LinkedIn is the most popular professional network in the world, with – at the time of writing – 875million users globally. As well as helping you to build a professional network, LinkedIn UK is also a great tool for finding jobs, developing your career and enhancing your online presence. It’s the place to be for job seekers!
But how can you use LinkedIn UK to your best advantage? There’s plenty that you can be doing to optimise your online profile – here are some top tips from CV Shed.
Build your LinkedIn profile
First things first! You’ll need to get your profile up to scratch if you want to make the most of this platform. It’s quite self-explanatory, but here are some important tips that you should bear in mind:
- Add a profile photo. They’re not advised on CVs, but
LinkedIn itself advises that profiles with photos get 21 times more views and 9 times more connection requests. Make sure that your photo is a headshot, with professional attire and a plain background.
- Fill in as much of the profile as possible. That means, at the very least, adding an engaging About section, a complete Experience section (including an overview of your role and associated
achievements), a concise Qualifications section and a comprehensive Skills section.
- Change your headline and URL. LinkedIn will automatically set your headline to your current job title and your URL to a random sequence of numbers. Attract more views by changing them to something more memorable. Examples could include what you do, the industry you work in, how you add value, what drives you, who you help, and so on.
Get networking
Next up, you need to start building your network. You can begin with current colleagues, then add former colleagues, managers, suppliers, clients, out-of-work contacts… the list is endless. You can also connect with people you don’t know – etiquette suggests that you add a personal note to your connection request in that case, explaining why you want to connect. This is a great way to extend your network of professionals in your industry. Continue adding to your network throughout your career. Contacts are invaluable when you’re job hunting!
Follow companies and individuals
Most companies have a profile page on LinkedIn. Follow leading businesses in your industry, as well as companies you’d like to work for. That way, you’ll see their posts and be fully informed of news and developments both in your industry and in companies of interest. When interview time comes round, you’ll be ahead of the game. You can also follow individuals, from giants such as Bill Gates and Barack Obama to random people posting on topics you’re interested in. Why not
give CV Shed a follow!
Join groups
Whatever you do, LinkedIn has a group for that. They’re great places for meeting like-minded professionals, staying abreast of industry developments and getting – and offering – support.
Engage
LinkedIn UK is a social network, so get engaging! Liking, commenting on and sharing posts will boost your visibility. Even better, write your own posts and engage with the comments. These activities will help you to remain at the forefront of people’s minds, so that when they hear of an opportunity that might suit you, you’ll be the first to know. With well-considered posts and comments, you can also position yourself as an expert in your area.
Look for jobs on LinkedIn UK
LinkedIn is a job board in its own right, so you can use the search functions to find roles that may be of interest. You can even set alerts, so that you’re informed of roles that meet your search criteria as soon as they’re posted. It’s often possible to apply directly through LinkedIn, but if you can find the role advertised on the employer’s website you should apply directly – it gives you the chance to tailor the application to the specific role. If your profile is well optimised (add keywords throughout – especially in the
Skills section), you may even find yourself being approached by recruiters without having to lift a finger!
Move your career forward
With up to
85% of jobs being filled through some form of networking, using LinkedIn UK is a smart career move. Best of all, it’s free (unless you want the really fancy option). Are you ready to start using LinkedIn to achieve your career goals? CV Shed knows how to write an optimised LinkedIn profile that showcases your experience, skills and achievements to get you noticed by recruiters.
Get in touch to give your profile the boost it needs!
