It’s not enough to have a good resume and cover letter. You also have to have an online presence through social media platforms like LinkedIn. Not only is it a site that HR representatives use to verify your resume information, it’s a tool for forming connections with past and present coworkers, staying in touch for future references, and even job searching directly.
1. Keep Your Content Professional
Social network sites are almost always a sliding scale between appropriate and inappropriate. Even professional networking sites suffer from the tendency of users to post memes, informal commentary, and political discussions that you wouldn’t bring up in person. While it’s okay to have a bit of personality on LinkedIn, remember that it’s not a site for having fun or connecting with friends. It is a marketing tool for yourself and your career. If you wouldn’t bring something up at work, you shouldn’t bring it up on LinkedIn.
While you’re in the process of interviewing for a job, the HR department might not just look at your LinkedIn history. They’re going to check Facebook, too. That’s the right place for more personal content and a bit of humor. But also be sure you lock down what should be public-facing and what’s just for family and friends.
2. Promote Your Company as You Work There
Don’t just update your LinkedIn profile while you’re job-searching. Dedicate time (probably not while in the office) to connecting with your co-workers and linking to press releases. You don’t have to pedantically report everything your VP or CEO does. But if your company is rebranding or there’s a new marketing campaign, post about it. Not only does this strengthen your social value in relation to the company you last worked for (or currently work for), it’s a strong indication to potential employers that you’re a team player and that you have a good grasp on technology. This step is especially important if you are applying for a marketing or sales position.
3. Make Sure Your LinkedIn Profile Matches Your Resume
Your profile is your resume. While the formatting is a little bit different and you have more space to go into detail, your profile should at least include everything on your resume. It certainly shouldn’t contradict anything, and the dates should align. This can be a bit tricky if you’re editing down to the month and HR representatives know LinkedIn’s quirks, so do the best you can and add in lots of details.
4. Have Verified Links for Your Certifications
If you have additional certifications or are using online training to fill gaps in your resume, this is where you back up what you listed on your resume. LinkedIn lets you list specific certification numbers and link back to training sites. Make sure your non-traditional attributes and certifications are as robust as possible. Everything from Microsoft training to HubSpot certificates is optimized to help you convince your potential employers that you have the skills and expertise the training implies, so they often send a specific ID number and URL that syncs your profile with your accomplishments.
5. Add a Picture
Almost nobody likes adding a picture. You have to dress professionally, find the right lighting, make sure you’re sending the right message, and upload it. It’s even better if you can have a second person take it so it doesn’t look like a selfie or an informal picture. But that task involves a lot of switching costs, especially if you’re filling out your profile in the late evening and need to find a job as quickly as possible. But having a picture really does make a difference. HR representatives and recruiters, just like everyone else, form a closer connection if they see your face instead of a black placeholder. According to sites like Forbes, it might even be the single most important factor.
Find More Ways to Make the Most out of Your LinkedIn Account
Ensuring that your LinkedIn account is both accurate and up-to-date should be one of your constant professional priorities. Browse Bishop & Company’s tips to see what else you can do with your LinkedIn account to get the job you’re looking for.
