5 reasons to polish your LinkedIn profile today
Olivia Attwood
Certified Professional Resume Writer ● Career Coach ● Executive Resume Writer ● MBA, BEng, CPRW, CPCC
Every career blog on the internet keeps saying how important LinkedIn is but is it truly important? What impact does your LinkedIn profile have on your career? In this article, we will look at everything that makes LinkedIn a formidable asset to your career advancement .
Did you know that LinkedIn has been around longer than Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram? LinkedIn hosts over 600 million professional profiles from every nook and cranny of the world. With such a widespread user base, this platform has uncountable opportunities for those looking to expand their professional networks or find jobs.
You can use LinkedIn to seek better opportunities for your career all the while creating and maintaining your personal brand. It has become indispensable for an all-around professional in this digital age. Haven’t updated your LinkedIn profile since 2010? Here are 5 reasons for you to wipe off those cobwebs!
1. You can have access to unlimited employment opportunities
The biggest benefit of LinkedIn is for those looking for a new job. Everyone from recent grads to C-suite professionals can find and apply to their dream jobs by skimming through the staggering number of opportunities available on LinkedIn. The creators of LinkedIn have made it quite easy for you to find jobs. Now you can search for jobs by keywords and location . You can also turn on job alerts to suit your career interests when you are not actively seeking. Don’t want the people at your company to find out that you are looking for a new job? LinkedIn has an option for that too! You can simply turn on your “I'm interested” button to let recruiters know that you are seeking opportunities .
2. You can build your professional brand online
Gone are the days of painstakingly creating your own personal website for hours on end to establish your brand online. With your LinkedIn profile offering you lots of chances to express your unique qualifications, you don’t have to spend extra to maintain a personal website. Set yourself apart from others in the business by uploading a professional profile picture and writing the perfect LinkedIn summary.
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3. It will be the first thing employers see when Googling you!
Ever Googled yourself? Sometimes, it isn’t easy to pop up on the first page of results when someone Googles you. Employers almost always run an online search on candidates when they apply for a job. When you build your LinkedIn profile to perfection by updating all the exciting details of your professional career , you can easily stand out!
4. You never have to forget names again
You found the perfect graphic designer who said they’d love to freelance for your business startup. You met at a conference and had a blast discussing business ideas. They were a perfect match for your company culture. The only downside? You can’t remember their name at all after just a week. LinkedIn makes it easier to keep track of the impressive professionals you meet during your career. Instead of filing names away at the back of your mind, add them to your professional network on LinkedIn !
5. You can easily search companies and employees
Applying for a job that seems too good to be true? Maybe it is. Use LinkedIn to run a search about the company and its employees before you go for the interview. Many companies have their own LinkedIn page where they update all company-related info and share the latest company news. You can even find who does what there and get a feel of their culture.