5 tips to make your LinkedIn profile appeal to employers

LinkedIn is an important professional tool for any job seeker. Use my 5 tips to make sure you stand out from the crowd.

1. Add your photo

   Remember that LinkedIn is a professional networking platform. Would you like to network with someone you couldn’t see? Your photo makes the connection more authentic so use a good quality head shot that looks professional. Why not add a background photo that compliments it and fits with the professional brand you want to convey.

   If you choose not to add your photo, that’s a shame because profiles with photos get 14 x more views than those without.

2. Write a good headline

   You have 120 characters to sum up share your professional headline so make the most of it. The right headline will increase the number of views from recruiters and hiring managers so could have a dramatic impact on your career prospects.

   Needing inspiration? What may help is to look at what others have used and make it work for you. My advice is to avoid branding yourself as a ninja or guru or master as it’s seen as pretty cheesy nowadays. Leave those descriptions instead to others when they are describing how they see your skills in their LinkedIn recommendation. Instead, think ‘How can I best summarise myself?’ How about ‘Software Engineer with coding experience’. Why not take it one step further and add some key words to stand out. ‘Aspiring Java Software Developer/Seeking entry level position/Experienced in Python and JavaScript’. This type of headline which includes key words and skills is ideal.

3. Write a fantastic summary

   The summary is your chance to tell your unique story and stand out. This makes it one of the most important parts of your LinkedIn profile. Your summary should include these key points:

   • What led you to this career path?
   • What are you passionate about?
   • What skills to you have?
   • What is your next step/goal?
   • Who do you want to connect with?
   • Where do you want to be in the future?

   Don’t post the same vague summary you see so on so many profiles. This your chance to hold a public profile that represents you as a confident professional. It will go a long way to ‘selling’ you to a potential employer.  

4. Add skills

   You can have up to 50 skills on your profile and I recommend you use every one. If you don’t think this is important, prepare to have your mind changed with these quick LinkedIn facts:

   1. Employers don’t use LinkedIn just to post vacancies and wait for applications to roll in – they have ‘LinkedIn Recruiter’. This is a software which lets them search the network for profiles that match their vacancy requirements. It’s easy to find out which skills are hot right now - simply search in LinkedIn Jobs for vacancies in your field, looking at entry level as well as mid-career roles. Which skills are commonly listed as in demand? If they fit your ability, list them on your profile and increase your chance of being found.  
   2. Have you seen a profile with the little numbers beside each skill? This is the number of people who have endorsed you for that particular skill. This is a great feature that helps you to stand out but it’s impossible if you’re skills aren’t listed. Make it work for you, update your skills list then use LinkedIn Message to ask your connections to endorse you for the skills they can attest to. Don’t forget to return the favour and do the same for them.

5. Don’t underestimate the power of Groups

   There are more than 2 million LinkedIn groups to choose from with an estimated 8,000 launching each week. As you prepare to begin your professional career, it’s important you stay informed with the topics and jargon of your chosen field. Groups are a great way to do this. Once a member of a group it will be easier to identify new relevant contacts and employer organisations. Another tip for groups is to sure you like and comment on posts and articles and generally make your presence known. Members who join in on group discussions will get more than 4 x more profile views than other LinkedIn members.

   Not sure which groups to join? Look at the profiles of others who are already working in your preferred career path to get some ideas. You can find the information at the bottom of their profile in the Interests section.

   LinkedIn is an important professional tool for any job applicant. Get started by viewing the LinkedIn online module prepared by the EAIT Employability Team as part of Career Kickstarter https://www.eait.uq.edu.au/employability/career-kickstarter-program