Get Noticed for your Dream Job on LinkedIn

By – Molly (Sollenberger) Zizzi – Client Relations Specialist at JFC Global

By now, everyone knows a professional photograph is one of the key elements to creating a better LinkedIn profile. In fact, LinkedIn research shows that simply by adding a picture, your profile is 14 times more likely to be viewed by others.

… but don’t stop there!

Recruiters, headhunters, and sourcers don’t find fitting candidates by searching an image. We take a much more targeted approach.

Here are several tips to help you create a well-rounded profile sourcing specialists will uncover for positions in line with your career goals and interests:

1)      Optimize Keywords:  This is a critical component I will emphasize throughout each of the following suggestions. Words are so important on a LinkedIn profile since that’s what recruiters search on. Determine the keywords that are most important to you and include them in several areas of your profile (Title, Summary, Work History etc.). If you need help finding precise keywords for your intended career direction, do some research on job descriptions or other LinkedIn profiles that line up with your interests and find words relevant to your background. For instance, if you’re a Programmer, you may also want to add Software Developer and Application Developer to your profile followed by a more robust explanation of your specialization in your current job description.

2)      Create a Catchy Headline: The Headline in your profile summarizes your expertise in five words or less. It should be eye catching, but also include keywords. It can even go as far as showing a bit of your personality. JFC Global’s Operations Specialist, Bethany Frymark, helps us run a smooth ship and be productive with our time. Her Headline is “Productivity Specialist | Trainer Extraordinaire.” Your headline can simply be your current job title if your title is relevant to how you want to come across professionally, but don’t let your current title stifle your creativity. If it’s time for an update, think outside the box and find other profile headlines that draw your attention to brainstorm new ideas for your own.

3)      Add a Summary:  The Summary in your About section is an opportunity to express what drives you and share what you envision for your career in the future. You should include any details about your past and current experience you take pride in, which undoubtedly includes important keywords. Moreover, listing any specialties, certifications, awards, and achievements is an easy way to add keyword content to this section. While your contact information can be found in other areas of your profile, it’s helpful to have it listed at the bottom of your summary so we can contact you immediately after you captivate us with your story!

4)      Fill In Your Work Experience: In this area, you want to include any experience relevant to your dream job. Job titles and descriptions should include any keywords you deem significant, and all former employers should be connected to their company account. Recruiters pay close attention to former employers; it may even give them more confidence in your background based on what they know of the company.

5)     Make sure your Location is Correct: Recruiters search on location. If one of your goals is to shorten your commute, be sure your current residential location is in your Introduction (directly under your headline), not your area of employment. For example, if you work in Lancaster and live in Harrisburg, you likely want your Introduction to say, “Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.”

6)     Add Relevant Skills & Endorsements: Allow others to promote and highlight your most important keywords by adding them to your Skills and Endorsements section.

7)     Participate in Social Engagement: This article wouldn’t be complete without adding a suggestion to socially engage with other professionals on LinkedIn. Recruiters have become very creative and adept at finding hidden talent on this platform, but when you participate in group discussions, comment on articles, like posts and interact, you bring yourself closer to the surface. Recruiters will be able to identify more about you and contact you for jobs that are more in line with your skill set and interests (since we all know that doesn’t always happen).

As you can see, keywords are vital and one of the main tactics recruiters employ to uncover fitting talent for job openings. It’s important you come across with personality, having your keywords flow naturally throughout your profile. Once you’re found by a recruiter, including other information on your profile such as volunteer work and community involvement are helpful to find relatable connections and break the ice.

One of the best suggestions given to me as a young professional was to look at various profiles on LinkedIn of people who I look up to and admire; people who are where you want to be several years from now. Use their profile as a template, make it your own using these suggestions and one of our recruiters will be contacting you soon ; )