Russell Abbatiello, www.tomorrowsresume.com ► Optimizing LinkedIn Profile for the Job Search
- 1. WWW.LINKEDIN.COM The sooner you can connect with employer’s network, the more successful your job search will be. LI can be boiled down to: Finding Being Found Being Active
- 2. 35 Top national recruiters were polled regarding their #1 recruiting source: 1. Networking (personal network) = 18 2. Referrals = 7 3. Professional Associations = 6 4. Alumni Networks, Conventions/Fairs, Company Websites = 2 5. Job Boards = 1 6. Temp/Staff Companies = 1
- 3. BENEFITS: Allows you to research and connect with “targeted” people and companies. Allows you to JOB SEARCH within companies of interest and respond directly to hiring managers. Provides the ability to be known, to enhance your personal brand, and to be found by recruiters. Provides the opportunity to connect with groups of professionals in your field and engage! Increase face-to-face networking effectiveness.
- 4. LinkedIn Features (found most helpful to users) Who’s viewed your profile – use strategically! People you may know Groups Direct messaging Advanced people searching Searching for companies Getting introductions “who knows whom” Network updates – “customized feed” Following companies “Likes” Posting status updates Search jobs Recommendations LinkedIn Contacts Feature (new) Publicize Work or Portfolio Add Volunteer Work Creating badges for email signature & resumes
- 5. TIPS & STRATEGIES SETTINGS: Activity broadcasts off, let others see you when viewing profiles, choose appropriate location & Industry, adjust group emails, edit public profile to “visible to everyone,” personalize your URL, make a signature badge. PROFESSIONAL “SMILE” PHOTO: part of your brand! PROFILE COMPLETENESS – “profile strength” TOP-DOWN APPROACH – Like resume, the top is most important, visually and digitally. Public sees = Photo + Name + Targeted, keyword-rich tag-line + location + Industry + Current Job + Past 3 jobs + Past 3 schools + # of recommendations + # of connections + 3 websites (anchor text). Then, a personalized SUMMARY!
- 6. FROM WITHIN LINKEDIN – PEOPLE SEE: Photo + name + Tag-line + location + Industry + Current Job, Previous Job, Most Recent School – SUMMARY. CONNECT to 200 1st level - with family, colleagues, past bosses, professors, alumni, recruiters and staffers, company insiders.(* pro tip: examine your level 1’s first degree connections, and request introduction!) JOIN 50 groups and PARTICIPATE in your top 3: search members, jobs, engage in discussion, make posts – industry, geographic, school alum (under contacts tab), networking, skill based..etc. Find out where people with your background are working through “ADVANCED PEOPLE SEARCH.” Search for people you know at the companies you apply to.
- 7. POST STATUS UPDATES - exposure of your brand! You show up in their Updates Feed! SEARCH AND SAVE job searches – can save 10 different searches and get email alerts. Try advanced search! EXPLORE Alumni Feature – serves as a virtual yearbook allowing for sorting by name, city, job function. Identify alumni at your target company! “Interests” FOLLOW Target Companies/People – legal stalking! SEARCH for people at target companies – use advanced people search to see your “connect trees” and get introductions!
- 8. DEDICATE TIME – you get back, what you put in! UTILIZE THE COMPANY SEARCH/COMPANY PAGES to search for jobs, get updates, research employees, review products/services/culture, “follow” - to become an “insider.” Ask for referrals and introductions, transforming 2’s into 1’s. Use the “jobinsider tool bar” – installs on web browser. Can turn on and off. Utilize job boards that are synced with LinkedIn : - Indeed.com’s “more” button
- 9. Use LinkedIn’s MOBILE APPLICATIONS like“CardMunch,” Check out LINKEDIN LABS, especially Résumé Builder. Use LINKEDIN LEARNING CENTER “jobs” section to stay up-to-date. Monitor WHO’S VIEWED YOUR PROFILE and look at other profiles strategically. SEARCH CONNECTIONS OF CONNECTIONS – locate quickly people who work at certain companies, particular title, share alma mater…get introduction! NOT CONNECTED? Try joining the same group! You can message people in same group without connecting.
- 10. SEE WHO POSTED THE JOB! – For many jobs, the author of the posting is often listed in upper right corner. Great way to reach out to the recruiters of your target company! PERSONALIZE YOUR INVITES! REACH OUT to hiring managers/recruiters who view your profile FOLLOW INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE, to receive their updates in your feed SHOWCASE YOU PROJECTS, responsibilities, and deliverables by uploading them to specific experience entries. Profile becomes a portfolio! 9you can hyperlink URL from a google doc that showcases summaries, recommendations, planning docs, photos, timelines, 30/60/90 plan…etc.
- 11. CUSTOMIZE ODER OF SECTIONS PERSONALIZE SKILLS SECTION– 50 of them! USE ICONS- for companies and schools Utilize ADDITIONAL SECTIONS- to add more content: volunteer, publications, projects, interests, contact info OPTIMIZE FOR KDS – “keyword density score” in your headline, summary, skills, company names, job titles, job descriptions, and additional sections.
- 12. “Who you know” matters less than “who knows you.” PROFILE OPTIMIZATION TO INCREASE YOUR VISIBILITY
- 13. Knowing how LinkedIn’s search algorithm works will lead to great optimization! LinkedIn’s Search Algorithm “favors” profile completion, level of activity, and # of connections. When people search LinkedIn, the results are, by default, sorted by: level of connection (1-level, 2-level, 3-level, group- level)with profiles that are 100% complete (or close to it), most relevant keywords, most active, and have the most in-common connections, ranked in descending order.
- 14. Plan of Action: Have a profile that’s 100% complete. Pack profile with relevant keywords, strategically Increase level-1 connections Be active Join popular groups – 50! 2. KDS in specific profile sections “In-Context” Keywords in “primary sections:” Name Headline Company Names (especially most recent 3 jobs) Job Titles (most recent 3) Summary Section Specialties/Skills
- 15. “In-Context” Keywords in “primary sections”: Job descriptions Education (+description) Certifications Anchor text in Websites (public profile) Projects (title & description) Publications (title & description) Volunteer (title, organization name description) Additional info (interests, advice for contacting, additional organizations)
- 16. 3. Using all fields/options available to you will give you an extra advantage. 50 skills! 50 groups! 120 characters available to you for your headline… use them! 2000 characters for your summary… use them! 1000 characters available for your interests…use them! Projects, publications, volunteer ..etc. 4. Stay Active: Recommendations, Skill endorsements, Add, connections, Edit your profile, Comment on or start discussion in groups, Look at people and company profiles, Joining new groups, “like” and “follow”, Status updates
- 17. 5. External Marketing Link other social media to your profile – blog, website, twitter..etc. Summary: - 100% complete - “networks” of connected people - Level 1 connections - LinkedIn Groups - Profiles full of keywords - Level of participation - # of recommendations - Adding additional fields - “Top-heavy” relevancy - Settings to Open/Public View - Personalized URL - Professional flattering picture - Paid subscription