By Dan Simmons
Linked in may be the most effective way to network to find a great job today. You can search and apply for jobs, network with people in your profession or industry who can refer you to career opportunities, reach out to recruiters in your field and brand yourself online. We’ve explored the ways not to get a job based on how you decide to “brand” yourself online. Now, it’s time to get down to business, get your resume prepared, and establish a credible identity online with a great network of connections.
Seven steps to create a great online profile.
Make Your Profile Public
- If you don’t do this, employers can’t search for you, therefore you can’t be found. Make sure to have a clean, custom URL – using your first and last name is an easy, clear way to make your LinkedIn profile yours.
Say Cheese
- Including a professional headshot is a simple way to put a face to a name. No inappropriate (non-interview ready) photos should be posted here. If in doubt, don’t post it. No photo is better than a non-professional one.
Skills – define them
- This is a new feature on LinkedIn. This is like keyword utopia for search engines. List your greatest strengths and skills and you’re bound to pop up in more employer searches and valued connections. Example: If you specialize in XXXXXX, then list it as XXXXXX.
Your Headline
- This is like an excerpt for a book. It captures your attention and makes you want to read more. Do the same for your profile. It should establish some key things: what your do (job title), what you would like to do (Future….), and what you’re doing. Example: Recent Animal Science Grad with MS seeking full-time position in dairy or beef industry.
Keep Your Status Active
- Link Twitter to your account so that everything you post is added to LinkedIn. Stay consistent in when you post and what you post about. It shows what you do all day and what you interests are. Posting links to the latest YouTube video on “planking” is not one of those items.
Search for Recommendations
- Connect with professors, co-workers and previous supervisors and ask them to recommend you. Those recommendations will enhance your profile and make it more complete. Recommendations are gems in the working world. A credible recommendation from a past supervisor, co-worker or team leader should be a priority! These will end up being part of the reference work that an employer or recruiter will conduct.
Complete Your Resume
- No one likes leaving a task half done. Not having a completed resume is like ending your job search instantly. If you need help writing your resume, check out these helpful articles:
What Nobody is Telling You: The Resume.
Everyone wants to be successful in his or her job search. You don’t want to go home empty-handed. This article by Career Hub Blog highlights some simple Do’s and Do Not’s when it comes to your LinkedIn profile. Follow these recommendations along with the above mentioned and you’re on your way to becoming the next noteworthy candidate online.
Final tip – being connected to people with large networks help you search and be found. To expand your network quickly, invite me to connect with you. My 10,000 first level connections will instantly expand your network. My profile is http://www.linkedin.com/in/dansimmons
Daniel C. Simmons is a Certified Personnel Consultant who has been recruiting since 1991. Dan has won over twenty awards in the last decade with the Top Echelon Network, America’s leading placement network including Placer of the Year in 2009 & 2010.
Frequently Dan also is a recruiter trainer and has been featured at various Top Echelon Conventions and online as a speaker for various webinars. He has also been published in The Fordyce Letter the recruiting industry’s #1 magazine.
Are You Looking For a Job? Contact Dan Today!
