Five tips to make your LinkedIn profile irresistible to recruiters

With more than 57M+ companies and 15 million active job listings, LinkedIn is the largest professional network on the planet.

If you're serious about your career, a profile is a no-brainer.

But it’s not good enough to simply exist on LinkedIn. Your profile needs to attract attention, say the right things, and help you connect with people who can help you get what you want.

Here are five tips to make your LinkedIn shine.

1. Put a face to your name: LinkedIn research has found that profiles with photos are seven times more likely to turn up in searches. Yet a staggering number of LinkedIn profiles don’t include headshots.

   If yours is lacking, you’re missing out.

   It goes without saying if you you’re going to upload one, it needs to be appropriate. LinkedIn is not Instagram. So bikini shots on the beach are a definite no-no.

   Use a clear, recent headshot, on a plain, neutral background.

2. Show your value in the headline: Along with your image, your LinkedIn headline is one of the few things people can see before they click on your profile. So, make the most of it.

   Your headline doesn’t have to be your job title. Get creative with it. Put in whatever you think will attract attention from the people you want to connect with.

   If you do want to include your job title, include some industry-relevant keywords to highlight your niche experience. Rather than ‘charity fundraiser’, say ‘experienced major donor and grants fundraiser’.

3. Less is more: Recruiters will spend an average of 6 seconds looking at your LinkedIn profile. That’s a short amount of time to grab their attention. To ensure yours stands out, be concise. Use bullet points, keep your paragraphs short, and back up your achievements with numbers.

   Why? It’s one thing to say you’re good at your job. It’s another thing to be able to quantify it.

4. Include recommendations from colleagues: LinkedIn endorsements are powerful. Recruiters pay attention to them. So get into the habit of asking colleagues for them periodically throughout your career.

   The more endorsements you have, the higher you’ll rank in the search results.

   Wondering how to get endorsements? Read this handy guide.

5. Be active on LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a social media tool. As with any other social platform, you need to be active on it to get anything from it.

   Sure you’re busy and have more fun on Facebook, but if you’re on the market for a job, it’s vital to showcase your professionalism by posting regular updates, publishing articles, and engaging with forums and discussions that interest you.

   This will expand your network and provide insight into your capabilities and personality to potential employers.
   
   Want some help updating your LinkedIn profile? Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 to get the ball rolling.