If you’re a job seeker, you need to be on LinkedIn. With over 1 billion users, it is the largest professional social networking platform globally and THE social media network of choice for Recruiters and Employers.
Chances are, potential employers will Google your name before deciding whether or not to interview or offer you a job. And your LinkedIn profile will appear high in these searches.
Therefore, if your LinkedIn profile needs a refresh to attract your dream employer, or perhaps you are creating your LinkedIn profile from scratch, this blog post is for you. Don’t forget you can enhance your profile with our comprehensive LinkedIn profile builder and a month’s worth of post ideas, available for just £7. This step-by-step guide is designed to make your profile stand out and position you as an authority figure in your industry. Buy your copy here.
So, what is a LinkedIn profile?
According to LinkedIn, “Your LinkedIn profile is a professional landing page for you to manage your own personal brand. It’s a great way for you to tell people who you are and what you do by displaying a general history of your professional experiences and achievements.”
You can use your LinkedIn profile to add a more personal, informal touch than your CV might suggest. Remember, your LinkedIn profile should complement, not replace, your CV.
Why is a LinkedIn profile important?
Besides being the world’s largest professional social media platform, LinkedIn is also a job board and social network that Recruiters and Employers use to find potential candidates for their job vacancies. It is an excellent way to be approached about your ideal job vacancy rather than constantly job hunting.
Therefore, if you want a new job, you can’t afford not to be on LinkedIn. Through the platform, your dream role can (literally) fall into your lap (or LinkedIn inbox, to be precise).
So, we’ve established why you need to be on LinkedIn. Now, let’s talk about how to write this puppy so you stand out to your dream employer from the other 1 billion people already there.
How do I write a LinkedIn profile to attract my dream employer?
1) Choose a good profile picture. It doesn’t need to have been taken by a professional photographer, but this is not Instagram. You should choose one where you look smart and professional, and where you are smiling directly at the camera. Don’t use a photograph of you from a night out. It should be a photo just of you – not you with a group of mates. Ask a friend to take one if you don’t have a good photo. Photos humanise your profile and are one of the first impressions a Recruiter will have of you. You can also add a banner image at the top of your profile with more details about who you are and what you do. You can download professional-looking, customisable templates from Canva and adapt them to suit your test and the image you want to portray.
2) Change the custom URL field. When you create your LinkedIn profile, the URL will look like this:
linkedin.com/pub/yourname/29/890/2b9/
But you can easily change it to look like this:
linkedin.com/in/your-name
Not only does this look more professional and show you an eye for detail, but it also makes you easier to find on LinkedIn.
So – how do you change your URL?
On your profile, click the text that says “contact info.” This will then take you to your public profile settings. In the top right-hand corner, click to edit your custom URL, and choose your first and last name if possible.
3) Write a standout headline. Your headline is the professional bio just under your name. Most people just write their job title. This is fine, but they are missing a trick by not utilising the opportunities this space offers. Your headline and profile picture are also the only information shown when you appear in a Recruiter’s search or comment on someone’s post. Therefore, it is a golden opportunity to attract your dream employer.
Include your key skills and strengths in your headline and highlight why you are a valuable employee. The key to a great LinkedIn profile is to compel the reader to keep scrolling down the page –and a headline is what encourages them to click on your profile in the first place.
Your headline is your first opportunity to hook them, encourage them to click on your profile, and keep reading. Speak directly to your dream employer; be specific, concise and creative. And don’t forget to use keywords to optimise your chances of being found in searches.
4) Moving on to keywords, recruiters and employers use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates using keywords. Therefore, for the right people to find your profile—i.e., those recruiting for your dream job—you must ensure your profile contains relevant keywords.
Look at some job adverts for roles you are interested in to decide which keywords to use. What words are used the most frequently? Now, put these exact words and phrases into your profile, avoiding using jargon or internal language.
5) We have now reached your About section. This is a great opportunity to summarise your key skills and experience further.
Who are you? What makes you tick? What have been your key achievements to date? Use the STAR technique to help you write about these. I refer to the STAR technique in my How to Write a Great CV in SIX Easy Steps blog if you need a refresher. The STAR technique requires you to refer to a challenging Situation, elaborate on the Task you undertook to overcome the challenge, what you Achieved and the Result.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work (remember, people want to work with people), and what are your career aspirations?
Write this section in the first person—remember that you’re a person who wants to connect with another human being.
If you are openly looking for work, you can end this section with a call to action, such as ‘Send me a DM (direct message) if you want to learn more about my experience and how I can help your business thrive.’
6) Use your featured section to highlight any articles you have written, webinars or professional videos you have created, popular posts, etc. Again, this is a great way to help you stand out in a crowded job-seeking market.
7) Now, it’s time to add your experience, like you would in a CV. Include your employer’s name, job title, and dates worked. Underneath each role, highlight your key skills and strengths. If you need a refresher on writing a good CV, read my blog post – How to Write a Great CV in SIX Easy Steps. The aim here is to highlight your accomplishments and responsibilities engagingly, demonstrating what you did, how well you did it and what effect it had. Don’t forget the keywords!
You also add your education details and any additional training you might have done to this section.
8) The finishing touches – to give your profile the extra wow factor, ask some current and ex-colleagues and clients for recommendations. Adding relevant recommendations to your profile shows potential employers that other professionals are willing to vouch for you in a public forum. They get a reference before they even meet you, making a massive difference in the success of your job search. How cool is that?!?
You can also add and ask others to endorse you for your skills and industry knowledge—again, this makes your profile more searchable and improves your likelihood of being found by the right people.
Finally, if you are openly seeking work, don’t forget to add the ‘open to work’ green banner that wraps around your profile picture. This banner tells potential employers that you are actively seeking work and increases your chances of being approached for new roles.
Get ready to land your dream interview.
So – there you have it – eight easy steps to create a wow LinkedIn profile that Recruiters will LOVE. Following these tips will help you get found in recruiters’ searches and increase your chances of being invited to interviews for your dream job. Don’t forget to purchase our step-by-step LinkedIn profile builder, personal branding strategy and a month’s worth of posting ideas to accompany this guide here.
Once you land those interviews, don’t forget to read my blog post – How to prepare for an interview and land your dream job, so you have the best chance of impressing your interviewer.
Mastering the art of a compelling LinkedIn profile can be the key to unlocking new career opportunities. If you’re ready to elevate your online presence, our LinkedIn Level-Up service is designed to give you that competitive edge. We’ll transform your profile from a simple resume to a dynamic career story that attracts the right connections and opportunities. With our personalised approach, you’ll learn how to showcase your skills and achievements in a way that resonates with your industry’s leaders. Take the first step towards a standout LinkedIn presence by checking out our LinkedIn Level-Up service today.
Blog Summary:
Why LinkedIn? LinkedIn has over 1 billion users and is a crucial social media platform for professional networking and job opportunities. Unlike other social media platforms, only 1% of LinkedIn users post content, offering you a unique chance to stand out by actively engaging, posting and sharing your insights.
Optimise Your Profile: Start with a professional photo and a custom URL to make your profile more accessible and appealing to potential connections, Hiring Managers and Recruiters. Your headline and about section should succinctly highlight your skills, experience, and what makes you unique, using keywords relevant to your industry to improve your odds of being found in recruiters’ searches.
Highlight Your Achievements: Utilise the featured section to showcase your professional accomplishments, articles, and projects. This not only enhances your profile but also provides tangible examples of your expertise and interests.
Build and Engage Your Network: Connect with industry leaders, potential employers, and colleagues, and interact with their content. This increases your visibility and demonstrates your active involvement in your professional community. Sharing your own experiences, insights, and achievements helps establish you as a thought leader in your industry and your personal brand, and can attract opportunities directly to your inbox.