Optimising Your Job Search Using LinkedIn
By Frazer John Recruitment
LinkedIn can be a fantastic way to optimise your job search and these days many companies are using it as a tool to find their future employees. LinkedIn, if used correctly, is essentially your online CV so you would be stupid not to optimise it to the max! Here’s how we feel is best to do that.
Display Picture
First things first, make sure that you have a professional picture. Now when I say professional I don’t mean you need to get suited and booted and head down to the nearest professional photographer – so don’t panic. Just keep it simple, try to avoid group pictures and/or anything with alcohol in view. Everybody loves to put a face to a name. Many surveys have revealed that a recruitment consultant is more likely to call a candidate that has a profile picture over a candidate that doesn’t, so it really is worth it.
Contact Information
Make sure to include your contact information! If a company looking to hire comes across your profile and wants to speak with you then they are going to need a way to do it. I know what you’re probably thinking, ‘they could just direct message me via LinkedIn’, and you’re right, they could. However, it is always best to provide alternative methods of contact as messages can always be missed, especially if you don’t check your LinkedIn profile on a daily basis.
Previous Experience
It is a great idea to include as much work experience as possible – relevant to the industry of work you are trying to get into that is. This way, companies will be able to see exactly who you have worked for and exactly what experience you have gained. Fingers crossed you are what they are looking for.
Avoid the Overused Buzzwords
It is important not to litter your profile with overused buzzwords. If you do, you are essentially telling any future employer or recruiter that you are as predictable and unimaginative as the buzzwords themselves.
Volunteering and Hobbies
It is always good to provide a little insight in to what you enjoy. This will give any potential employer a chance to get a feel for who you are and whether you will fit in with the companies culture.
Build Up Your Connections
There’s no point having a fully optimised LinkedIn profile and 10 connections. Get out there, research the field in which you wish to work and get connecting. LinkedIn often recommends people within your industry that you can connect with so it really is simple.
E-mail Your Connections
There’s no point having connections if you don’t engage with them. You never know who might be hiring. In many cases companies don’t advertise a vacant position so drop over a casual e-mail to a handful of them. What's the worse that can happen?
Join Groups & Keep Up to Date
Joining groups and keeping up to date with recent goings on in your industry will allow you to participate in group debates and discussions – this is a great way to get your name out there!
Networking is a very important part of this now ‘digital’ age. If you’re not doing it, then you will likely be left behind. So get optimising and find your perfect job!
For more great tips and advice, see our blog and follow us on @Frazer_John.
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