Linkedin has now become a reference in recruitment. So what to include in your profile when you are looking for a job and put all the chances on your side?
Over 90% of recruiters use Linkedin to search and evaluate candidates during the recruitment process. It’s impossible to ignore this social network, so you might as well maximize your visibility and shine in front of recruiters.
1. Your profile picture
Even before clicking on your profile, recruiters have access to two things: your profile picture and your professional status. So in order to make a good impression right from the start, focus on a professional profile picture: one color background (avoid backgrounds with symbols or other), professional outfit with a proper smile. No need to contact a professional photographer. Nowadays, you can take your own photo with a tripod or ask your friends and family for help. Avoid holiday photos, or poor quality photos.
2. Update your professional status
Do not neglect what is displayed below your photo, your headline. This is the first information that recruiters see when they consult your profile. These few words are of crucial importance, as it is very often thanks to your job title that recruiters will come to see your profile or not.
However, you don’t have to put the exact title of your current position, you can also put what you are looking for but also what makes you different: your area of specialization or your specific skills.
Another good way to get your profile noticed is to specify that you are actively seeking opportunities. For this, don’t hesitate to use the “Open to work” badge.
3. The url of your profile
Another important point that will make it easier for people to find you is the url of your public profile. By renaming it with your first and last name (and why not a keyword in your field of expertise) your profile will appear more easily in search engines.
To modify it, nothing could be simpler: access the editing interface of your profile by clicking on the url below your profile picture.
4. The cover photo
Often forgotten, the cover photo of your profile adds personality to your Linkedin profile. Choose an image that relates to your profession, but that also has the power to motivate you. Remember that this image has as much power as your profile picture, you just need to be careful about the relevance and quality of your image.
Extra Tip: In order to optimize the quality of your photo, make sure that your image is imported in JPEG, PNG or GIF format, the weight should not exceed 2 MB and the minimum size should be 646X220 pixels, but we recommend that you choose a size of 1400 X 425 pixels.
5. Use the correct keywords
As a recruiter, when sourcing on Linkedin, we use the Linkedin search engine with keywords. Some of these keywords can be related to skills as well as to job titles. You should therefore place them in different categories of your profile to optimize the referencing.
But be careful not to add anything and everything. Add keywords that really correspond to your field of qualification/expertise or to the position you are looking for, but also know which ones recruiters are looking for.
To do this you can:
- Pay attention to the lists of most wanted skills that Linkedin regularly publishes
- Study several job offers that interest you and pay attention to the keywords or terms that stand out the most.
- Don’t hesitate to visit the profiles of professionals in your field and look at the keywords they use in their summary, skills or headline
6. Get recommendations
Often skipped over, the part of the skills recommended by your colleagues or ex-colleagues is not to be neglected. The more your skills are recommended, the higher you will be in the search engines and therefore increase your chances of being seen by recruiters.
Unfortunately, these recommendations are not a reflex for everyone. So don’t hesitate to ask your colleagues, internship supervisor or former boss to do so on your profile.
7. If possible, highlight examples of your work.
It can’t be said often enough that the best information is the one with visual support. Linkedin allows you to upload examples of your work (be it links to your portfolio, videos, presentations or images) for each of your experiences. So don’t miss out, and upload the most relevant examples.
8. Describe your professional experience.
If you don’t want to, or can’t, put examples of your work forward. Don’t worry, focus on a relevant description of your professional experience.
When you list your previous experiences, make sure you describe the tasks or assignments you had to perform. It is not enough to put the title of the job you have held. A team manager does not have the same tasks in web design as in sales, for example.
In addition, incorporate bullets to make it easier for recruiters to browse your profile. Make sure it is clear and airy.
9. The introduction or summary
This part can be tricky, as it is a bit complicated to fill in, but it is very useful for finding a job. The important thing here is not to repeat the information you put in your experience but to highlight your expertise or what you are looking for.
Use this part to describe yourself, like a short biography:
- Explain your current situation
- Your ambitions and motivations
- What you are looking for
The aim here is to give recruiters a better idea of who you are before a first interview. If you wish, you can also attach a media (such as a video in which you present yourself), a link to your website or portfolio… Add a little something that will add value to your profile.
By taking care of each category of your profile and by activating the different levers available on Linkedin, you will very quickly notice the increase in your visibility and the interest you generate.
