Do You Need a LinkedIn Profile?

As social media becomes more of an essential tool for your job search, you may be asking yourself, how important is it to have a presence on social media platforms? Employers are using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn as a means to recruit, generate candidate leads and simply gather information about an individual.

If in the midst of a job search, career change or gearing up to make a transition in the next several months or year, having a LinkedIn profile will amplify and enhance your chances of being seen by an employer.

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with more than 610 million users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Founded in 2003, it is widely considered the benchmark for professional networking social media platforms.

Even if you do not spend a lot of time on LinkedIn, or any time at all, it is still worth taking 30 minutes or so to set up a LinkedIn profile. Having a LinkedIn profile is a great way to network and connect with hiring managers and recruiters who use LinkedIn to search for candidates. You will not come up during searches if you do not have a presence on the site. Having a LinkedIn account also means that you can use the site to research companies, employees, interviewers, recruiters and hiring managers. This can be extremely helpful before submitting applications and attending interviews. 

If you are not actively searching for employment, you can use LinkedIn to connect with current and former coworkers. You can also link to people you meet at networking events, conferences, coffee shops, etc. To engage even more with the site you can join LinkedIn Groups.

Other ways to use LinkedIn:

LinkedIn has become a lot more than a social networking and job-searching site. It has many types of industry news that you can follow. Staying on top of industry trends and news is critical to building upon your expertise. It can also expand the respect and trust your connections have for you.

You can also follow famous influencers like Richard Branson and Melinda Gates. Many successful people write articles on LinkedIn and you can follow them and even comment or discuss their posts. The motivation and tips you will find here can be extremely valuable.

LinkedIn Profile Tips:

It is up to you how much time and information you include on your LinkedIn profile. You can spend as little as 30 minutes and upwards to a few hours perfecting it. Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating a profile:

1. Spend time to make it great. The more complete your profile, the better the odds that recruiters will find you. Once they do find you, it is essential that they are able to click on your profile and see your professional summary, work history, skills and endorsements.

2. Create a Custom URL. LinkedIn allows you to customize your profile URL so that it is easier to share with others. Copying and pasting the URL that shows in the address bar of your webpage will create a URL that has an assortment of numbers and symbols after your name. This can be confusing, frustrating and messy looking if you are sending someone the link or including it on your resume.

To customize your URL, click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. Click View profile. On your profile page, click Edit public profile & URL on the right rail. Under Edit URL in the right rail, click the Edit icon next to your public profile URL. It'll be an address that looks like www.linkedin.com/in/yourname. Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box. Click Save. It is recommended that you simply utilize your first and last name (and middle initial or one number after your name if the name is already taken).

3. Choose a great photo. Use a clear, friendly and appropriately professional image. Not sure what that means? Look at colleagues and other people in your industry for some inspiration. Make sure the photo is you, and you only.Usinggroups, family pictures and animals do not work well. If someone is clicking on your profile, you want to make sure they are seeing only you.

4. Write a great headline. LinkedIn automatically makes your headline your current job title and employer; however, you should enliven it up a bit to be eye-catching. No matter what your LinkedIn goals are, standing out is a good thing. Create a headline that communicates your expertise, field and why you are special/your personal brand.

5. Use the summary space. Many people leave it blank and simply list their experience. Your LinkedIn summary will likely be the most read section of your profile. The summary receives the most prominent position on the screen in LinkedIn, so it is the best place to tell your story.

6. Treat your profile like your resume. Both are a great place to highlight your best accomplishments and achievements. Make sure your experience section describes what you did, how well you did it and who it impacted.

With LinkedIn evolving into one of the most important resources for professionals, you want to make sure you are represented well on their platform. Whether you utilize LinkedIn for your job search, business opportunities, connecting with customers and employers or to acquire professional development in your industry, LinkedIn is a great source to accomplish your goals.