\u200bAmid the uncertainty of our current climate, many are taking time to consider and discover new home projects, wellness practices, education alternatives and professional opportunities. Whether you are an active job seeker looking for a position or considering a change in the future, there are ways to enhance your prospects and tap into new realms of possibility. One place to start is your online professional profile. With so many workplace activities shifting to online \u2014 including interviews, hiring and even onboarding \u2014 it\u2019s important to polish your professional profile and ensure you\u2019re putting your best self out there for your job hunt. <\/p>\n
While it can seem overwhelming, updating and refreshing your LinkedIn profile doesn\u2019t need to be a cause for stress. In fact, these easy tips and tricks are designed to take very little time, and have the potential to yield big results and get recruiters to notice you in this new online hiring landscape. Use these tips to put forth a LinkedIn profile that truly represents you and your accomplishments, and sparks joy in the hearts of recruiters (Maria Kondo-style).<\/p>\n
This LinkedIn feature, available from LinkedIn\u2019s home page, privately signals to recruiters<\/a> that you\u2019re open to new job opportunities. By selecting \u201cyes\u201d on the \u201cOpen to Job Opportunities\u201d toggle button and specifying the types of job opportunities you\u2019re interested in, LinkedIn will include your profile in recruiter searches matching your career interests. You can enable this feature from your LinkedIn profile, and you can stop sharing anytime.<\/p>\n This feature is an easy way to show up in more LinkedIn search results and start getting contacted by more recruiters who are looking to fill the types of jobs that line up with your career interests. LinkedIn\u2019s statistics show that recruiters are over 2x more likely to respond to job candidates who have selected this feature.<\/p>\n To note: <\/i>LinkedIn says they take steps to prevent LinkedIn recruiter users who work at your company from seeing your shared career interests, though they can\u2019t guarantee complete privacy.<\/p>\n Your profile photo, or your \u201cvirtual handshake\u201d on LinkedIn, is likely the first thing recruiters will see. Simply having a photo makes your LinkedIn profile 14x more likely to be viewed<\/a>. Your photo should feel professional, but also approachable. This video by LinkedIn<\/a> shows users how to take a great photo for your profile (without hiring a professional), and recommends that you choose soft, natural light, take advantage of LinkedIn\u2019s filters and ensure that your face takes up at least 60 percent of the frame.<\/p>\n If you opt to use an existing photo, LinkedIn recommends that you pick a high-resolution photo (400 x 400 pixels is the ideal size) that actually looks like you in everyday life.<\/p>\n Also, even though your family dog (or your entire family) may unexpectedly pop into video conference calls these days, keep your LinkedIn photo to just your face, unless animals or other people are clearly tied to your professional image. Smiling is generally better than a stoic pose, and choosing an outfit that represents what you\u2019d normally wear to work is a winning strategy.<\/p>\n Not all people on LinkedIn agree on whether listing your current specific job title, or being more descriptive and value-driven for your headline, is a better policy. Whichever path you choose, it\u2019s important to think through your words carefully: these are the first words a recruiter will notice on your profile. Will it be enough to catch their attention?<\/p>\n Use your 120-character allotment to explain what it is that you do, whether through words that specifically describe your current role, or a one-liner that succinctly sums up the value you bring to others. Both approaches can be effective even if you\u2019re not currently employed and seeking work. A job title-related example might be \u201cHolistic Nutritionist and Wellness Coach,\u201d while a more descriptive line might be \u201cDesigning Wellness Programs that Help People Live Healthier, Fuller Lives.\u201d You might even punch it up to say, \u201cAward-Winning Holistic Nutritionist & Wellness Coach: Now Taking New Patients,\u201d or be company-specific: \u201cHolistic Nutritionist & Wellness Coach at X Company.\u201d<\/p>\n Get creative. Consider one thing about your role, career, skills, or certifications that sets you apart, and incorporate it into your headline. Trial and error is encouraged here; see what yields the best results for you, and float options by family, co-workers and friends to get their first-impression feedback. As now is a bit of a wild west when it comes to a \u201cnormal\u201d hiring process, it\u2019s a great time to test new methods to see what gets you the most traction.<\/p>\n Your summary is the text box at the top of your profile, just underneath your photo and headline. It\u2019s an open-ended space for you to give an overview of your professional life and tell recruiters and potential employers what you\u2019re all about and why they should hire you. As a LinkedIn article says<\/a>, it\u2019s \u201cthe one place you define yourself in your own words, free of start dates and titles.\u201d It\u2019s your chance to put your best self out there.<\/p>\n A skillset and job description summary of 40 words or more makes it more likely for you to show up in LinkedIn search results, and sprinkling in keywords specific to your industry and expertise will increase your likelihood of showing up in more (and more-relevant) results. However, steer clear of using buzzwords and descriptive words or phrases that don\u2019t really mean anything.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t be afraid to add some personality to your summary: nearly 40 percent of recruiters say they\u2019re looking for this. After all, would you want to read a dry description of yourself? Write something you\u2019d find compelling to read and focus on the career accomplishments you\u2019re most proud of. If you need some inspiration, this article showcases 10 examples of great LinkedIn profile summaries<\/a> and explains why they work so well.<\/p>\n Did you know that those with five or more skills listed<\/a> on their profile are messaged up to 33x more <\/i>by recruiters and other LinkedIn members? LinkedIn recommends that you include a mix of high-level and niche skills, and that you list them in the order of strengths you want to be known for, as they will target endorsers for top skills. The more endorsements you have for skills, the higher you rank in search results. You can also take assessments<\/a> for the skills listed on your profile to demonstrate your proficiency in specific areas.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re struggling to define your current skill set or need an extra boost, LinkedIn Learning is another way to acquire new business, creative, and technology skills, or brush up on ones that have gotten a bit rusty. Courses, taught by industry experts, can range from \u201cLearning ZOOM,\u201d to \u201cUX Foundations: Multidevice Design,\u201d to \u201cSocial Media Marketing for Small Business.\u201d Take courses on your own time and add new skills to your profile with confidence (psst\u2026 the first month is free.)<\/p>\n Include specific examples of accomplishments in the current and previous jobs you list, and back them up with measurable results and hard numbers wherever possible. Including information like account growth percentages or direct sales success rates shows recruiters that you\u2019re analytical and results driven, and it\u2019s easier for them to quantify the value you bring to the table.<\/p>\n Video introductions can show recruiters and potential employers your style of communication and other soft skills that are often hard to convey solely through an online profile. LinkedIn\u2019s new \u201cvideo intro\u201d feature \u201ccreates an opportunity for candidates to showcase their skills, experience and provide a more well-rounded human view of who they are.\u201d Two great things: The feature is optional, and candidates have the option to re-record their answers as many times as they like before they hit submit. <\/p>\n How it works<\/i>: If a hiring manager requests an introduction as part of their hiring process, you can choose to respond either through video or a written response. Though either type of response has the ability to resonate, a video response adds a personalized element and may set you apart from a crowd of candidates.<\/p>\n Not everyone has an inner Hemingway\u2014but everyone has valid ideas and opinions, and publishing original articles<\/a> on LinkedIn\u2019s publishing platform is a stellar way to build your professional brand, share your insights, and get your content in front of recruiters. Articles on LinkedIn\u2019s platform are longer and more in-depth than the brief updates you may already be sharing. You can write about industry trends, challenges you\u2019ve faced, how you achieved a new goal, observations about the direction of your industry in the current landscape, or anything else you want to share with your professional world. If you\u2019re ready to write your first piece, this is a good place to start<\/a>.<\/p>\n2. Include a profile photo.<\/h2>\n
3. Write an attention-grabbing headline.<\/h2>\n
4. Create a thoughtful summary.<\/h2>\n
5. Focus on your skills.<\/h2>\n
6. Include measurable results.<\/h2>\n
7. Introduce yourself through video.<\/h2>\n
8. Share original content.<\/h2>\n
9. Be proactive.<\/h2>\n