In recent years, LinkedIn has become a vital career-enhancing tool for all career professionals looking to network and seek out new opportunities. According to LinkedIn over 75% of people who changed jobs used LinkedIn to inform their career decision. Furthermore social professional networks are the number one source for quality hires.
Given these statistics, treating LinkedIn as just another social media platform is not enough. Recruiters and potential employers are using LinkedIn to find the best talent rather than other using other sources so it is important you are aware of the type of profile you build online.
Here are 4 things your LinkedIn profile says about you and how you can leverage each of these elements for a better career presence:
Establishes Your Priorities
How you present yourself in your headline, summary, and the way in which you list your current and previous experience gives employers valuable clues on your priorities. For example, you might highlight your marketing abilities in a sales job, or your volunteer experience while working at a bank.
In either case, the way in which you choose to highlight your professional duties and accomplishments offers recruiters the opportunity to estimate how you would set priorities in a new position. Every decision you make, and every sentence you write, should be done with this consideration in mind. Highlight the aspects you like to pursue further, and employers will notice.
Includes Social Proof of Performance
A major way in which LinkedIn goes beyond static resumes is the social aspect of the platform. Your past co-workers and supervisors can leave recommendations on each of your prior work experience, or endorse your individual professional skills.
Recruiters will look for this type of information. We are psychologically inclined to believe social proof, treating it as independent, third-party confirmation of potentially biased claims. A statement of success in your current position is significantly more valuable if, in a single sentence or two, your current supervisor confirms your accomplishments.
A statement of success in your current position is significantly more valuable if your current supervisor confirms your accomplishments.
Highlights Your Values
Influencers you have decided to follow, past posts or blogs you have written are all ways of expressing your personality, perspective and values. This part of the profile tells other users what you care about and can shape a personality you want to portray to a potential employer. It is important that you reflect your professional side and make sure your profile expresses interest in the career you wish to pursue. The words you choose to describe yourself on LinkedIn carry a lot of weight and will have an impact on whether a recruiter sees you as an ideal candidate or not.
Professional Brand Influences
It goes without saying your profile is your professional brand and you are highlighting your best impression of yourself. But your profile also shows how much you allow your current role to influence your brand. For instance, some users create their profile solely about their current job. While others make their profiles all about their career path. Every branding decision is a choice and you get choose which works best for your career journey.
Your LinkedIn profile is much more than just a digitised version of your resume or CV. Instead, it is your opportunity to present yourself to employers in the best light possible. Recruiters are always on the market so it is important you continue to update your profile to optimise your chances of advancing in your career and making new professional connections.
If you would like to know more, please contact us or call our specialist consultants on +353 1 661 0444 who can guide you through this process.
