How to create the perfect LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn

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LinkedIn plays a very important role in recruitment regardless of whether you’re a client or a candidate.

Recruiters are increasingly using the site like a job board so if you’re a candidate, having a great profile hugely increases your chances of getting approached by agencies and even directly by companies.

Recruiters often forget that just as they are very likely to search for a potential new employee on social media before they hire them, candidates are just as likely to search for you. They want to know who you are, what you would be like to work for an if you’re credible. Believe it or not, having no profile or limited information on there could put a candidate off working for you.

LinkedIn has well and truly built itself up as one of the top online marketplaces for both job seekers and candidates. Their latest job statistics are not only impressive, they highlight just how important it is to have a comprehensive and up-to-date profile.

  • There are currently 450 million users on LinkedIn
  • There are 6.5 million active job listings on LinkedIn
  • You are 18 times more likely to be found in searches if you keep your positions updated
  • A whopping 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to vet candidates
  • Adding a professional photo to your profile makes you 14 times more likely to be found and 36 times more likely to receive a message on LinkedIn
  • On average, people who list their skills on their profile get 13 times more views than those who don’t

How to create the perfect LinkedIn profile

It’s well worth spending some time perfecting your profile but if you’re not sure where to start, below are some great tips.

  • Use a current and professional photo. Do not use a photo of yourself our drinking, this is hugely off-putting to recruiters.
  • Write a short description about yourself. Keep it short and to-the-point because people won’t read large amounts of text. Also ensure that you’re using relevant keywords because this is what will make your profile show up in searches.
  • Add any previous experience you have. 68.6% of LinkedIn users reconnect with past business associates and these people can be great contacts.
  • Customise your profile URL.
  • Provide all the contact information people could possibly need such as your email address and phone number.
  • Make sure your profile is set to public. If you have it on private, nobody will be able to see it.
  • Try to get endorsements and recommendations. They look great and add credibility to your profile. People are unlikely to write recommendations off their own back so ask colleagues past and present if they wouldn’t mind writing one for you. Offer to write one for other people as well because they’re more likely to help if you do something for them as well.
  • 66% of companies hire based on experience so ensure you add any projects you’ve worked on and keep this updated.
  • Joining and participating in LinkedIn groups is a great way to get your name out there. If you’re posting helpful and credible information, the right people will want to connect with you and when they have a vacancy, there’s every possibility they will remember you.

If you would like help finding your next finance role or are a client looking for quality candidates, please feel free to contact Choralis Consulting and we will be more than happy to help.

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