LinkedIn is more powerful than you think. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not another place for your resume. Optimizing your profile will allow you to tap into the real power of LinkedIn. It will set you apart and allow you to attract opportunities.
No matter where you are in the job search process, you can 100% use LinkedIn to make your dream tech job a reality.
Wait, but do you need a LinkedIn profile?
The short answer is: YES!
LinkedIn is more than a resume. it’s where the big tech companies hang out. It’s where 94% of tech recruiters search for talent on a daily basis. Most importantly – it’s the perfect place for you to stand out from the increasing competition.
How?
By showcasing your experience, expertise, and value. Think of your LinkedIn profile as your presentation card on steroids. Your profile advocates for you day and night.
In this article, I will share with you 3 ways you can set up your profile for success.
1. Use Keywords in the Headline and Experience Section
LinkedIn is a search engine for career opportunities. It means that a great first strategy for you is to have keywords in your headline and experience section. So when recruiters make a search, they will be able to find you.
Keywords in the headline section.
The headline section of LinkedIn is your 15-second elevator pitch.
The keywords you include must match your target role. The more specific you can get about your role and its keywords, the faster recruiters find you.
Don’t make the mistake of saying “Looking for a job” or “Searching opportunities in tech”. There are other actions you can take to put that point across. But remember, no recruiter is using “looking for a job” to search for candidates. They are looking for specific keywords.
Optimize the experience section.
The experience section is where most job-seekers fall short. Listing company names and titles can only get you so far. So start including the responsibilities you had in each of your previous work.
You can use bullets to display your experience and make it easy to read. Make sure you include work experience that is transferable to the role you want. Leave out anything not related.
2. Tell Your Story in the About Section
Humans hire other humans. Like any other social media, the human factor on your profile is key to creating a connection. The “about” section is a great place to stand out from similar profiles and connect with your readers.
Here are the best practices for your about section:
- Instead of a boring work summary, talk more about yourself.
- Write about the work you enjoy
- If you’re making a career transition, talk about your interests.
- Make it short, sweet, and personable.
- Have a call to action at the end.
Here’s an example of what an effective about section look like (feel free to use as a template):
3. Share Your Expertise With Others
Whether you know it or not, you’re already an expert.
You might be an expert in the industry you’re currently in or about a topic you’re passionate about. Being an expert means you know your stuff. People at work come to ask you specific questions. You’re one or many steps ahead of most people in this specific topic.
So, how can you use your existing knowledge about a topic or your industry to attract a job?
Writing posts on LinkedIn.
Your post doesn’t have to be entire dissertations about a topic. It can be your opinion about an article you read or a passion project you have. The main idea behind writing is that posts on LinkedIn as hooks. The algorithm shows your posts to more people outside of your network.
This is a great way to attract more recruiters and fellow techies to your profile. Here’s an example of a post that got me thousands of views and hundreds of quality connections.
Last but Not Least
LinkedIn is an amazing tool at your disposal to land your dream job in tech. It’s the place where recruiters and hiring managers hunt for talent. By following these three simple steps you will help them find you.
See you in the next post!