies
- Everyone has a dream company or two you would love to work at; but are you following them? Kavaliro highly recommends you create a list of ideal future employers and follow them on LinkedIn via their company pages. This way, you will hear about anything new going on in the company, including new positions they are hiring for or new products or services that may have just launched. This company news will come in handy if you are offered an interview, so it is ideal to stay up-to-date!
- Expand Your Network
- Connect with people who have made a positive impact on your professional life. The bigger your first-degree network is on LinkedIn, the more opportunities you will come across through the platform. This will also increase your visibility to recruiters who are seeking the ideal candidate. You can even easily invite all contacts to join you on LinkedIn with a simple email. Just download your address book from any webmail application to invite them.
- Find Your Hiring Manager
- It’s easy to get lost amongst the many profiles a hiring manager comes across each day. Be sure to find the hiring manager you have been in contact with and make a connection. To find this person, just use the Advanced People Search feature with your target company name filled in. There, you will be able to add in a title, like hiring manager, as a second search term. Once you have your hiring manager’s name, you can address your cover letter to them to stand out more in the sea of applicants.
- Pick the Right Skills
- On LinkedIn, you can say you are skilled at almost anything concerning your professional life. Be sure to stay specific to the skills that make you good at your job. Your current connections have the ability to endorse these skills which will prove to a recruiter that you are trustworthy. Previous employers can also reference these skills throughout recommendations they may write on your profile.
LinkedIn can be your best friend throughout the job search if you utilize it correctly. Kavaliro wishes you the best of luck in your upcoming hunt! Be sure to check out and follow Kavaliro’s LinkedIn page to stay up-to-date with the latest news and job openings.
Kavaliro Employment Firm has offices in Tampa, Fla., Charlotte, N.C., Orlando, Fla., Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, Fla. and Petaluma, Ca. and can make sure you find the right people for any important role. We are ready and waiting to help you anytime and look forward to hearing from you.