Red Flags..Your LinkedIn Profile

Red Flags that make recruiters scroll past your LinkedIn profile

The most important thing to recruiters and headhunters, are candidates telling the truth! Everyone makes mistakes and sometimes takes that one job that you shouldn’t have but a person with integrity owns it and doesn’t lie about it. Its easier to explain a mistake then to deny it ever happened!

Below are a few additional things that we look at:

?1. TAGGING ONLY REMOTE ROLES

A recent LinkedIn data analysis found that working from home peaked in 2022. Currently, more than 85% of LinkedIn job postings are hybrid or on-site. So if your profile says you work only from home, some employers will write you off before considering you.

As a result, I never tag my clients’ current roles as “remote” or say they are interested only in remote work on their profiles. I don’t want to create doubt about their willingness to show up on-site at least occasionally. What’s more, if an employer is really interested in a candidate, many will make accommodations for remote workers. But to be considered, I recommend that candidates do not advertise themselves as remote-only from the outset.

2. A POORLY WRITTEN HEADLINE

LinkedIn has slowly become the public version of your résumé. Therefore, it’s critical to use the same style standards for your LinkedIn profile that you would use for your résumé.

This starts with your headline. It’s one of the most visible elements of your profile, and it needs to show that you have strong communication skills. Expect recruiters to scroll past a headline that reads “seeking a remoat job.”

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to make your LinkedIn headline stand out. I recommend applicants start with their desired job title, showcase their expertise, and add some intrigue.

?3. NO PROOF OF SKILLS OR IMPACT

Increasingly I see experience sections with one- or two-sentence job descriptions and a list of skills. However, some companies have started focusing more on skills than on degrees. But saying you have a skill without sharing proof and impact is a red flag to recruiters that you may be exaggerating your background.

The good news is that it’s easy to give proof of your skills. On your profile, describe the accomplishments and impact you’ve delivered using your most marketable skills. This is what really gets recruiters’ attention. You can also list certificates you’ve earned in the education section of your profile.

4. NOT EXPRESSING YOUR INTEREST

All salespeople, including recruiters, love warm leads. If you work for a company known for high-quality talent, recruiters are more likely to make an effort to attract you. If not, a perceived lack of interest can make recruiters click away from your profile.

You can express interest in many ways: The most overt approach is to activate the #OpenToWork frame on your profile photo. Also, a new LinkedIn feature lets you tell companies you’re interested. Visit the About section of the company’s page. Scroll to “Interested in working with us in the future?” and click “I’m interested.” LinkedIn will privately share your profile with the company’s recruiters for up to a year.

You can also follow a company you’re interested in on LinkedIn. Doing so alerts its talent team of your interest when you appear in their Recruiter search results. This boost expires only if you unfollow the company. Also, you can check your LinkedIn privacy settings under Data and Job-Seeking preferences. There you’ll find additional options to make your profile more visible to recruiters.

5. INCONSISTENT DATA

I look at many prospective clients’ LinkedIn profiles and résumés every week. Most of them contain title and date inconsistencies between these two sources.

In the past, no one expected LinkedIn profiles to be perfect, but that has changed. Now when a recruiter sees inconsistencies, it matters. Thus, with one exception, I make sure my clients are consistent between their LinkedIn profile and résumé. The exception I make is that I believe it’s acceptable to show yourself as employed on your profile and unemployed on your résumé. That’s because I have found that LinkedIn downgrades unemployed people in search results. I often advise my clients to show themselves as currently working at their most recent employer. If asked about the discrepancy, they can share the “downgrade” explanation. This approach has never caused a problem for my clients.

The job search process is a dynamic. If you let yourself become outdated on LinkedIn and/or on your résumé, recruiters will likely see that as a red flag. Changing jobs presents serious emotional, financial, and operational challenges. So be kind to your future self and stay current!

Credit: The above is from an article written by Donna Svei that was published on Fast Company.