LinkedIn Tips from a Recruiter

Just like with resumes, LinkedIn profiles can be intimidating to create. I wanted to share some tips and tricks from a recruiter’s point of view that could help instill some confidence in those looking to build a presence on this platform or inspire others to make improvements to their existing profiles.

The most important thing to keep in mind when building your profile is what you display is part of your first impression. First impressions matter. You can think of your LinkedIn as your virtual introduction to any recruiter or hiring authority that might be interested in learning more about you. In an in-person interview, you present your professional self to employers. Even though it is virtual, you do the same through LinkedIn.

With that in mind, the following are categories to pay attention to as you are building your profile.

Profile Picture

Just as you take care to dress appropriately before an interview to show respect and professionalism, consider what profile picture will best portray yourself to your professional network. You do not need to create a flawless image of yourself. I have in fact seen people update their profiles during the pandemic to reflect their more genuine self while working from home. Your picture might also vary depending on your profession. For example, I see many profiles of behavioral health professionals that post fun, child-friendly pictures; this fits their profession. You can be flexible and creative in how you portray yourself, but at the end of the day, remember to be intentional about the image you represent yourself through.

Update Information

I sometimes stumble across profiles that have not been updated in several years. This makes it difficult for recruiters to identify if a candidate could be a good fit for a role. It might even mean the perfect opportunity passes by a fitting candidate simply because the individual’s experience is not indicated. So, I recommend glancing through your page to be sure that all your experience is listed. And this includes job experience, education, volunteer experience, skills/endorsements, honors/awards, even publications. Strive to fill each section available on your page to ensure you are marketing yourself the best you can.

Add Descriptions

As you are listing your previous positions, be sure to include several bullet points describing your responsibilities in each role. A job title will only tell recruiters so much, so it is important to highlight your responsibilities to best represent the position. Feel free to copy and paste the bullets listed under your job titles on your resume. For insights on developing this section of your resume and LinkedIn profile, I would refer to our resource here.

Network

Once you have created your profile, connect with as many people as possible – this includes friends, acquaintances, and others in your industry. The more connections a candidate has on their profile the more active they appear. Having an active profile will make it more likely for recruiters to reach out, as a response will seem more likely. Your new connections might even stop to endorse your job skills which will further enhance your profile. 

And finally, be sure to follow the pages of other companies and organizations on LinkedIn as well so you can network with others that have similar interests. By doing this, you will also make it more likely that your profile will appear in people’s searches that are related to your interests.

Activity

By now you have created a robust profile, and it is important to let the tool work for you. Keep connecting, engage by liking, commenting and sharing content, and join as many groups as possible. As things change in your career, remember to update your profile. If you find that you have relocated or are open to work, update your information so recruiters will know to reach out to you.

And as always, remember TYGES is here to help you in any way we can! You can do this!

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