Think of LinkedIn as your online resume. Just as you should always keep an updated resume you must ensure that your LinkedIn is always up-to-date. Don’t wait till you’re looking for a job to update your LinkedIn, rather do your best to maintain monthly. This doesn’t have to be a long process but 15-30 mins a month to ensure the information you’re displaying about your professional-self is accurate.
Here’s what your focus should be on:
- Current position
- Job description (detailed)
- Certifications skills
- Endorsements
Recruiters are constantly looking for candidates on LinkedIn
If you are searching for a job or looking to transition out of a job and your LinkedIn is not updated you’re making your life harder than it needs to be. LinkedIn is a primary source for recruiters to find potential candidates. Outside of just finding candidates 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn to vet candidates. So if you’ve applied for a job it’s very likely that either the recruiter or hiring manager will be checking out your LinkedIn account.
Job offers can help you advance your current positions
Even if you are not looking for a job there are still be benefits to having recruiters reach out to you.
- Salary negotiations
- Professional worth
- Networking
New job offers can help you realize your worth. Often when in a position for a while you begin to stop evaluating your position and compensation. New offers help you know if you are being overpaid or underpaid. If you’re underpaid these job offers can help you negotiate your salary or position with your manager.
Maintaining your networks
As you get deeper into your career you may not talk to all your college associates and old work colleagues. A way to keep yourself relevant is posting or liking articles on LinkedIn that are relevant to your field. This positions you as an industry expert and reminds your networks that you are still around in case an opportunity arises.
Employee Referrals
Employee referrals are still the greatest channels recruiters rely on to hire employees. That being said, all jobs are not always posted online. There are often positions available at a company and often these positions are filled by word of mouth. The conversations usually go like this. “You’re looking for a marketing manager? I have a friend or network that does this and would be a good fit for the position”. Therefore, having an updated LinkedIn informs your networks of your skills and qualifications.
Having your LinkedIn updated is valuable in this instance because when someone has an opening at their company and see your LinkedIn displays skills necessary to succeed in this position they are more likely to refer you for the position or let the recruiter know to reach out to you.
Don’t miss out on the many benefits that LinkedIn provides. Listed above are only 4, but there are many more. Take a moment today to review and update your LinkedIn, because your next opportunities could be waiting for you.
