LinkedIn is a useful, often overlooked tool in searching for a new job. Though a social network, it isn’t Facebook; growing a system of professional connections is a good way to reach out to those who can assist in finding jobs.
As LinkedIn is a tool for finding employment, more care should be taken when setting up a profile in hopes of getting the attention of a recruiter.
The Headline
When choosing a proper headline for a LinkedIn profile, a potential employee needs to take into consideration an accurate description of who they are. A headline is the first thing to grab the attention of the reader, making or breaking the candidate. Some tips are:
- Don’t feel obligated to use your current job title as a headline. For example, a generic title such as “community manager” does not say as much as “commercial real-estate management professional.” Think outside the box and you may grab more attention.
- Avoid using the word “former” or anything else that hints at current unemployment.
Read More: Benefits of Working with an Employment Recruiter
Activity
Maintaining an up to date profile is important and keeps the candidate active. However, a candidate should be cautioned that too much activity in short periods can tell an employer that the candidate does not make good use of his or her time.
- Start slowly, especially if a profile has not been updated in a while.
- Make use of other people’s suggestions and send out some link requests every few days.
- Candidates should complete the summery and make a clear, brief representation of who they are.
The best way for a candidate to make use of a LinkedIn profile is to fill everything out completely and maintain a current, professional picture and a grabbing headline.
Call Qualstaff Resources for more information on proper candidate representation and how to get the most out of employee recruitment!