IP’S TOP LINKEDIN TIPS FOR JOBSEEKERS

LinkedIn is a professional networking website, “with more than 500 million members in over 200 countries.” (LinkedIn) This site is a great way for professionals to connect, network, share ideas and information, and look for new opportunities.

Here are a few of our top tips to make the most of LinkedIn and your profile if you are a job seeker!

Keep your account active! Leaving your account unused for long periods of time is going to suggest to other users that you aren’t serious about using the platform. This is not the impression that you want to be giving if you are searching for jobs, and you could be missing out on potential opportunities. If you want to want to appear active, like, comment and share, and get involved in what LinkedIn has to offer!

Brand yourself! LinkedIn can be seen as a digital version of your CV. You can include your employment history, examples of your skills and qualities, and tailor your profile to the job that you want. If you are looking for a specific career, make sure that everything you put on your LinkedIn profile links back, and connects to the job or the nature of the job.

Make sure your profile is at ‘expert’ level! When you first join LinkedIn, you are prompted with questions to answer so that your profile is more detailed and people get a better understanding of who you are and what you’ve done. Having an ‘expert’ level profile will make you look like an active user who is serious and committed to the platform.

Just like on your CV, there should be no typos! Typos can be a deal breaker when it comes to an employer deciding who to hire. Whether they are on your CV, or on your LinkedIn profile, mistakes can look careless and lazy, so double check and make use of Spell Check!

Be polite! There have long been debates in regard to people using LinkedIn the way in which they would use the likes of Facebook and Twitter. There is no problem in expressing your own opinions, but there’s no need for it to be in a rude manner. This is a professional platform, and it should be used in a professional, polite and friendly manner. This is a public platform, and potential employers can see what you are posting and saying. Politeness can also come in the form of endorsing your connections. If you do it for them, they may also do it back!

Have a professional profile picture! A picture of you out on a Saturday night isn’t the image you want to be showing your potential employer! A picture speaks a thousand words, so have an image of just yourself so that there is no confusion as to who the profile belongs to, and make sure it’s up to date. If the picture looks like it should be on your social media page, maybe think of getting one that is a little more professional.

Hopefully these tips will help you in increasing your employability via LinkedIn! Let us know your top tips!

Feel free to connect with us on LinkedIn, and like our company page!