In today’s competitive job market, optimizing your LinkedIn profile is very important. Also, using a proper LinkedIn profile can help you to secure your dream job since most organizations advertise job openings on the platform. Yet, most employees have poorly organized LinkedIn profiles which doesn’t help in their job search. Therefore, this article discusses how to optimize your LinkedIn profile to increase your job search success.
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile
There are major key components of a good LinkedIn profile, some of these elements are discussed below.
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Profile Picture
Your profile picture is the first thing that potential employers see on LinkedIn, hence use a professional picture. Dress well and formally according to the industry or field you have an interest in. Also, show a nice smile on your face to indicate how friendly and approachable you are.
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Headline
The headline on LinkedIn follows right under your name. Use a headline that describes you in detail. Let the headline reflect your field of work and industry experience. Examples of good LinkedIn headlines are; Experienced Civil Engineer (Structures), and Geologist with over 7 years’ experience in Core logging. This makes it easy to be noticed by potential recruiters.
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Professional Summary
Similarly to what is on your resume, you need to write a summary about yourself. This must include your skills, qualities, and experiences. In addition, include your career objectives and future aspirations. Moreover, use keywords related to your industry to make your profile more visible to employers.
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Highlight experience
Your LinkedIn profile is a mini resume where recruiters get information about you. Just as you will with your resume, list experiences in reverse chronological order. Also, include responsibilities, and accomplishments both current and past. It is important to write only information relevant to your target jobs.
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Skills and endorsements
Highlight your core competencies and skills, list skills that are relevant to your field and the job you want. Furthermore, let supervisors, colleagues, and mentors endorse your skills. This will make you more credible and be considered an authority in the field.
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Seek Recommendations
Seek recommendations from supervisors, mentors, and clients whom you have or are currently working with. When your clients can attest to your professional and personal attributes it increases your credibility on the job market.
Conclusion
An optimized LinkedIn profile is very relevant in today’s job market. A lot of elements that need optimization have been described in this article. Invest time and effort in developing a good LinkedIn profile using the strategies described above to increase the success rate of your job search.
