It’s been said before. Recruiters and decision makers are leveraging social media, particularly LinkedIn, when searching and vetting candidates.
At the end of the day – those scouring for talent on LinkedIn are looking for answers to four basic questions:
- Who are you?
- What have you accomplished?
- What do you know?
- What Say Others?
When a LinkedIn profile is at All-Star status, meaning all of the major sections have been populated, recruiters and hiring managers are in the best position to weigh responses against the requirements of the role they need filled.
#1 Who Are You?
The Headline and Summary section are the primary places a reader goes to get a handle on question #1.
By customizing the headline rather than letting it default to your current job title, you are able to convey the types of roles for which you are well suited and increase your chances of getting found using keywords likely to be used during an initial candidate query.
The Summary section lets your reader “read your voice,” and how you may be uniquely suited for roles of interest.
In addition to phrasing that tells the reader about your expertise, be sure to include a list of hard skills or areas of expertise to go along with the soft skills that may be used to describe yourself.
#2 What Have You Accomplished?
In addition to the Experience section, LinkedIn offers additional areas to spell out what you’ve accomplished during your career. Given that the Summary is usually one of the first sections read, including career highlights here is a great “teaser” designed to compel them to read more.
The Volunteer section shows the reader another aspect to your accomplishments, and also reinforces your commitment to a community or cause.
#3 What Do You Know?
Nothing shouts “expert” like information populating Certifications, Trainings, Publications and Awards.
Activity in groups, that can range from liking and sharing articles, to commenting on and even contributing your own content, also builds credibility regarding your status as a subject matter expert.
#4 What Say Others?
LinkedIn’s Recommendation and Skills sections offer readers the opportunity to get a sense for what others think about you.
Although both require a bit of legwork from you, skill endorsements require less work on the part of the contributor and thus may be easier to obtain.
Recommendations from peers, managers and direct reports speak volumes about your ability to lead, execute and work well with others, while Endorsements allow these same people the opportunity to concur with you that you possess sills in a particular area.
Give them the Answers they Seek
It all boils down to this. The easier the answers are to find, the greater your chances of being considered for a role. Why not make it easy and populate your LinkedIn to the fullest?