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Do You Have a Polished LinkedIn Profile?

19/12/2019

We always love to see a standout LinkedIn profile - after all, we are in the business of recruitment!

But LinkedIn isn't just for recruiters and jobseekers - it is becoming an increasingly important tool for employer branding too.

Have you ever considered that someone applying for a job at your company might scan your personal LinkedIn profile first? Your profile can give job seekers an impression of what the company culture is like and the people they might be working with.

So whether you're looking for a new role, looking to attract talent to your organisation, or simply keen to up your LinkedIn game, read through our LinkedIn profile tips and ask yourself - is your profile sending the right message?

Our Top LinkedIn Profile Tips

Do you have a professional profile photo?

No, it doesn't need to be from a professional 'photoshoot' but it does need to be recent and ensure you look well-presented, friendly and approachable. Like we talked about in this article, a pouty 'selfie' is not suitable, nor is a group shot hanging out with your friends having a few drinks. Use your common sense!

Do you have a cover image?

Cover images are an under-utilised employer branding opportunity. Why not create one with your company branding, for all team members to use?

If you don't have a branded image to use, try uploading an image or graphic of your own. We invite you to be creative, but keep it professional!

Are all of your details up to date?

Regardless of whether you're looking for a new job or not, it's always a good idea to keep your profile information up-to-date.

  • Does your professional headline reflect what you do and your expertise?
  • Is your current job linked to your company's LinkedIn page?
  • Is all of your employment history information up-to-date?
  • Are your skills still current?
  • Is your location still the same?
  • Are there more details you could add?

Take a few minutes to scroll through your LinkedIn profile from top to bottom and complete any missing or out-of-date details.

And on that note, have you written a summary?

Your summary is a great opportunity to highlight your skills, expertise and experience. Our favourite summaries are concise (don't waffle, keep it relevant), easy to read and show a bit of personality. We want to get an idea of who you are.

An extra tip that can be helpful, particularly if you're looking for a job - include keywords in your summary . Recruiters (like us!) use LinkedIn to search for people with relevant skills and experience. Including certain search terms increases your chances of popping up in our search for talent. You never know, by including the right keywords, you might even be headhunted...

Is your LinkedIn profile URL personalised?

If you haven't already done this, head to your LinkedIn profile and click on 'Edit public profile & URL' up in the top right of your screen. This allows you to personalise your URL from a series of numbers to your name, for an extra professional touch.

Are you connecting on LinkedIn?

When was the last time you made a new connection on LinkedIn? LinkedIn is one of the easiest and most effective ways to stay connected in your professional networks.

Try searching for people you work with (e.g. clients, suppliers, partners) as well as people you know from previous roles or school/university. Make sure you're connected with all of your colleagues, too.

LinkedIn also has a 'people you may know' feature that is useful to scroll through from time to time. You never know who might pop up that you could connect with.

On the same wavelength as connecting with individuals, make an effort to join relevant groups on LinkedIn and follow company pages that you're interested in, too. You'll then see their content pop up in your newsfeed and can easily engage with it.

Are you posting and engaging on LinkedIn?

Are you taking a few moments each week to post and engage with content on LinkedIn? The more you and your team create and join conversations on LinkedIn, the bigger the opportunity for your company's employer brand and LinkedIn presence to grow.

If you're a jobseeker, engaging more (i.e. liking, commenting, sharing posts) is a great way to become more visible to companies you potentially might like to work with (and people from those companies).

Increasing the frequency of your posting on LinkedIn is a great way to establish yourself as a thought leader and increase your company's online presence.

Just remember when you're posting on LinkedIn that you're talking to a community of professionals. This isn't the place to post about what you had for dinner, or how cute your new puppy is (though we're are sure it is very cute). Keep your posts relevant, professional and work-appropriate.

When did you last ask for a recommendation?

Recommendations can be really helpful, especially if you're looking for a new job. They help to show that your skills and experience are genuine and that you're a nice person to work with!

Likewise, if someone is researching your company as a place to work, if they can see you have great recommendations as a manager, they'll feel more positive and confident about accepting a role there.

It can take time to build up recommendations, so even if you aren't currently looking for a new job, the best time to start reaching out to people to ask for a recommendation is now.

When you receive a recommendation? Don't forget to personally thank the person, and remember it is polite to write them a recommendation in return.

Now it's time to implement these LinkedIn profile tips...

Why not carve out 5 or 10 minutes today to start polishing your LinkedIn profile? And while you're there, why not head over to Intepeople on LinkedIn and follow our company page.

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