Using LinkedIn effectively – Why does it matter?

Almost every recruiter and hiring manager is using LinkedIn for their recruitment needs. So it is important to know how to use it effectively. Today’s podcast explores why it matters! We will cover how to stand out from the crowd and how to best use Linkedin. As recruiters, we use it daily to find the top talent.

Important things to consider:

LinkedIn as a professional platform

• Have a profile to begin with, having just a CV is just not enough

• LinkedIn is a professional platform, so your profile needs to be accurate and needs to reflect best what you have done in life

• This is your chance and opportunity to really sell yourself

• Make that first impression on why you should be hired over everybody else

• Some companies may not read CVs but will go over your LinkedIn profile

Use of photos

• Photos – represent your best self, no sunglasses, keep it a nice facial shot

• Keep it simple, it should reflect you, it still has to be professional

• It doesn’t have to be a corporate photo but definitely no selfies. A decent picture is important

• Ask yourself: Is it professional? Will it put people off? If it raises questions, hiring managers may look at your Facebook and Instagram

Keep your CV accurate

• The layout and ordering of CVs can often be quite messy

• The dates, start and finish need to be very clear and accurate

• Your LinkedIn dates need to match your CV dates

• Skills and keywords are important on your CV

• LinkedIn is a search engine and to ensure you show up on searches, you need to use keywords on your profile

• As a recruiter, we use specific words to find you

• Ensure if you have particular specialisations e.g. Ad word certifications, eCommerce, digital marketing etc. that these are noted on your LinkedIn

• What are your key strengths? This information should be in your opening summary profile

• The more tech, tools and skills the better

Endorsements and Recommendations

• You can ask other people to endorse you and your skills

• Public endorsements can often be more effective than private references

• Quality over quantity in terms of recommendations, especially if it’s a specific campaign stand out as this really paints a picture for hiring managers

• Specific recommendations are more real, more telling about a story

• We do search on location, ensuring your location is up to date is important

• Be industry-specific e.g. Branding Account Manager

• Are you open to opportunities? Do you reply?

• You can include links to your portfolio or LinkedIn on your CV

• Link to portfolio is up to date, ensure the link works and ensure the work presented is the latest copy of your work

Be pro-active and make meaningful connections

• LinkedIn is a networking site too, build a profile and make meaningful connections

• Hiring managers will look at: How good is your network, how many connections, how active are you?

• No sharing rubbish on LinkedIn. Posts that should go on Facebook should not go on LinkedIn necessarily

• Consider: Will your posts help you get hired?

• Be pro-active on LinkedIn and share articles that are relevant

• Always be genuine as there is a possibility your connection can lead somewhere

• Keeping it simple at the end of the day, quick summary of your achievements in that time and position

• Draw us in to ensure we want to know more about you and your experience

• Join the mini-communities, businesses and forums and interact with other people and peers

• Being pro-active adds to the chance for you to stay on top of mind

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