Is Your LinkedIn Profile Working?
Working, you say. What is it supposed to do? I just want people to know what I do and my job history.
Your LinkedIn profile is often the first thing prospective employers and gatekeepers see regarding your background. You know yours is working if you are getting introductions, invitations to chat and even interviews. You can check to see a sample of who read your profile.
Go to your ‘Home’ page and view the right side: ‘Who’s viewed my profile,’ Click on: ‘see more.’
If you have connected with or were referred to some of the organizations listed and you did not get the results you wanted, chances are, you need to change your profile. If you didn’t contact the organizations listed, chances are, they thought they were interested but didn’t see any reason to follow through. Something is missing on your profile.
Most people believe a LinkedIn profile is just a truncated version of the resume. Nothing could be further from the truth. It can be the single most important job search tool you have. Linda Tancs, an employment writer for NJ.com states: A successful LinkedIn profile takes effort.
Your Profile is a marketing piece. Your profile is a tool, which when used correctly, will entice the reader to learn more. A tool that tells the hiring authority and people who refer candidates to them, exactly why they want to talk to you, immediately.
That’s a huge job for such a small bit of media. But think about your own behavior. How often do you ‘research’ someone before you talk to them or when you only think you may want to talk to them?
Where do you start? First off, let readers know how to contact you if they are interested. Use your public email address (hotmail or gmail, for example) and insert it close to the top of your profile. Need some ‘air’ around it? Type a period/enter to create a blank line above and below your email address.
Most common mistake? Your LinkedIn profile is precious digital real estate; use it wisely. If you want viewers to know how old you are right out of the gate, say, “19 years experience managing new product designs.” Don’t tell readers how old you are. Tell them the most important accomplishment in which they would be most interested.
“Launched seven unique products in six seconds with no budget and one hand tied behind my back.”
What it is not. Your profile is a marketing tool, not a biography. You do not need to list all your jobs or all your positions. It is neither a resume nor a legal document.
If you want to list previous companies to attract certain populations, go ahead, but only list those. Leaving lots of white makes for a more pleasing viewing experience. Leaving lots to the imagination encourages people to contact you.
Your opinion does not count. Readers are not interested in your own view of your work. “Successful marketing executive with impressive history of product launches” may be true, but your readers need proof, not your opinions. Try to give examples of your success and let your work speak for itself.
Other people’s opinions count a lot. Use the ‘references’ section eagerly. Invite folks who have worked for you, with you and managed you to make comments. Notice the first line is visible. Recraft them to be punch lines (ask permission to modify) to encourage readers to click to read more.
Invite references over time so your updates appear constantly in your network’s radar. Nothing better to help them recall what a swell person you are and keep you in mind when they hear about a job or person you should know.
Resist the urge to respond immediately to those who give you a reference. Space out your responses over time to appear in the updates sections and also to get around the appearance of quid pro quo on references.
More white space. Unless your groups memberships are germane to your profession, leave the logos off your profile. Go to the membership section of each and click off the ‘show logo’ box.
Do you have a blog? I encourage all my clients to create and maintain an industry specific blog to enhance their personal marketing efforts. If your blog titles are not spot-on to your professional job search efforts, write some new ones. These headlines are an effective way for viewers to learn more about you. Use them wisely.
It goes without saying, though you’d be startled to know how often I am forced to say it, check for spelling and grammar. One mistake can turn viewers off because they immediately jump to, “Not detail oriented” or “careless” or worse, “illiterate.” Invite someone to review your profile before you publish because we often can’t see our own mistakes.
When you are truly delighted with your profile, when you believe it is compelling and an excellent personal advertisement, incorporate your profile address in your email signature and use it anytime you write a blog or answer a blog online. Broadcast this marketing piece and you become your own advertisement agency.
For more advice on using LinkedIn for Job Search download your free copy at www.jobsearchdebugged.com
For a job search tune-up read Job Search Debugged, an insider’s guide to a compelling job search.
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