How to be found on LinkedIn
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18/09/2019
LinkedIn is a great tool for candidates, employers and recruiters alike. As a recruitment company we use LinkedIn to connect with our candidates and clients, show people what the KLC Recruitment team are doing and keep up to date on topics within the industries we recruit. So now we ask, as a candidate how can you make LinkedIn work for you?
If you do not currently have a LinkedIn profile, then set one up! It only takes a few minutes to register your details and is easy to use on your phone. Whether or not you are actively looking for a job it can still be a great way to connect with other like-minded professionals and keep your eye out for any opportunities you may otherwise miss.
When you are looking for your next role remember these tips so that you will be found by the employers – get them to come to you!
1. Make your profile as complete as possible
You can write anything you like in your “About” section, however I advise to use this to write a synopsis on your work history. Try and include what areas you are passionate about – this is a great way to speak to a recruiter or future employer.
Fill in your current and previous roles, include dates and few lines of information on the role you where doing and the industry it was in. If you have gaps in employment you can add as a role for example if you where taking a study or travel break. Make sure your previous roles and dates match exactly what is on your resume so there are no discrepancies when speaking with a recruiter or potential employer.
Add in your education and any relevant training, you should also include this if you are currently studying as this could be a tick for your next role.
2. Add search friendly information, think KEY WORDS
Recruiters and employers search for candidates using keywords. These can include words listed in your job title, location and skill set.
Your previous job titles are important to most searches so it is important to include all your previous roles. Location is just as important because this helps recruiters and employers pin point local roles for you. There is aso an option for ‘willing to relocate’ which indicates to the search party that you would happily move to certain locations or countries to find your dream role.
Skills are what recruiters are searching for, yes, we may be looking for an Administrator in Melbourne but the way that we can drill down to find people that will have the exact skills we are looking for we use keywords. LinkedIn allows you to add keywords across tasks that you may have performed within your role. For example within your last administration role you may have performed duties such as ‘data entry’ using ‘Microsoft Excel’. The skills section also includes interpersonal skills which is almost anything else you can think of such as ‘motivating’ or ‘communication’. The best tip is to use the keyword phrases as LinkedIn suggests because these will be the phrases that are most commonly searched, don’t free type if there is a similar keyword available. Once you have added your skills you can ask your connections such as current or previous colleagues to endorse you.
3. Use the Job Search
Even if you are not actively looking for a role you can still utilise the job search function so that recruiters and employers can come to you. All you need to do is edit the information in career interests where you can let recruiters know you are interested; you can even specify if you are actively looking, casually looking or just open to opportunities. Don’t worry though, your normal connections won’t see this unless you choose to add it into your profile.
You can also add the job titles and locations that you would be interested in. This helps recruiters to identify you and also allows LinkedIn to recommend jobs you may want to apply for. Again, like with the profile the more information the better, if you only want a part time role you can make that an option. This allows recruiters to approach you with roles, they genuinely think you will be interested in!
4. Be online active
Last but not least, try to be active on LinkedIn. This can be done in a number of ways such as liking posts, commenting on posts or adding connections. Connections could be your current or past colleagues, friends or family members, or other professionals you have met in your career life. I suggest that after you meet new people any work type setting, whether it be a meeting or a seminar, a customer or a client, find them on LinkedIn and connect! You can also add recruiters in industries that you are interested in. Most recruiters are happy to make new connections and if you have your skills and experience there for us to see you may just find that you are at the top of the list for a new role we have just received.
Commenting on or liking posts from connections is a good way to stay active and also make new connections. You can share your own thoughts or content on LinkedIn and even reach out to people to say that you are in the market for a new role. Recruiters are always happy to be referred people so by expanding your network you expand the opportunities too.
LinkedIn is a great tool for not just those looks for roles but for those wanting to expand their knowledge, professional connections and business. If you are in the market for a new job, KLC would love to chat. We regularly have new and exciting roles with a range of different industries and locations. We regularly utilize LinkedIn to search candidates who apply for roles and are looking for roles – so if you do one thing before you send out your resume, make sure it is creating and updating your LinkedIn profile!
