Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile with these top 4 'Tisdell Tips'

Noting that only 48% of jobs are advertised, and that looking for that next step can be a huge drain on your time, consider attracting the attention of talent scouts by optimising your LinkedIn profile – maximising the amount of times you are approached for roles, with minimum effort on your behalf.

For attracting the right attention, here are my top four Tisdell Tips.

1. Have a photo that makes people WANT to work with you 

My favpurite is Paul Lyons. Not because it is a black and white, but because he looks professional and APPROACHABLE. Great eye contact, slight smile, chin lowered (chins raised look threatening or give an impression of arrogance), and a slight head tilt - as if he is leaning in towards you to hear what you have to say.

Many people wrongly equate professionalism with grumpiness – a hangover from the early 1990's when we were all trying to be aloof by talking about ourselves in the third person and taking ourselves oh-so-seriously. Jump to 2016 and it is all about transparency, authenticity and engagement.

You need to look likeable if you want to secure a great role. Especially if your position requires any sort of collaboration or leadership.

For a worthwhile investment contact Zahrina in Sydney at zahrinaphotography.com.

Or Chris in Melbourne at www.sprottprophoto.com.au.

2. Keywords in your Professional Headline

LinkedIn works on an algorithm, so is it is important to have the right keywords in your profile. 

Think of this section as being like Google and put in various words that relate to what you do. Never had the title you want? Then put the title you want in your ‘professional headline’ section. [Ensuring of course the words do reflect what you can actually do!]

You have 120 characters, so use them. Be interesting. Talk in this section about how you add value, if you like...

Separate the words with a ‘pipe’. On my keyboard this is situated above the enter key. This mimics LinkedIn’s own design elements, so it looks schlick and professional.

3. Make sure you have a summary

And again, pepper this with key words. Not sure what the right key words are? Read through a decent number of job adverts and you’ll pretty quickly see what they are all asking for in terms of knowledge and skill.

Personally, I am a fan of LinkedIn profiles that read like a story, that engage and excite the audience. I think stories are powerful. However, anybody can do something similar to the below – just group your key words by themes.

4. Be easy to ‘buy’.

Being accessible is important if you want to be approached with job offers so put your contact details in your summary section, as well as in the contact information area.

YOUR CONTACT DETAILS ARE IN YOUR 'CONTACT INFORMATION' SECTION, AREN'T THEY?

Yes, you may receive a few spam emails. However, you are extremely unlikely to receive spam phone calls. [A few minutes annoyance weighted against missing out on job offers, I know which I'd prefer.]

And why will you miss out on job offers??

Well, just consider how LinkedIn is used these days:

"Mmm... he looks like he has great skills, I bet he could solve the problems we have here. We should have coffee, I should talk to him, see if he is interested... ARGH... I can't find his contact details. Where is that tiny icon with the contact information? Oh, this is all too hard. I'll tackle it later. Maybe..."

So, let me just say that again: Put your contact details in your Summary section, as well as in the Contact Info area.

Consider too uploading your résumé into the summary by clicking on the 'add document' icon.

Don’t forget to save your changes as you move through your profile. If you get stuck with anything, don’t ask LinkedIn’s help centre because (in my opinion), it is far from helpful. Instead Google it!

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Interested in a resume review or expert guidance on using LinkedIn so that you can be found fast?

Contact me on 0404 083 678 or [email protected]

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