How Much Experience Is Too Much?

It was so fun reading through your ??burning career questions; thanks to all who submitted! Each Friday, I will address the most frequently asked question from the previous week’s submissions.

This week, the burning question concentrated on the job search using LinkedIn.

??The burning career question of the week:

How much experience do I showcase on LinkedIn? How much content do I include under each separate experience that I list?

I know, technically, these are two questions, but they go hand in hand, so I will address both. Let’s start with

??How much experience do I showcase on LinkedIn?

The short answer is, “It depends.” Now, I realize this is somewhat of an annoying answer, but it really does depend! Like a resume, you have a small window (of time and opportunity) to make a good impression. According to Forbes, recruiters use three main channels to hire:

• 50% of roles filled via inbound applications
• 30% of roles filled via employee referral
• 20% of roles filled via recruiter outreach

Year over year, the breakdown is almost always the same, so to maximize your job search strategy, you need to appear in all three groups.?So the question is not “How much experience do I showcase?” but “WHAT experience do I showcase?” ?

As a career and executive coach, I suggest my clients list only relevant content on their resumes and LinkedIn accounts. Relevant meaning: “Does your content match your [in this case] search goals?” If the answer is “YES,” keep it. If the answer is “NO,” remove it. Your remaining content should be tailored to your target position(s) and/or career goals.

In short: Choose only what fits!

It sounds like a lot of work, but searching for a job IS a lot of work. Searching for a job is a job. Like any job, the more effort you put in, the more output you’ll receive.?

??Pro Tip: Relevant vs. Outdated. Refrain from listing relevant experience that is outdated (i.e., computer/technical experience/skills from way back when). Some of your early career history might include "relevant" experience, but you must ask yourself, “Is this experience applicable today (can anyone say Skype), or has my experience evolved?

??How much content do I include under each separate experience that I list?

Another great question with the same answer: “It depends.” It is important to remember three things when populating your LinkedIn account:

1. Concise Messaging Matters. The average user spends approx. 7 ? minutes on LinkedIn per session and visits an average of 7 pages during this timeframe, which means if they search up your profile, they’re likely to be there for about 1 minute and 8 seconds. This is a lifetime compared to the average time hiring managers spend reviewing your resume. You have more time to make a good (or bad) impression. That said, people get bored quickly, so the quality of content overrides the quantity of content every.single.time.
2. Skills.Skills.Skills. You probably already know you can add skills to your profile to show your expertise (which helps attract potential employers or clients and drives traffic to your profile). LinkedIn offers?41,000 skills?to choose from, and you can list up to 100 skills on your profile. AI screening tools look to see how well a professional’s list of skills matches what is needed for an open role, and approx. 48% of hiring managers use skills explicitly to fill open roles. Align your skills by relevance to your industry, targeted role(s), and the top skills employers look for in new hires. Skills.Skills.Skills. There, I said it again.
3. Hot Bed of Opportunity. Over 58 mission companies use LinkedIn, including 98% of the Fortune 500s. At any given time (labor market dependent, of course), LinkedIn has over 15.5 million positions posted, and 87% of recruiters are actively using the platform to fill these roles. This means, they are using profile data to find job matches.

??Pro Tip: The most important thing to get right when listing content in your experience section is to list your most important and relevant accomplishments. Recruiters and hiring managers (and potential clients) want to know what you’ve “achieved.” Simply listing job responsibilities offers a narrow and generic picture of the output stemming from your hard work. Brag yourself up; you earned it!!!

?Want to know more about Optimizing LinkedIn for the Job Search?

Jane Deehan posted a helpful article on optimizing your LinkedIn profile, which offers additional tips on getting your LinkedIn account ready for viewing eyes.

Hanna Larsson offers several amazing guides to help you turn your LinkedIn profile into a landing page and polish your brand to perfection!

??If you’re ready to work together to update your LinkedIn profile, target your job search, or explore your next career path, book a DISCOVERY CALL with me!

Until next Friday, thanks for reading!

Heather

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??If you have a burning career question that needs answering, submit HERE.

About Heather:

Heather is an award-winning career coach + consultant who works with mid- to senior-level individuals in career transition. She also coaches other career consultants on best practices in the career field. She is an expert in career theory and transition and experienced in helping clients achieve their professional and personal best. To learn more, visit careerinprogress.com.

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