What To Write On LinkedIn When You’re Unemployed

When you are temporarily unemployed, it can be really challenging to update your profile on LinkedIn correctly and know how to conceal this unwanted detail. If you are between jobs at the moment, you need to understand what you should write for your Current Position and Professional Headline. Remember that the aim of updating your profile is to get noticed by the potential recruiters. Here is what you need to do in order to attract hiring managers and not drive them away.

Fortunately, there are many options for dealing with your employment status on your LinkedIn profile—and not all of them require you to announce to the world that you're unemployed. There are ways of handling the situation that make it clear you're looking for work, without being obvious about the fact that you're out of work.

It’s best to craft a strategy for your LinkedIn Profile that helps head off questions and draws more traffic. Here’s how to write a strong leadership-level LinkedIn Profile while you’re still a fire.

1 – The Best LinkedIn Headlines for Job Seekers

If you’re job hunting, you want to get found by recruiters. So try to brainstorm industry-specific keywords that can go into your LinkedIn headline, no matter what formula/example you’re using above. Avoid generic phrases like, “Experienced Leader” and think about hard-skills and specific knowledge useful in the type of jobs you’re seeking. This can be technical terms or specific areas of work within your industry.

Examples:

·       HTML

·       Content Marketing

·       GMP Manufacturing

·       Audit Compliance

·       Sales Prospecting

·       Employee Onboarding

·       Phone Customer Service

·       HR Compensation and Benefits

This is important for every job seeker, but especially those who are changing careers or industries. Remember:

·       Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most visible sections of your LinkedIn profile

·       Expand upon the default headline by using all 120 characters to include top skills and specialties

·       Appear in more LinkedIn searches by using strategic keywords in your headline

·       Create opportunities by sharing what you can actually do instead of “unemployed” or “student”

The best LinkedIn headlines for your job hunt have a few things in common. They will:

1.     Show your skills and expertise (what do you do?)

2.     Communicate the value you bring to a new employer (why should they care?)

3.     Include at least one keyword/phrase for the type of job you want

4. (Optional) Show something unique to make your LinkedIn profile stand out – Maybe it’s a specific accomplishment. Or an award. Maybe it’s a passion or a hobby

Formulas you can use to write your own headline and get more interviews…

1. Role| Specific Achievement

This is a great LinkedIn headline for job seekers who have past results they can quantify.

Example: Digital Ads Manager | 5 Years Experience Managing 7-figure ad budgets

There’s usually a way to quantify your work in ANY role if you take the time to think about it.

Nothing beats specific results/proof when it comes to convincing a new employer you’d succeed in their job, which is why this is one of the best LinkedIn headlines for job seekers. 

2. Role | Years of Experience in Industry | org name

This is one of the best LinkedIn headlines for job seekers with at least a couple of years of experience.

Example: Human Resources Manager | 10+ Years of People Experience | Infosys

3. Role | Industry | Unique Value

This may be a better option for job seekers with less experience, but experience from the same industry that they’re applying for jobs in now.

Example: Director of HR at Oracle | Software Technology | Certified HR Trainer

4. Role | Helping ___ (type of company) do ___ (result)

I recommend this variation for freelancers, consultants, and coaches

Example: Human Resource manager | Helping job-seekers to get their dream jobs and provide career counseling.

Here you can remove Role rest can be left as it is, like:

Example: I help job-seeker to get their dream jobs via career coach | resume builder | LinkedIn profile optimizer | helping hand

The keywords should be what a recruiter or hiring manager would search for if they were looking for someone with your skills or background. 

5. <Role> specializing in _____, _____ and _____.

This is a relatively simple formula that puts your job title or main keyword at the very front of your profile so it gets noticed immediately.

Example: Content Marketing Strategist specializing in press releases, blog content, and social media

You may have noticed that NONE of the LinkedIn headline examples so far have said, “actively looking for opportunities. Here’s why I don’t think it’s a good idea to put this as a job seeker on LinkedIn.

First – this communicates absolutely nothing, other than the fact you’re out of work and need a job.

Second – the most in-demand, highly-skilled job candidates never put this. They have multiple opportunities, recruiters chasing them, etc.

And so they conduct a quiet, undercover job search.

I know you may not be flooded with interviews and job offers yet, but you still want to act like it. You want to position yourself as an in-demand job seeker! And shouting to the entire world that you’re actively seeking a job is the OPPOSITE of doing this.

If you do insist on doing this, at least add some keywords and indicate the exact type of role you’re looking for. Here’s an example…

6. <Role> looking for opportunities in ___ (specific area)

That way, your headline at least communicates something about your expertise and what type of job you’re a fit for.

Example: “Certified Public Accountant (CPA) seeking a management opportunity”

7. Recent ___ graduate with a focus in ___, ___ and ___.

If you’re looking for a job as a fresh graduate with no industry experience,

Example: Recent Finance graduate with a focus in financial analysis, reporting, and auditing

However, if you’re a recent graduate who has any relevant work experience, even an internship or part-time work, I’d recommend highlighting that with any of the LinkedIn headline formulas that we looked at previously.

Your LinkedIn Headline For Job Searching Doesn’t Need to Include Your Last Job Title

Unfortunately, there can be bias in the workplace against unemployed job seekers. Many hiring managers persist in giving preference to candidates who are currently employed, despite the fact that if the recession taught us anything, it’s that even the best workers can lose their jobs. If this is a concern for you, consider not listing a current job or listing your current position as “Self-employed.” You can also list yourself as looking for work immediately after losing your job, and then switch to “Self-employed” if your initial announcement doesn’t draw the kinds of offers you’re looking for.

If you left your position voluntarily, you might decide to make that clear to employers. The best way to do that is to clarify your situation in your position descriptions. Here are examples:

Example: Actively seeking new opportunities after voluntarily leaving my last stint at HSBC with a long record of success and solid recommendations

One option for getting around listing the fact that you're unemployed is to leave your LinkedIn profile as is, without updating it. Even though it's not accurate, and could possibly be an issue for a prospective employer, it doesn't advertise the fact that you're out of work.

The idea here is to make it appear as if you had “forgotten” to update your profile.

Of course, if you choose this option, you should always be honest when interacting with recruiters and hiring managers, once they contact you.

There’s a big difference between “forgetting” to update your social media and lying on a resume or during a conversation with a prospective employer. And, after a couple of months of being unemployed, it's probably best that you update your profile. 

2 – The SUMMARY / ABOUT section when you’re unemployed.

Just like your Headline, the About section or the Summary can be used to deliver a direct message to employers—referring to your value proposition first and foremost.

Remember, you actually have BETTER opportunities to promote yourself on LinkedIn when unemployed! Use the About section to openly display your expertise, without worrying that your CEO, Board, or team are viewing your Profile with suspicion.

3 – The best EXPERIENCE section when unemployed

If your employment ended only recently, you have several options.

Some users leave the Profile Experience section alone for a few months, especially if they’re receiving severance pay from an executive role.Another option is to simply give your former job an End Date on your LinkedIn Profile. While doing so will drop your Profile’s searchability (slightly), this is also the most straightforward way to show your current status.

4 – Check Your Profile Picture

Take a look at the picture you're using and decide if it reflects the professional you. If not, consider updating the image you're using. Your picture is the first thing networking contacts and employers who are sourcing candidates are going to notice, so make sure it's a good one.

Consider using the same professional image on all of your work-related social accounts. Being consistent across platforms is a way to boost your personal brand.

5 – Check your endorsements skills

There are 5 ways to mention your skills:

• Top skills
• Industry knowledge
• Tools and technologies
• Interpersonal skills
• Other skills

Try to mention only those skills which you can justify and also which is visible with your activities on LinkedIn. Be honest with this else you wont be able to get volunteer endorsements. try to endorse at least one skill set of every single connection to get more for yourself as well.

6 – Get Recommendations

You can also reach out to former managers and colleagues and request a LinkedIn recommendation. (Only make this request to people who you have a good relationship with.) One good way to get them is to give them. Your connections may reciprocate.

7 – Check the Details

Finally, double-check that the information in your LinkedIn profile matches your resume:

• Are your dates of employment (other than the one you are "forgetting to update" for now) correct?
• How about company names, job titles, and your educational achievements.

Be sure that what you list on LinkedIn matches the information that's on your resume.

Anything more to add?? Looking for more list to add also if you like this article you can write a recommendation for me...!!