10 Tactics Architects and Designers Should Use To Succeed On LinkedIn

Architects Use 10 Tactics To Win Their Next Job

Architects and Architectural Professionals can massively boost their career potential by using LinkedIn at its productive best. It’s the world’s biggest professional social media network, with more than 500 million users.

Around 125 million of these use LinkedIn every day.?The company’s ambition is to be the central hub for every job posting by an estimated 70 million companies around the globe.?It isn’t simply the number of users on LinkedIn that can give Architects a competitive advantage in the jobs market, it’s who those users are.

LinkedIn Membership data shows that LinkedIn accounts benefit from:?61 million senior level influencers?40 million decision makers.?Clearly, LinkedIn is a place where you can highlight why you should be an employer’s next hire. However, get it wrong and you could harm your cause.?Here are 10 tactics you should be using on LinkedIn to help you land your next architecture job and maximise your earnings potential.

Update your profile

Your life is dynamic in nature. Your professional experiences evolve constantly. Your achievements grow and shape your attractiveness as a candidate. If you aren’t keeping your LinkedIn profile updated, potential employers won’t see the real you, and that will count against you in a comparison with other candidates.

It is worth diarising some time each month to update your LinkedIn profile, adding CPD that you have completed, records of achievements, and qualifications for which you are studying or have passed – as well as ensuring that all your top skills are ‘ticked’.?Update your headline?When a search is made, the only items that employers or recruitment professionals see are your name, photo and your headline. The headline is your chance to let people know who you are. You have 120 characters to tempt influencers and decision makers to click through, view your up-to-date profile and connect. You must make it count and make it as relevant as possible. Consider these two examples:

“Hotel Architect”?or?“Architect who designs award-winning hotels in the UK's hospitality sector”

Which would tempt you to click and learn more?

1. Include Professional Objectives in Your LinkedIn Profile

When you update your profile, don’t forget to include your professional objectives. Employers want to know about your experiences and skills, but they also want to know about your goals. They want to hire you because you will make a difference to their current projects and impact their longer-term design. If their plans don’t match with your goals, hiring you probably won’t be right for either party.

2. Develop Your 1st-Degree Network

Import your contact lists from your email accounts and connect to all the people you know. The more 1st-degree connections you have, the better your network will work for you. Opportunities are discussed online in the same way that they are spoken about between friends and acquaintances in ‘real life’.

3. Connect With Specialist Recruiters

Specialist recruitment consultants have a deep understanding of their sector niches, and work with their clients to fill vacancies with suitable candidates. Mostly, they find talented people by checking their internal network – LinkedIn is an extension of this. If you aren’t connected to the specialist recruiter on LinkedIn, someone else will be employed in your dream position.

4. Join & Be Active in Relevant LinkedIn Groups

Search for and join professional groups on LinkedIn and be an active participant in them. Help others when they ask questions, evidencing your expertise and knowledge. You could be connected to the potential employers, influencers and decision makers who will make a real difference to your career.

5. Advertise Your Availability

For many professionals seeking a move, it will be very difficult to advertise the fact. But if you can let people know that you are available, then you should do so. The best place to do this, of course, is in your headline. For example:?“Architect who designs award-winning hotels in the UK's hospitality sector, currently seeking a new challenge”

6. Be Active on LinkedIn

Use LinkedIn to your advantage by being active on it. Post articles that you write, and share content that you find interesting (and relevant). Be involved with groups. Share hidden job vacancies with connections. The more involved you are with your networks, the more recognised you will become.

7. Follow Companies You are Interested in

Do some research and find the companies that interest you as potential employers. Follow them on LinkedIn. This will help you keep updated with what these companies are doing and the vacancies they make available as soon as they do so.

8. Use LinkedIn to Prepare for Your Interview

You’ve got an interview. Fantastic news. Now, use LinkedIn to learn more about the interviewer and hiring manager. Discover their professional background, their achievements, their likes and interests. You can leverage this information to your advantage during the interview, establishing common ground and showing that you are an employee who prepares well.

9. Update Your Profile

Your life is dynamic in nature. Your professional experiences evolve constantly. Your achievements grow and shape your attractiveness as a candidate. If you aren’t keeping your LinkedIn profile updated, potential employers won’t see the real you, and that will count against you in a comparison with other candidates. It is worth diarising some time each month to update your LinkedIn profile, adding CPD that you have completed, records of achievements, and qualifications for which you are studying or have passed – as well as ensuring that all your top skills are ‘ticked’.

10. Update Your Headline

When a search is made, the only items that employers or recruitment professionals see are your name, photo and your headline. The headline is your chance to let people know who you are. You have 120 characters to tempt influencers and decision makers to click through, view your up-to-date profile and connect. You must make it count and make it as relevant as possible.

In Summary

In the competitive jobs market, you need every advantage you can take. The world is socially connected, and for professionals and architecture jobs LinkedIn is a resource that can really work in your favour. However, to maximise the benefits of LinkedIn you must be active on it, keep your profile up to date, and connect with the people that could help you progress in the direction you desire.

Any questions?

If you have any questions on the above get in touch, do share your thoughts and comments below.