Ask any recruiter and they’ll tell you the same thing: one of the first steps you should take to get your job search off to a great start is making sure your LinkedIn profile is optimised and up-to-date. As an experienced London recruitment agency, we know the importance of LinkedIn in gaining that dream role. If you’re ready to take a leap and start looking for your next role, here are our top tips to ensure this important online profile appeals to potential employers.
Turn off activity updates
If you’re going to be making lots of changes to your LinkedIn profile in a short period of time, you should consider turning off activity updates and broadcasts before you start. If you leave this setting on, your connections (which could include your current employers) will receive notifications that you’re updating your profile, which could signal your intentions before you’re ready to hand in your notice. Keep things discreet by heading into the Settings and Privacy section and turning off the broadcasts.
Choose an appropriate profile picture
It’s important to select a profile picture that shows you in a professional light. That means no cropped photos from your last holiday, or blurry pictures you’ve saved from Facebook. You don’t necessarily need to book an expensive shoot with a photographer just to get a great image – just dress smartly, stand against a plain background, and use your smartphone or digital camera. Don’t forget to smile!
Complete the additional sections
Most LinkedIn profiles have the basic information filled in, including employment history and skills. But there are a number of other sections that can fill out your profile and give potential employers a better idea of who you are. These include Honors & Awards, Interests, Causes, and Volunteering. Be sensible about what you include – adding your primary school swimming certificates under Honors & Awards is hardly going to bag you your next job (unless you’re applying for the role of lifeguard!). Under the ‘Interests’ header, try to include genuine hobbies, rather than simply ‘socialising’!
Ask for endorsements
Endorsements are basically lite versions of references – they’re provided by colleagues or contacts who can vouch for your skills. Dish out your own endorsements to encourage others to reciprocate, and don’t be afraid to ask someone to endorse you in a certain skill. Make sure you ask people you implicitly trust, or colleagues you no longer work with, as this could get back to your current boss and serve as a hint that you’re on the job hunt.
Write a blog post
LinkedIn’s blogging platform offers a useful opportunity for you to show off your industry expertise and knowledge. Try not to regurgitate industry news – use your blog post to reveal your own insights on new developments and trends. Your blogs will say much more about you than your employment history and qualifications, so be careful to proofread and ensure that you stand by everything you’ve written.
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