August Newsletter - How to Create an Effective LinkedIn Profile

Searching for a job is hard work, and putting yourself out there is even harder. It's a constant roller coaster of self-doubt and insecurities: "Is my resume good enough?", "Is my LinkedIn profile good enough?", "Am I doing things right?"

No doubt, the current job market is challenging and confusing for almost all job seekers...and even when it was a "candidate's market", not everyone experienced the job search in the same way. Many feel like outsiders when starting their activities on LinkedIn as a part of their job search routine. But the benefits are worth every effort.

A strong LinkedIn profile is not only your online CV but also your personal advertising page. Almost all recruiters and employers are on LinkedIn now, and they will most certainly look at your profile once they read your resume. It would be such a shame to miss all the opportunities this network offers, so make sure your profile works in your favour.

When speaking about LinkedIn, we cannot skip the branding part, can't we? Your personal brand is a manifestation of you. If you build it strategically, it will differentiate you from others and boost your reputation - which will make you a very desirable candidate. ??

?Does your LinkedIn profile attract employers?

?Any recruiter's messages in the last 30 days?

?If not, you might have:

?? Incomplete profile

? Confusing Headline

? Pointless About section

? Unprofessional profile photo

? Unoptimized personal links

? Lack of keywords, endorsements, or recommendations

If this sound familiar, the chance recruiters searching for people like you actually find you on LinkedIn is practically zero.

So, it's time to improve your profile and here is how:

If you are not so handy with LinkedIn or technology, then you should hire an expert to do it for you.

In any case, LinkedIn can be your best friend or your worst enemy, depending on your approach. It's easy to make a mistake.

And 5 common mistakes people make every day are:

1?? Their public profile is invisible. Don't hide your profile photo or any relevant sections on your profile. If they do not find the information they need, employers and recruiters will just move on to another, more approachable candidate.

2?? They repost private Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook videos and photos. I get it. You want to stand out, and you see some other people do this to spice up their LinkedIn content. My advice would be that if you are on LinkedIn looking for a job, just keep it professional as much as possible.

3?? They complain about current or past employers or colleagues in comments or posts.

4?? They apply for jobs on LinkedIn without updating their profile first.

5?? They demand favours from connections. If someone is offering help, of course, you should take it. But, don't ask people who don't know you to give you recommendations, write you a referral or do professional stuff for you for free. Respect the time and work of others, and you'll get respect back.

Start thinking differently!

Being you and offering your unique point of view and expertise will increase your visibility and attract recruiters with job offers.

? Do not copy-paste what others do (read: influencers). What works for them will most certainly not work for you. Besides, you'll never find your own voice or reach the audience YOU need.

? Do not apply fast-network-growing strategies (joining pods and similar nonsense). You'll be wasting your time, and it's a slim chance that those will help you reach the right people you need.

?? Instead, always focus on the quality of your connections!

Send a compelling message to recruiters and HR folks on LinkedIn

Here is a guide:

"Hi [name of the person]. I noticed you are recruiting at [company], and I'm interested in the following position [specific job code or job link]. I already applied, but I wanted to introduce myself! If you know the aligned recruiter/hiring team, I'd appreciate an introduction (visibility to my application). I've attached my (resume, portfolio, etc.) for easier reference. I look forward to hearing from you."

If you don't hear anything after a few days, follow up. Recruiters get many messages daily, and the hiring circumstances sometimes change, so reach out one more time.

Remember, recruiters cannot "find you a job", they work for their clients/employers (companies), so asking any recruiter to find you a job is pretty much futile.

Make your LinkedIn profile works for you, and your job search will be significantly shorter.

Always ask for help if you are not sure how to start or what to do.

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Take care. ??

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