Here are 5 tips on keeping up with the times, starting with your LinkedIn profile page
BY DANIKA MILLER-BOUCHARD
With 2016 upon us, we find ourselves truly submerged within the digital era. Gone are the days of tap dancing your way around the receptionist to get your resume in the right hands, and now are the times of having your LinkedIn page ranked at the very top of a Google search of your own name. Here are 5 tips on keeping up with the times, starting with your LinkedIn profile page:
1. Get Connected
Not only can you utilize your social network to achieve sales objectives through quality connections, the sheer quantity of connections will rank your profile higher and establish the legitimacy of your brand. To reap the benefits of a well connected network, aim for 500+ LinkedIn connections.
2. Stay Connected
The last thing you want is to be your own obstacle in having prospective recruiters or employers reach out to you. Keep the potential opportunities flowing by:
- Including your email address and phone number in the contact details
- Creating an open profile in order for non premium members to message you
- Following groups that are of interest to you
- Endorsing your connections
- Asking to be recommended
*TIP: Benefit from the tips and effectively promote your brand by adding your LinkedIn URL to your email signature; a sure-fire way to get connections coming to you!
3. Key Search Terms
The most efficient way for recruiters or employers to find the ideal candidate is by using LinkedIn’s search functions to narrow down the target candidate pool. In order to get your profile seen, ensure that the following are up-to-date:
- Selected “industry” and “function” of your current and previous roles
- Dates of employment – this allows the “years of experience” function to be utilized
- Division of the business- ex: Canon Canada vs. Canon USA.
4. Qualify & Quantify
The purpose of a job summary is for you to inform potential clients or employers of your current role, which in turn allows them to identify the transferable skills that you possess. In other words, this is an opportunity for you to describe not just the job you did, but how well you did it. If the key buzzwords are not included or accurately represented in your job summary, it becomes a missed opportunity.
5. A Quality Photo
It is important to keep in mind that the photo should reflect the brand image that you are aiming to project. For instance, the photo of a Fortune 500 VP would not be branded the same way that the CEO of a recent start-up would.
Your LinkedIn profile maximizes the opportunity to market your value and engage readers. Remember that dressing up your LinkedIn profile is the first step in social selling yourself for the job that you want.
Check out an example of an ideal profile here.
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