Using LinkedIn

Just as you can surf a company’s website to glean more information, so too do HR recruiters visit LinkedIn to read your profile. They get a feel of who you are, make judgements, form first impressions. LinkedIn is an important step the recruiting process. If you are not already on LinkedIn, you are invisible to recruiters. Get on LinkedIn immediately. This is the social era. You need to have a social profile.

The information you provide on your LinkedIn homepage, such as your name, job title and achievements must be consistent with your resume. You are on LinkedIn to be found. Provide credible and valuable information about yourself.

Take time to craft your LinkedIn summary. Ensure your description indicates you have at least 8 out of 10 of the requirements of the job target you are pursuing. This is not the place to gush about your passion for cycling if you are pursuing a job as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. It is the place to communicate your experience, capabilities, achievements and expertise.

Help the prospective recruiters find you. You want to be found. Be mindful to use the same keywords that are common in postings for the job you are looking for. Use keywords appropriately in your headline, profile and summary. Be specific about your skills. If you have six years’ experience with particular manufacturing technologies, or possess risk assessment skills that are valued in the finance industry, spell these out. You can customise your information to specific opportunities later in your resume.

Remember to provide the hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile on your resume. Many people may have the same name as yourself. You want a hiring company to be reading about you, not someone else.

LinkedIn is central to your job search. Leverage the site fruitfully. Read the update feeds, build connections, participate in relevant Groups to establish your professional presence, visit company pages. You will eventually find job postings that match what you are looking for. Don’t rush to click apply. Pause thoughtfully.

Social media is all about connections. Apply the same networking principles detailed earlier to enhance your chances. Uncover connections to the hiring manage or company recruiter. Make contact with people in your network who might be working or know people in the target companies. Be proactive. Don’t post your profile and wait to be found. Leverage LinkedIn to find the job you want.