Trust and credibility are two qualities that assist job searchers find their next big break.
Credibility, like trust, can be created in a variety of ways. In most aspects of our life, trust is earned through time as a result of our interactions with others. Your employer is likely to trust you if you have attempted to be a wonderful employee. You've probably boosted your credibility if you've kept your skill set up to date.
LinkedIn is a great platform/tool since it allows you to demonstrate your reputation and reliability as a possible employee.
Because the social networking platform has made it possible for you (and all professionals) to showcase your skills, connect with others, and encourage and promote one another, having a profile there is a must in my opinion.
Here's a real-life example of why this is so critical...
So I get regular emails from Noah Kagan (he's the CEO of Sumo Group, which provides advice and solutions to entrepreneurs and business people), and he recently stated in one of his emails that he is looking to hire engineers at his company.
That's exactly what he wrote at the bottom of the email:
"I'm looking for developers to work for AppSumo:
• Any engineer we employ — preferably a manager or senior — will receive a $10,000 referral bonus.
• Will provide a $50,000 referral bonus to the head or vice president of engineering.
To [email protected], please send me the LinkedIn URLs of all the engineers you know."
Here's the thing: I have no idea which job sites he may or may not publish this job on, but if an engineer wants to apply and doesn't have a LinkedIn (or one that isn't very good!), they are at a major disadvantage.
That being said... Are you prepared to join LinkedIn?
How to Create a LinkedIn Profile (the Fundamentals!)
How to Make a LinkedIn Profile and Build a Network:
1. Include a high-resolution headshot (and cover photo).
Show potential employers what they want to see: a polished version of yourself, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Wearing what you would for a job interview is exactly what you should for this photo. If you can't afford a professional photographer, acquire some diffused natural light (avoid direct sunshine because it casts harsh shadows on a person's face) and have a buddy shoot your picture using a high-resolution smartphone.
Your cover photo should reflect something professional about you. Perhaps you'll choose a photo of yourself at work or a project you've completed. This can be anything (a quote, a beautiful sunset, etc.), but the point of this profile is to get noticed by possible employers and develop professional contacts, so "show, don't tell" is a good rule to follow. The more your headshot and cover photo reflect your professional identity, the better.
Your "avatar" is made up of your headshot and cover photo. You want your avatar to be consistent throughout social media sites and in your personal email account if you want to have a strong online presence. [Most email providers allow you to upload a photo of yourself that is linked to your *email address; please, please, PLEASE replace this photo of your professional headshot! Change your Facebook profile photo to this occupation image (particularly if you're looking for a job because employers like to search up applicants online).]
*Hey, and while you're at it, if your email address doesn't include some variation of your name and/or initials, you should alter that as well!!
2. Create a professional "title" for yourself.
To be honest, the amount of "creativity" you put into this title should be determined by your industry and the type of job you're looking for. Some argue that you should use this statement to creatively convey why you do the work you do. Personally, I believe that being upfront and simply stating your professional work title is quite acceptable. You make the call!
3. Complete the About section.
Do you recall how I asked you to write an elevator pitch? (To assist you, here is a worksheet or a blog post.) You can talk about your work ethic and what drives and motivates you in your LinkedIn profile About section, which is like a combination of your elevator pitch and a little bio on "you" as a person.
Focus less on "what" you do professionally and more on "why" you do it if you want this part to be effective. Are you a nurse because you enjoy working with people and assisting them in regaining their health as quickly as possible? Did you pursue architecture because you believe that structures form the foundation of society and our ability to interact as humans?
WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO? TELL THE WORLD!
4. Fill up the blanks with information on your education, work experience, volunteer work, and other hobbies.
I taught you a little about drafting power statements for your resume/interviewing/networking on the worksheet about how to talk about yourself. In these sections, you'll want to employ power statements to express your experiences. Remember that lists of things you were responsible for at work (or a community initiative, etc.) are acceptable/acceptable, but using examples and results you received (A.K.A. "power statements") is far superior for presenting what you've personally done.
For earlier experiences, use strong past tense action verbs, and for your current job/experiences, use present tense action verbs. (For example, created, oversaw, produced, managed, and so on.)
5. Choose your hard and soft abilities, as well as software you are familiar with that, is important to your sector and career ambitions.
LinkedIn will propose talents to include based on your education and experience sections, but you aren't limited to those it suggests. You can type in your own relevant and appropriate abilities. You can also type in the names of software programs in which you are an expert. You'll notice that I used the term "relevant" in my sentence.
If you're looking for a specific type of employment, don't write everything you know because not all abilities are applicable to the industry or job title you want. Which skills, software, and technology are relevant to your professional goal should be listed first. Quality takes precedence over quantity.
6. Now it's time to start making relationships! Look up former coworkers on the internet. Connect with them, but also with your neighbors and friends.
LinkedIn allows you to import your contact list from your email - this is something I highly recommend doing because it will save you a lot of time. The reason for this is that it "mines" your connections for you - particularly those who are also on LinkedIn. The platform can then make recommendations for people you might know (who are contacts of your contacts).
This develops into a "web." LinkedIn literally connects you with individuals on a professional level. You create a layer of contacts (known as your "first" connections), and LinkedIn will assist you in finding your next layer of people to connect with (known as your "second" layer of people to connect with).
7. Go ahead and support these people for the talents that they have listed on their profiles and that you are aware of. Request that they vouch for your abilities.
In the next challenge email, we'll talk about resumes, but your LinkedIn profile is the online version of your resume. When it comes to your resume's skills section, the biggest difference is that you can have individuals "endorse" that you have certain skills!
The more established one of your contacts is on LinkedIn (they have a large network of people who have recommended them for their talents and abilities), the more weight that recommendation carries.
When you receive several endorsements for talent, it's essentially your network telling the rest of the world that you're an expert at what you do.
8. Obtain some solid suggestions and make a few solid recommendations of your own.
This stage will require a little more time and effort, but it will be well worth it.
Do you know how when you're considering making a significant buy, you prefer to check product reviews? Well, it's the same situation here.
You want your current/former supervisors, coworkers, colleagues, and associates from work and the community to write a solid reference for you if you have worked hard and done an amazing job for whichever company you currently work for or have worked for in the past.
In the recommendations, you can specify which projects or abilities you want them to discuss. (A LinkedIn recommendation doesn't have to be a full-length letter; it can be a paragraph or more.)
Remember to reciprocate when you ask others to "scratch your back" by asking if you can do anything for them, including writing a recommendation. Always thank them for taking the time to give you a referral with a "Thank you" message!
9. Keep track of companies and people you might want to work with or learn from.
You can select companies and thought leaders to follow in the "Interests" section. This is a fantastic method to stay up to date on the newest news from the people and organizations you're most "interested" in, as well as a means to show them that they're on your mind–whether for a potential job opportunity or simply because you like what they say and do.
Additionally, you may go to individual firms' LinkedIn pages/profiles and sign up for job alerts DIRECTLY there.
(You can also search up their present employees to see if you have any mutual ties!)
Join industry groups on LinkedIn (Facebook, and other social media) and engage with them to expand your network.
In its own right, LinkedIn is a social networking platform. Take advantage of these fantastic opportunities to learn from experts who can help you become an expert at what you do and succeed in your career by providing industry-specific advice. This can be a terrific approach to track down "spirit animals" and possibly locate mentorship possibilities.
11. Complete all additional areas that apply.
"The basics" refers to everything I just asked you to do. I understand that learning the basics took you longer than you expected, but if you really want to make your LinkedIn more powerful, I recommend going beyond the basics once you've mastered the basics.
20 Steps to a Better LinkedIn Profile, written by LinkedIn's Senior Content Marketing Manager, might help you gain an advantage on the platform.
**Additional tip/advice: Do a Google search on yourself to see what information is available online about you.
If you don't like what you find, clean it up as much as you can! Certain sorts of records can be purged, while others may require more effort.
Use the same search terms in the social networking platforms' search bars. Find out what is publicly available and floating around out there. Get rid of the ugly items as soon as possible. Examine your social profiles in public mode (see what everyone else can see) to ensure that they are what you want.
Doing these things will undoubtedly boost your web presence and increase your marketability as a qualified job applicant.
If you don't like what you find, clean it up to the best of your ability! Some records can be erased with ease, while others may require more effort.
In the search bars of social networking platforms, use the same search terms. Find out what's available to the public and floating around the internet. As soon as possible, get rid of the unsightly stuff. Examine your social profiles in public mode (to see what others can see) to make sure they're exactly what you want.
These actions will surely enhance your online presence and increase your marketability as a qualified job candidate.
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