Preparing Your LinkedIn Profile: Tips 16-20

After years of experience in recruitment, I’ve seen all kinds of LinkedIn profiles—some that are engaging and effective, and others that are missing key elements. A well-optimized LinkedIn profile isn’t just a static online resume; it’s a dynamic representation of your professional brand. Whether you’re actively seeking new opportunities or just keeping your profile polished, these tips will help you stand out from the crowd and improve your visibility to recruiters.

Tip 16: Don’t Assume

This is more of a general principle than a specific tip, but it’s crucial: Don’t assume the person searching for a candidate like you knows everything about your field.

You might think that recruiters have deep knowledge of your industry, but that’s not always the case. The person searching for you could be a resourcer working for a recruitment company, someone new to the field, or maybe they’re filling a role in an industry they’ve never worked in before.

When recruiters start a new search, they often cast a wide net, scanning through dozens of pages of profiles. Some recruiters start broad and narrow down, while others start with a very narrow search and gradually expand it. Either way, if your profile isn’t showing up in their searches, you could be missing out.

Key point: Make sure your profile includes phrases and keywords that someone unfamiliar with your industry would use to find you. Don’t assume the person searching is an expert in your field. In an ideal world, they would be—but we don’t live in an ideal world.

Tip 17: Use All 100 Skill Slots

One of the most underutilized features of LinkedIn is the “Skills” section. Did you know that you can list up to 100 searchable skills? Use them! But don’t just add any skill—make sure what you include is relevant to your career.

For example, I’ve used various candidate management systems over the years, and while some were developed in-house and aren’t worth mentioning, others like Greenhouse or Ezekia are widely recognized and worth including. Recruiters often use these tools to narrow down their searches, so having the right skills listed on your profile can help you show up in more searches.

Don’t forget the basics like Excel and Microsoft Office—recruiters might use these to reduce the number of profiles in a long list. It might seem trivial, but it can make all the difference.

Tip 18: Add Multiple Languages to Your Profile

If you’re fluent in more than one language, create your LinkedIn profile in multiple languages. This can help you appeal to international recruiters and increase your chances of being discovered.

Here’s how to add another language to your LinkedIn profile:

1. Click the "Me" icon at the top of your homepage.
2. Select "View Profile."
3. Click the "Edit" icon next to "Profile Language."
4. Add a language from the dropdown menu and follow the prompts.

Even if you don’t duplicate your profile, make sure you list every language you speak (above intermediate level) on your profile. Why? Because recruiters might screen you out if a language isn’t listed—even if it’s obvious you speak it. For instance, a recruiter might filter out “Sven from Stockholm” if Swedish isn’t listed as a skill.

Tip 19: Ask “So What?” for Every Section

When writing your LinkedIn profile, ask yourself this critical question: So what?

What does each section of your profile say about you? Is it filled with generic descriptions, or does it showcase your achievements? For example, don’t just list responsibilities like “matched candidates to jobs.” Instead, focus on what you accomplished: “Placed 50 candidates in roles within 3 months, achieving a 90% retention rate.”

Think about your specific achievements. Include any awards, sales numbers, or standout projects. Show the scope of your role—managing a team of 10 people is different from managing a team of 100, and overseeing a project with a $1 million budget is very different from handling a $10,000 project.

Make your profile compelling enough that someone will want to read more, rather than scroll past to the next candidate.

Tip 20: Be Authentic

Here’s my final tip (for now): Be authentic.

There’s a lot of conflicting advice on how to craft the perfect LinkedIn profile, and not all of it will apply to you. Some advice will work, and some of it won’t. It’s essential to be yourself on LinkedIn, rather than trying to fit into someone else’s mold.

One way to gauge your profile’s effectiveness is to track your profile statistics. Are you seeing more views? Are recruiters from your industry engaging with your content? Use this information to decide what advice to follow and what to disregard.

At the end of the day, being true to who you are is key to success. You are the only “you” out there, and someone is looking for exactly what you bring to the table.

Conclusion

Incorporating these tips into your LinkedIn strategy could significantly improve your profile’s effectiveness. From including the right keywords to expanding your network and being authentic, every step counts toward making sure you stand out to the right people. Remember, try to keep positive, your next opportunity could be just a connection away!

Good luck with your job search!

Photo by Gabriel Varaljay on Unsplash