5 Ways To Get More People To See Your LinkedIn Profile

You've heard LinkedIn is the place to be for job search and you  have a profile, so why isn’t your phone ringing off the hook with job offers? 

90+% of recruiters use LinkedIn according to the 2014 Jobvite social recruiting study, to search, contact, keep tabs, and vet candidates. Here’s what you need to do to ensure recruiters are looking at your LinkedIn profile!

1. Use The Right Key Words In Your Headline

By default, LinkedIn uses your most recent job title and employer in your headline. CHANGE THIS. Remember, your LinkedIn profile is about showcasing you, not your employer.

Think about the key words or phrases that a recruiter or hiring manager would use to search for someone to fill a job. These are the words you would want to use in your headline. You have 120 characters, use them wisely!

And here's the formula:

• What you do
• Who you help
• How you do it uniquely/successfully

HR Executive / Operations Manager. Leveraging diversity, strategic partnerships and entrepreneurship

Fundraising consultant helping major non-profits raise more money. Success achieved for local & national organizations. 

PMP-certified project manager - Known for successfully leading IT projects made up of hundreds of remote team members.

If you are about to graduate, you don’t need to include that information in your headline. Use key words found in job postings you are interested in applying for.

Current Student. Future Designer, Advertiser, & Marketer.

It is doubtful any hiring manager or recruiter would search for “team player, organized,” other similar buzzwords (via LinkedIn), so avoid using them in your headline, summary and experience sections. 

2. Say More In Your Summary

Your summary should provide a high-level overview of what you do (and what you like doing). Here are just some of the things you can include in your summary:

• Use key words and skill sets that are valued by future employers.
• Describe the successes you have had (and quantify whenever possible)
• List the industry experience you have accumulated
• Include processes, procedures, software and other tools you are familiar with
• Add samples of work, pictures and other media too!

3. Create A New Status Update Every Day

As I skimmed through my home page, looking for status updates from job seekers in my network, I was sadly disappointed. I couldn’t find a single one! One of the best ways to stay top of mind and build a memorable reputation is by sharing on-brand news, stories and events. On-brand for a job seeker is NOT job search stuff. It is content related to the next desired occupation.

Here is an example of an update sent by someone in marketing.

4. Connect with Recruiters and HR

If you are job searching, then you should absolutely be connecting with corporate recruiters, HR staff, and third party recruiters! It doesn’t guarantee anything, but, it just might help! Glassdoor asked top corporate recruiters two questions- “How would someone get on your radar?” and “was there a candidate that totally wow-ed you and if yes, how did they do it?”

The answers might just surprise you…Here’s one:

How would someone get on your radar?

It’s fairly easy to get my attention since I’m fairly transparent. Reaching out to me via Twitter and LinkedIn are one of the easiest ways to get on my radar and even better when those individuals begin interacting with my posts, especially Philips related posts.  That level of interaction demonstrates their passion for Philips and even if I don’t have an employment opportunity available for that person at that precise moment, I’ll remember that person.
Chrystal Moore, Senior Recruiter, Philips Healthcare

5. Add Your Thoughts To Group Discussions

Some recruiters lurk in groups looking for talent. Use occupation or industry specific groups to network! (Networking = building relationships and helping others!) Use these concepts to connect with new people, offer advice/help, share interesting news.  This example helps support an interest in leadership.

Monitor Your Profile

How do you know if the changes have helped? Check out the stats!  Do this before you make the changes and then check the stats about 2-3 weeks after you make the changes. You should see the the numbers increase!

You can read more about enhancing and monitoring your visibility on LinkedIn here. 

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