LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site where millions of professionals connect. This platform provides the largest opportunity to market yourself and expand your personal network. Your LinkedIn profile provides a visible, online resume that your contacts, including potential employers, can view. This is perhaps the most obvious job hunting site for the professionals. Here are some LinkedIn tips and tricks to search your most anticipated job this year.
1. Customize URL
The address of your LinkedIn account which is known as URL (uniform resource locator) is important for you to be found in the network of LinkedIn. Making a little customization in it can bring you to the top of google search. It will be easy for the employers to find you, if you make the right customization. Click on the drop down menu which is on the side of of the rectangular ‘edit’ button and then click on public profile settings. There you’ll find a bar that says ‘Your public profile URL’. Click on the blue phrase underneath the bar saying ‘customize your public profile URL’. If your name is uncommon than you can plug in your first and last name. in case your name matches with someone else, try your last name first and your first name to follow it.
2. More Than a Just a Paper Resume
Try to make your LinkedIn profile a different one. Try your level best stand apart from your competitors. Avoid using general words that we like to use in our paper resume. Try to avoid using words like ‘responsible’, ‘strategic’, effective etc. These are the most used words in LinkedIn, according to LinkedIn’s annual list of most overused words. Be creative. Think of making a difference. Treat your LinkedIn profile more than just a paper resume.
3. Describe Yourself
Express yourself briefly and effectively in the summary. Try to give it a shot within 300 words. Tell a persuasive story about yourself. It should be a convincing one. Try to use key words about your expected job sector. Furnish this section with exquisite and interesting facts about yourself.
4. Carefully List Your Skills
In the tab below experience and education, you will find ‘skills and expertise’. Give enough importance in this tab. It is the section that will tell the employers, what you are capable of. It will also make your connections to endorse you for your skills. So fill it up carefully and make it worth.
5. Experience Matters!
LinkedIn profile is sort of like your online resume. And just as like the paper resume, give importance to the experience section of your LinkedIn profile. Take time to list your experience and put them with enough care. Be specific about them. Write about the significant ad relevant job experience you have. You don’t need to exaggerate the information. Be true and practical while writing this section.
6. Dig up at Least Five Recommendations
Getting at least five useful recommendations in LinkedIn will be very helpful for you to get your dream job. These recommendations not only will help you to enrich your LinkedIn profile, but also they will be highlighted in the profiles of the people who recommended you. By this all of their connections can read about you. Recruiters may find you from these recommendations, they may read your career summary. Chances are in future they may also hire you directly from your LinkedIn profile. So give importance to get at least five vital and useful recommendation.
7. Connectify
Being connected is the most important thing in LinkedIn. It is the backbone of your LinkedIn activity. For instance, if you are interested to join a company and you have a mutual connection who is working in that company- you may ask your connection to connect you with that company. Choose your connections wisely. Make your connection with people working in the sector that you are interested in.
8. Do Some Research
LinkedIn can help you to prepare yourself for an interview in your dream company. It is true that no matter how hard you prepare yourself for the interview, you can never know what you will face in the interview board. But you can at least make yourself prepared for anything that you may face. You can get an entire overview about the company you are willing to work in. You can also know about the professionals whom you are about to face. You can find out their interest, skills, experience and many more information, which will obviously push you a way more ahead in the interview board. Therefore, do some research work before the final shot.
9. Build Your Network
Try to build a strong and communicative network through your LinkedIn profile. Use this profile to make successful and interactive connection with people. It is an unofficial rule that you need at least 50 connections to make your profile a successful one. On the other side the more active and successful connections you will have, the more you will start to appear in the search and sidebars. When you are about to request a connection with someone, try sending them a warm message. It will help you to build a strong relationship with people.
10. Look up in the Group Discussions
The ‘Group” feature’ in LinkedIn is a great one which helps you to connect and interact with various sorts of people, including the one who are working in your expected job sector. Try to carefully follow the group discussions. There you will find helpful insights and information about many things.