How to get the most out of your LinkedIn profile

Are you on LinkedIn? If not, it’s time to jump on the bandwagon. More than 170 million Americans use the platform for professional networking and those numbers continue to grow. This is particularly true if you’re searching for a new job. A recent report found that 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find and hire new talent.

Having a presence on LinkedIn is important, but opening up an account isn’t enough. To really stand out from the competition, you need to customize your profile and highlight your skills. Here are a handful of tips for doing just that.

Fill out your profile in full. Your LinkedIn profile is like a real-time version of your resume or CV. It allows you to highlight your educational and work experience, as well as your professional mastery. Take the time to complete each and every section of your profile. This requires an upfront commitment, but the results you receive will be much better than if you don’t. If you’re struggling to determine which areas of your profile are most important, consider viewing your profile strength meter. This guide from LinkedIn is sure to help.

Select a professional photo. Your profile photo is the first thing a recruiter or hiring manager sees. Make sure yours is adequately professional and features a smile. You don’t necessarily have to wear a suit and tie, but you don’t want to post a photo of yourself on vacation either. If you’re struggling to determine the type of profile photo to upload, look at some of your peers. If possible, you might even want to upload a picture of yourself in action, doing your job.

Fill out your profile summary. You’d be surprised how many people don’t fill out their profile summary. Big mistake! Take the time to write several paragraphs about who you are, why you love the work you do, and anything else that recruiters might find interesting. If you’re unsure where to begin, check out these summaries for inspiration.

At eStaff LLC, we help recruiters and employees find their next big gig. If you’re searching for your next position, visit our website or call (512) 381-2257 today.