[Editor’s Note: This belongs to a series of contributing guest author posts from LinkedIn users. Alison Doyle is a job search expert with many years of experience in human resources, career development, and job searching, with a focus on online job searching and job search technology. She has covered job searching for About.com since 1998.]
When you’re job searching, and even if you’re not currently seeking employment, LinkedIn is the one site you should be using to enhance your job search and boost your career prospects. The best way to do that is to make sure you are using the full power of LinkedIn to maximize your employment potential. Here are ten tips on optimizing your job hunting experience on LinkedIn:
1. Edit your Profile. The first step is to make sure your LinkedIn Profile is complete. The more detailed your LinkedIn profile, the more chances you will have to be found and to be contacted. This is important because your profile is what you use to connect with people how you get found on LinkedIn. Complete your LinkedIn profile as carefully as you write your resume and provide prospective employers with detailed information on your skills and experience. If you’re currently unemployed, list your current position as “Open to opportunities”. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, sign-up.
2. Include a Photo. You can add a photo (a head shot is recommended) to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the photo can be no larger than 80×80 pixels. Do make sure your photo represents the professional you, not the personal you, because LinkedIn is all about professional networking.
3. Professional Summary. The Professional Summary section of your profile is a good way to highlight your experience. Select an Industry, because recruiters often use that field to search. Don’t forget the Headline, because that’s right at the top of the page when someone views your profile. It’s your first chance to make a good impression.
4. Include Keywords and Skills. Include the keywords and skills from your resume in your profile. This will make it easier for your profile to be found in search results.
5. Contact Settings. Your contact settings let your connections (and hiring managers and recruiters) know your availability. Options include: career opportunities, consulting offers, new ventures, job inquiries, and reference requests. Even if you’re not actively seeking a new job, it’s important to be flexible, because you never know when an opportunity to good to pass up might come along.
6. Profile Website Links. The Links section of your profile is a good way to provide even more information to potential employers and to your contacts. If you have blog or a personal web site that is business related, include those links in the Links section of your profile.
7. LinkedIn Applications. LinkedIn Applications are a terrific way to share even more information in your profile. The blog applications enable users to feed their blog directly to their profile, so other LinkedIn users can see the most current posts automatically.
8. Your Public Profile. Don’t forget to make your profile public – that’s how the world can find it. Also, customizing your URL will give you a link that’s easy to share.
9. Grow Your Network. Connect with other members and build your network. You can find connections you’ve worked with, done business with, went to school with, or are otherwise affiliated with. The more connections you have, the more opportunities you have, but don’t randomly connect with people you don’t know. The point is to connect with people you do know, so they can help you and vice versa.
10. Get Recommendations. To a potential employer, a LinkedIn recommendation is an opportunity to read a reference in advance. Having strong references can only help you when it comes to getting selected for an interview or for a job. The best way to get recommendations is to give them, so take some time to write recommendations for your contacts and they will most likely reciprocate.
Feel free to share any additional LinkedIn tips on successful job hunting in the comments section
- Topics:
- LinkedIn Jobs,
- LinkedIn Tips
Comments
This is an excellent, comprehensive list of how the job seeker should use LinkedIn. I have three additional suggestions:
- join Groups. Look for networking groups or professional organizations in your region. Also consider Alumni Groups that may put you in touch with individuals and events related to your alma mater.
- recommend others. In addition to boosting the online reputation of others, well-written, authentic referrals provide another way to increase your own visibility.
- use the ‘search by company’ function for the inside scoop. If you find an online posting for a company that interests you and you have no particular “in” there, do a search by company. Any connections you have with a link to that company will come up and will display what degree of connection you have there. You can do this when you have an interview coming up and want a referral made, or simply need to do some solid company research. A search by company is also a good way to identify potential informational interview targets.
Thanks, Christine,
I’ve one more tip to add – use status updates frequently. Updating your status with the current job hunt status should keep your network informed and could help surface either some helpful tips or open job positions from friends. And, don’t just do this on LinkedIn – expand the scope of your hunt with other sites like Twitter (for e.g.)
Mario from LinkedIn
Thanks for your great article. I don’t remember ever reading a better one on the subject. Your article is very informative and accurate!
Thanks for the tips – I’m going to implement a couple of new ones!
I’ve also found the questions / answers function a useful way to meet more people, and share information.
A very good summary. One more point: list your forums, meetings, conferences, this would be another way to link to many of professional on local and international level in selected industry.
Alison, a very informative and helpful set of advice on getting the most from LI. Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise.
I would offer that looking for ways to help those in your network is another positive source of results. In addition to writing recommendations it has helped me to proactively manage my connections by maintaining awareness of their status and areas of expertise, forwarding job leads and/or network connections that may be valuable. At some point that effort will be reciprocated and it is very uplifting doing what you can to help others in your network.
Thank you again – keep the sage advice coming.
Craig
This is a good idea that we can comment here now
Great suggestions. Check out the recent Mashable article on optimizing Facebook for your brand. Some relevance for LinkedIn here. http://mashable.com/2009/04/01/optimize-facebook-page/
Thanks for the tips, I am going to update.
“If you’re currently unemployed, list your current position as “Open to opportunities”.”
Great idea, but the system insists on Company name and dates. Without this, LI will not accept it.
@Alx&ra- You are correct with your statement. What I would suggest in addition to the other tips in Alison’s article that you consider utilizing the following features as well: 1) Use the ‘What are you working on?’ Status field to notify your connections about your new found availability and job search. Every time you update this field, it will send out a new status update to those people thus keeping you top of mind. During your job search you might even expand you’re your status update to be viewable to beyond just your connections. Other than sharing with your connections, your other choices are to share these updates with your network ( 1st, second, third and any members of groups you below to) or everyone. To me the everyone option would be the best when job seeking because recruiters actively search LinkedIn profiles. 2.) Use that Summary section to let people know you are available and toot your horn about your skills and accomplishments and don’t forget to show your individuality.
Great info I look forward to read these articles
Thandi Zulu
This article is very appropriate and useful for any kind of job seeker within or outside Linkedin circles. While one must follow all of the above in a successful job hunt, “Patience is the key virtue”.
It is perfectly fine to show enthusiasm and follow up periodically with leads or contacts through Linkedin or other job contact circles, but, Do Not push your leads to point of frustrations with daily calls and mails.
Engaging in a weekly mail exchange with the known contact / lead in various subjects of common interest, other than the job search subject, is a very effective way to be on top of the leads / contacts mind about one’s prime interest. Hence constant visibility in subtle ways is important.
Dirk I agree with your thought process. Key words & Skills, I believe, is by far the best way to say “I am available for a challenging role as I am the best in business”. This must be said in as many words and sentiments, and reflected also in “What are you working on?” in the Profile page.
One must get the “Right” Recommendations from his/her key HR, RA and BU head(s) of their existing and past employers. Send them a short questionnaire on the areas you would want to be recommended, along with your request. This is a key tool and a step closure to your success.
Thanks for the updates, definitely informative and a pleasure, reading.
Cheers…….Sanjay C
Thank you for the article.
Brief and comprehensive.
Great article! I also recommend sharing good business books that you are reading, along with an insightful review. (And if you’re not reading good business or industry books – you should).
Alison,
Recently, I have read numerous articles on the importance of a fully completed profile but never an article that ties the whole process in such a comprehensive bullet fashion…Kuddos to you!
I would only add that in a social networking environment such as Linkedin, it is always best to error on the side of giving more than receiving.
Hi, I am trying to add a new position in my profile, but somehow it doesn’t let me update the same. Can someone please help.
@Vikram – If you are still experiencing this issue please contact our customer service group by clicking “Help’ in the top right area of your home page. They will be happy to assist you with the issue.
Great article and I like all the tips.
I’ve just discovered today while my public profile lists the number of recommendations I have, it doesnt show the text or author of the individual references.
I have got my public profile to display full view with all options ticked. Is there anyway to get my recommendations to display for potential employees to see? If not any plans to expose this data in the future?
My references are the most valuable part of my profile when selling myself, so it doesn’t make sense to hide visibility from precisely the people I want to see them.
@David – You are correct. The recommendation # is set to be visible but Recommendations are only viewable to LinkedIn Members. LinkedIn members have the option of viewing your full profile if they come upon your public profile by clicking on the View Full Profile button. At this time there are no plans to make them available on the public profile.
-Dirk
Great idea, but will this work over the long run?
There are many professions where the ability to write well is important. Would it be possible for L/In’s tech minds to create an additional option in one’s L/In profile that might connect to one’s participation in group conversations? This may be one way to show not only one’s language skills, but also the ability to think beyond the basic “yes/no”, “good/bad idea”, “agree/disagree” limitations. A blog or website serve a different purpose and the former tend to be longish soliloquies.
Partaking in a discussion is an altogether different skill that may also reveal one’s personality that an employer may find of some help. It may also reveal one’s possible overall fit with the team already in place.
In view of the growing avoidance of 40+ workers, it would be very helpful if grad dates were optional, rather than mandatory.
N/B: Item #6 needs an extra ‘o’ (too) “opportunity to good (…)”.
I expect that, periodically, L/In updates and/or adds new features. Would it be possible to sign up for an Em informing about updates of the new and improved features?
[How did I ever manage without L/In? (sigh)]
@Alexandra- In regards to the inability to hide grad dates…this is a bug and I’ve asked someone to look into this further. In regards to the rest of the suggestions…. I have forwarded them on to the Product Managers. Thanks for feedback and ideas!
Tried, again, to implement your excellent suggestion. L/In continues to insist, however, on a company name and dates.
Dirk’s suggestion to use the “What are you working on” option is of very little help for anyone who has been unemployed for longer than a few days. Considering the state of the job market, would it not be possible for L/In to concede to the market and help the so many in our pursuits? The only other option is to apply Alison’s great phrase every day in the “What are you working on” slot. That, in turn, is an annoyance to one’s contacts.
The first thing to hit during recession was hiring and recruitment and the first thing will pick up would be the same. Economy is already showing signs of recovery and that can be seen in the news that companies across the globe have started hiring or are at least positive to recruit anytime soon. You can read all the useful stuff here http://www.gigathoughts.com/human_resource/a-must-read-for-job-seekers-in-current-economy.html
Great article with very useful tips indeed. I am always preaching to my students how important it is to have a fully developed profile on Linkedin. It is viewed much differently then having your resume out on a major job board’s resume database.
Everyone has all there info out there for everyone to view. By putting your full resume on Linkedin you make it keyword searchable for recruiters, HR professionals and hiring managers.
Jonathan Milligan
http://CPACareerCoach.com
http://JobSearchMastermind.com
Hi,
I like to hide my start and end dates for my experience on linked in and simply put “currently holds this position” I have seen other people do this but haven’t figured out how since Linked in makes the dates a required field. Can you tell me how I go about doing this?
Thanks,
Desiree
here’s an example of a profile that doesn’t have dates for their current position: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dom-vespo/9/400/29
@Desiree- As you pointed out, the employment dates are a required field. Some users may still have “Currently holds this position” instead of employment dates because they filled out this information before the field was required and they have not edited it since then. For all other users (including yourself), you will need to enter actual employment dates. I hope that helps answer your question.
@ Alx&ra I was able to “trick” the system by entering an * in the company field. Looks a bit odd as it reads “Open to opportunities at *” … but this is better than not entering anything at all.
Thanks for the article, have seen such a clear content after a long time, thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks for the helpful tips!
Is there any way to keep my current employer from knowing I am actively seeking employment?