Making the most out of your LinkedIn profile

If you haven’t created a LinkedIn profile, stop what you’re doing and go and create one now! (But I would actually love it if you read this article first, thanks!)

LinkedIn is an incredible social media platform that will hopefully enable you to secure your dream job, but only if you’re using it correctly. In this article I am going to run through some of the ways you can optimise your profile, and make the most out of this incredible platform.

Still unconvinced that you should create a profile? This video may just convince you.

@selfmademillennialDo you want to learn more about LinkedIn? Let me know! ##work ##business ##jobsearch ##linkedin ##advice ##career ##jobs ##youshouldknow ##lifehack♬ original sound – selfmademillennial

Convinced? Perfect – so let’s run through some of the ways you can optimise your profile.

1. Add a profile picture and a cover photo

It goes without saying, but potential employers are more likely to connect with you on LinkedIn if you have a profile picture. A photo speaks a thousand words – and personally I think you can tell a lot about a person based on their smile.

Adding a cover photo is a quick, easy and eye-catching way to present your contact details – you can create these images on sites like Canva for free… include your name, email address, and your course (it becomes like a mini CV!)

2. Post regularly

You should be posting on LinkedIn as frequently as you do on your other social media platforms. Potential employers obviously don’t want to see your crazy night out, but they do want to read about your achievements. Perhaps you got a really good grade for an assignment? Post this on LinkedIn. Maybe you’re heading to a conference in your desired field of work? Post this on LinkedIn.

Posting relevant content shows potential employers that you’re hardworking, sensible and driven. So if you do something you’re proud of, don’t be afraid to shout about it on LinkedIn!

3. There’s the option to add your skills to your profile – do it!

Adding skills to your profile makes you more searchable to recruiters – if you know how to use Photoshop, add this as a skill. If you’re trained in financial accounting, add this as a skill. Not only can you attach your skills to your profile, but your connections can also endorse you for this. Why not connect with your lecturers, if they taught you the skill, they’re likely to endorse you for it if you ask them nicely.

4. ‘Open to job opportunities’

If you’re due to graduate soon, no doubt you’ll be looking for a graduate job. You can post on your profile that you’re open to job opportunities, this way recruiters will know they can contact you if you fit their desired candidate profile. Need anymore advice on job hunting?

5. Connect. Connect. Connect.

Unlike with Facebook, you don’t have to physically know the person to connect with them on LinkedIn. Connecting with people is the best way to make contacts within your desired field, and may even open up job opportunities for you. Go through your recommended list, and connect with anyone and everyone who works in a field that is the same or similar to what you want to do.

You can check out their profile and see the steps they took to get into the job position they are in now. Why not message them? They may have some good advice for you.

Be brave on LinkedIn. Connect with people. Engage with people in the comments of posts. And finally, good luck with the job search!