Recruiters on LinkedIn use the resource daily to vet candidates, find potential job matches and contact prospective employees. Job seekers get noticed for their connections, experience, education and job skills. Turn your LinkedIn profile into a tool for your next position.
LinkedIn represents one of the most efficient ways companies search for keywords, find people with required skills and reach out to passive candidates. Get noticed by recruiters on LinkedIn by being proactive on the social media website. Fill out your profile, reach out to colleagues in your industry and post recommendations relevant to your field.
Complete your profile as much as possible because even minor details may stand out to recruiters on LinkedIn. Create a strong summary with many active verbs in two or three sentences. Fill out specialties with important keywords, and write details about every job you have held in the past 10 years. Create a strong headline, post a professional photograph and list tangible achievements that include relevant information.
Use high-impact keywords as much as possible while avoiding generic buzzwords that do not belong on a profile. Everyone claims to be passionate, motivated and creative in a LinkedIn profile. Instead, list keywords that explain why you are in the field you chose. A financial-based profile should mention what aspects of industry appeal to you the most, such as mortgages, securities, stocks or commercial property loans.
Instead of waiting to get picked by recruiters on LinkedIn, be proactive by making connections. Find hiring managers and recruiters in your target companies and invite them to connect with you. Search for connections regularly, especially during meetings with other companies, at networking events or when you speak to colleagues in your field. Post relevant news, blogs and writings in order to keep your LinkedIn content fresh.
Post recommendations on your profile with respect to those who ask you for help and to those with whom you request a connection. Recruiters on LinkedIn see this and know who to ask with regards to your qualifications, but also you may be contacted to vouch for another person's job skills. Only include people you personally know so that you can build up their job skills to potential employers. You can use recommendations to have your connections write quick notes to recruiters vouching for your skills and work ethic. Do not name drop or put pressure on distant acquaintances to remember you, as that may backfire and turn off recruiters for your lack of thoroughness.
Recruiters on LinkedIn use the social media tool as a secret weapon to vet candidates quickly. Know how to use this resource to make a great first impression with companies that may seek your expertise before you even know they want you as an employee.
Photo courtesy of Nan Palmero at Flickr.com
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