LinkedIn is one of the most important ways job seekers can distinguish themselves in a very competitive job market. Almost 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn as a major source of finding and vetting candidates in the job market, according to LinkedIn.
However, the average recruiter spends just six seconds reviewing a LinkedIn profile. That means you need to make sure the most relevant and interesting information about your professional skills are prominent in your profile.
Here are seven ways to attract recruiters to your profile and spark their interest enough to contact you:
- Have a professional LinkedIn photo: Ensure the picture is a headshot and features you in a way that is appropriate for work – not a vacation photo!
- Create an eye-catching headline and summary: Be passionate and enthusiastic about the skills you have and your value proposition for a prospective employer. In your summary, provide examples of your skills, such as how you’ve gone above and beyond on a current job or previous position. Concentrate on details that set you apart from your peers.
- Leverage Open Candidates: This is a feature that LinkedIn offers to privately signal to recruiters that you’re open to new job opportunities. To enable, turn the feature “On” and fill in the information about the roles you’re pursuing. LinkedIn will take steps to hide your information from recruiters at your company or affiliated company recruiters, but can’t guarantee complete privacy.
- Post content that is industry-specific to position yourself as a thought leader: For example, a Healthcare Management student could share or write an article about how technology is changing the healthcare industry. By sharing industry-specific content, it shows you are knowledgeable in the area you work in or are studying in, and are likely more interesting to a recruiter. Be sure to stay away from highly controversial subjects, though.
- Request recommendations from past or present colleagues and supervisors: A recommendation is a written statement from a connection. Herzing University staff or instructors are also a great resource to ask for recommendations on LinkedIn. Recommendations show what others have to say about you and your skills, which can add value to your LinkedIn profile. They also give a potential hiring manager or recruiter valuable insight into your skills, work history and personality.
- Network and connect with employers and recruiters: For example, if you are interested in working at a company, search LinkedIn to find people who might be connected with you – or know someone who is connected with you – and reach out to them to learn more about the company or a particular job opening.
- Update your URL to make it a customized URL: A customized URL makes you easier to find and boosts your credibility, and also looks more professional when added to your resume.
LinkedIn is a great way to boost your credibility with future employers and recruiters. You can also use LinkedIn to research a company before you go into an interview or find out more about the person who will interview you.
If you take these steps to improve your profile, it’s more likely LinkedIn will be a valuable tool in your pursuit of a new job.
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* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2020. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
