The trend of dropping door-to-door CVs for job applications has made a huge shift. Now, most applicants search for a job on LinkedIn. With the platform getting popular, the competition has become tough. Many candidates are guilty of updating their profiles inconsistently and not doing the right LinkedIn optimization that can establish their digital presence.
If you are unsure of what the right criteria of a top-notch LinkedIn profile are, this blog will break down the basics so you can land as a top nominee ready to hook the attention of hiring managers.
A Guide to Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile
Upload your professional picture
What are some of the features of a good picture? Does customising the background banner make a huge difference? These are some of the questions that often pop into the mind of a candidate sitting to optimize their digital presence.
Different LinkedIn profile writing services state that there are two characteristics of a picture that recruiters note when they visit your profile: your profile picture and the background banner. Therefore, make sure that you are showing your professionalism in both areas.
Upload your current photograph. The image certainly has your clear face on your profile. Profile photos without a face-revealing photo create a negative impression with recruiters. Moreover, the absence of a photo on your LinkedIn profile can cause distrust in some particular situations.
Additionally, avoid using full body shots or pictures that look like selfies or with a cluttered background. Refrain from cropping your photo from another photo, as this does not portray professionalism. After you have uploaded your profile picture, you can customize the background banner, but this is not mandatory. Most of the applicants self-brand themselves in the plain grey box. The first impression is the real one, and the first two things that people will see when they visit your profile will help in creating this impression.
Share a perfect summary
The next is your ‘About Section’. This is the right place to narrate your story. You can use it to talk about your career choices, highlight your big achievements, or show off your personality, the summary is the chance to put your best through words.
Try to cover the important and hooking part at the start, as the first 265-275 characters will be visible to the reader till they click on see more for further context. Experts of LinkedIn profile writers often suggest that you should keep this section readable and use emojis and bullets to separate and draw attention to all your achievements. These elements will end up making your strong profile.
Highlight recommendations and endorsements
Another powerful element that can help you with your LinkedIn profile optimization is social proof in the form of recommendations and endorsements. Reach out to your professional network, such as your colleagues, clients, hiring managers, candidates, and potential employers you have worked with. You can request them to recommend your strengths as a recruiter.
All these recommendations act as testimonials, adding credibility to your professional image and serving as an independent validation of your skills and professionalism. Similarly, encourage endorsements for your key skills. These reinforce your expertise and increase the chances of being discovered by candidates searching for a specific skill or attribute.
Experience section
Adding an experience description is an incredible feature on this digital platform that allows applicants to give recruiters a snapshot of their achievements, responsibilities, and learning from their previous roles. All these details should be in more depth compared with the information you share with a CV writer to draft your experience section of the resume.
When you write, try to switch to first-person or use a conventional tone as you list down your most important achievements. Try to cover the important ones in the first few lines and make your description easy to read, clear, and concise. Never let your recruiters search for information like clues. Moreover, add keywords that are essential for the position. For the best ones, you can scan through some of the job descriptions and pick skills that you have experience with. Prefer using action words like directed or collaborated.
Add correct contact information
The contact information is not shown on your LinkedIn profile, but it is still important to include it so recruiters and other contacts can view it to get in touch with you.
The digital platform allows you to list your country of residence, but if you narrow it down to a specific city, this will help you to appear in the search results. Moreover, the platform never allows you to filter out your application with a remote option. If you are looking for a remote position, you must include that in your headline, introduction, and the address field to ensure that you turn up in search of people interested in remote roles. Additionally, the platform allows you to choose one industry for your profile that best fits your search history.
FAQs
What is the importance of optimizing a LinkedIn profile?
Recruiters use LinkedIn to search for applicants. Optimizing your profile will improve your digital visibility, build your professional image, and increase your chances of getting hired.
What information should be shared in the ‘About’ section?
Highlight who you are and your accomplishments. State what you are searching for. Try to add all these details in an authentic tone. Keywords are important for pitching and for your LinkedIn optimization.
How many skills should be listed in the digital profile?
You must add 10-15 relevant skills for the role you are applying for. These will help you to appear in the recruiter’s search list.
What are the characteristics of a professional picture?
Ensure that your picture for the profile is of high quality with portraying your face. The background should be clean with a click in good lighting, and professional attire.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Better Search
The LinkedIn profile is part of your personal and professional brand. It helps in creating a lasting first impression when someone looks for you online. Invest your time in shaping your professional narratives that are worth the investment.
Follow these guide points for LinkedIn optimization and standing out as a candidate who remains the top choice for the position, and increase your chances of landing your dream job in the competitive job market.