How to boost your LinkedIn Profile
30th Jun 2021
When was the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile?
We’ve created bite-sized pieces of advice and helpful tips that you can implement right now to boost your LinkedIn profile. Some of them are simple quick wins, and some of them may take a bit of time – but all of them are effective in enhancing your online personal brand.
Headline
By default, your current job title will show as your headline. That is not going to have much impact. This heavily searched section should focus on what you do. State the work title you qualify for, do now, or want. Be specific using standard titles that are typically found on a job search site. You can highlight the field you are interested in, plus any specialties or key certifications that you have.
Job Titles
Your profile headline and job titles are weighted heavily in LinkedIn’s search algorithms. State the most accurate name for what you do to clarify to a reader if your formal title isn’t clear. For example, “Ad Ops Exec”might be the internal title, but “Ad Operations Executive” is the actual work you do, so you would want to use that instead.
Your Profile Picture
This is a crucial part of your personal brand. The image should be a headshot that has good lighting on your face and smile! Your photo should make you look warm and engaging.
Keywords
You need to display a distinct skill set, noting your key strengths and accomplishments. You must create the right keywords if you want LinkedIn to be an effective tool for you. Peruse current job openings that you are a fit for and note the critical skills and experiences they want. Identify 5-10 typical job tasks you perform and list these keyword job skills deemed imperative to perform the job. Make sure you pepper these keywords throughout your profile.
Work Experience
Do not describe the company you work for. Focus on what you do for them. Avoid long, generic job descriptions. Add measurable results and a few accomplishments. Distinguish how you have cut costs, developed or created something new, added to the sales revenues, enhanced productivity, note any important process/system/organisational improvements you have made.
Recommendations
These mini references are powerfully effective. Be sure you have at least five recommendations – more is better. Ask a few bosses, clients, or colleagues to write one for you. You increase your chances that they will comply if you ask and offer a few sentences on what you would like them to mention. The easier you make it for your connection to post a recommendation, the higher the probability they will do it.
Open to Work/New Job
Let recruiters on LinkedIn know you’re open to new job opportunities by turning on this section seen only by Recruiters unless you use the “OPEN to WORK” tag (which I don’t recommend displaying). You can specify up to 5 job titles that you are interested in and your preferred location.
Remote Work Desired
Employers have most people working remotely now, so you can designate this under the “Let Recruiters Know you are Open to Work” section and broaden your job opportunities.
Contact Information
Add a phone number since recruiters like to call or text prospects. Include your personal email, one that you often check, as this is essential. You may have set up LinkedIn using an old or work email. Go into your settings and update it to a personal email that is currently active so you won’t miss an employer trying to contact you.
Post, comment, use hashtags
Be visible on LinkedIn. Many recruiters and hiring managers monitor hashtags and conduct content searches looking for experts in the industry they are sourcing.
By posting quality content and including appropriate industry-related hashtags, you are putting yourself out there as an expert, and you may get noticed and found in an entirely different way.
Connect with recruiters on LinkedIn
Chances are, some recruiters specialise in your industry. Make sure you know who they are and that they know you. The easiest way to do this is to conduct a search on LinkedIn for recruiters that source talent for your industry. Use LinkedIn’s search box designating people, and type “Recruiter and [the name of your industry].” Scroll through the results and click on profiles that look interesting. When you find a match, send the recruiter a personalised me (no CV) with the connection request.
Open to Public
Under the small picture of your face, in the drop-down menu, you set privacy settings. Some HR and smaller employers do not use LinkedIn recruiter due to the cost. Opening your Profile up allows anyone searching using Google to find you.
If you’re looking for a new opportunity and need support with your search, get in direct touch with our team here. You can also browse all of our current vacancies.