Optimize LinkedIn Profile For Hiring | 7 Tips By Provisions Group

95% of recruiters are on LinkedIn looking for candidates. Regarding job hunting, LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools you can use. LinkedIn is a professional networking site with over 800 million users and a great way to connect with potential employers. However, simply having a LinkedIn profile is not enough. To stand out from the competition, you need to have a great profile that catches the eye of potential employers. Here are seven tips to help you spice up your LinkedIn profile and set yourself apart from the crowd: 

1. Use a professional-looking photo 

Your profile picture is likely the first thing a recruiter will notice when looking at your LinkedIn. LinkedIn users with a profile photo receive 21 times more profile views and nine times more connection requests than those without! So, what does it mean to have a "professional" profile picture? We all know that when going to an interview, dressing your best shows your potential employer that you care about your appearance and that you're serious about the role. In the same way, taking a little extra time to curate the perfect profile picture shows recruiters and potential employers that you go the extra mile and that you mean business. LinkedIn is a form of social networking; how do you want to be perceived? Make a great first impression with a well-dressed and professional photo.  

2. Create a catchy headline 

Your LinkedIn profile headline is one of the first things people see when they visit your profile. A catchy headline will grab people's attention and make them want to learn more about you. You only have a limited amount of space to make a good impression, so making the most of it is essential. 

Here are a few tips for creating a catchy headline for your LinkedIn profile: 

• Use keywords that describe your skills and experience 
• Keep it short and to the point 
• Use clear, concise language 
• Use first-person pronouns (I, me, my) 
• Use active verbs (e.g. "managed," "created," "led") 
• Use numbers and statistics to highlight your achievements 
• Avoid empty words and clichés 

3. Use keywords 

If you want to be found in LinkedIn searches, you must use keywords in your profile. By including keywords that describe your skills and experience, you can ensure that you appear in search results when people are looking for someone with your expertise.

To choose the right keywords, start by thinking about the terms people would use to search for someone with your skills. Then, include those keywords in your profile in a way that sounds natural and is relevant to your experience. For example, if you're a marketing professional, you might include keywords like "branding," "social media," and "SEO." 

Once you've added keywords to your profile, take a moment to check your search results to see how you rank. If you're not appearing as high as you'd like, consider adding more keywords or rearranging the ones you have 

4. Highlight your skills 

Employers and recruiters look at countless profiles when searching for candidates, so your skills must be highlighted to set yourself apart. To make sure your profile stands out, you need to know how to highlight your skills on LinkedIn.  

You'll want to present your "hard skills" and "soft skills" on your profile. Feature skills that align with the kind of position you are looking for. For example, if you are searching for a role in marketing, you may want to highlight "hard skills" such as Facebook Advertising or Google Analytics to showcase your knowledge. Make sure to keep your skillset focused on fitting your expertise, don't just throw extra ones in because you think it might look better.  

5. Demonstrate your experience 

Make it clear that you are an expert in the field (or in a particular aspect of the area) that you are looking for a position. You want a recruiter or potential employer to see what you bring to the table and know that you are the best fit for the role.  

• List any relevant professional development or certifications you have attained since joining LinkedIn. Describe your experience, including project highlights, project samples, and links to examples of past work/portfolios. 
• Add multimedia to your profile, such as videos, infographics, or presentations that showcase your work. 

These details are the little things that can differentiate your profile from any other candidate's.  

6. Showcase your results 

So you've listed out your experience, and now it's a great time to showcase your results. You can talk about your accomplishments all day, but numbers, data, and visuals make it unmistakable and impossible to miss on your profile! Using industry metrics to highlight the results you've achieved in your past positions is a great way to prove that you are an expert in your field/niche.  

7. Create a Custom URL 

Did you know that you can customize your LinkedIn URL to make it easier to share and be found? This can be done in three simple steps:  

• Click on your profile 
• Click "edit profile." 
• Directly below your photo, click "edit." 

When making your custom URL, keep it consistent with other platforms or emails you will be using for your brand! 

If you're looking for a new job, your LinkedIn profile is a great place to highlight the skills and experience that make you the perfect candidate. This will help ensure that your profile comes up in searches. Highlight specific skills and accomplishments rather than general statements. Provide evidence of what you can do and what impact you've made in past roles, and stand out from the crowd with these tips from Provisions Group! If you're looking for a career change, we have new positions posted daily!