As many of you know, LinkedIn is a social networking site targeted toward professionals. In just over 10 years, LinkedIn has grown to more than 300 million members in 200 countries; LinkedIn is available in 20 languages!
If you are searching for a position in the private sector, you definitely need a strong LinkedIn Profile. Recruiters use LinkedIn to search for potential applicants—thousands of recruiters from thousands of companies use LinkedIn as their ONLY source for candidates so as a job seeker, you are missing potential opportunities if you do not have a good profile. Even if you are targeting organizations who do not use LinkedIn to recruit, many hiring managers are looking at your LinkedIn Profile before deciding whether to interview you.
If you are strictly targeting the federal sector, LinkedIn is less important since most applications for federal positions are made through USAJOBS. However, hiring managers are still looking at LinkedIn so I believe it is important to have an appropriate presence there. This is trickier for people in the Intelligence Community (IC), so be sure to check with your agency’s policies before creating a LinkedIn Profile.
A strong LinkedIn Profile consists of several parts:
- A professional photograph. Research has shown that profiles with photographs are better received than those without. Your photograph should be a head shot (so people can see your face) and professional-looking; a smile is always good!
- An easily searchable name. If your name can be searched two ways (for example, Robert or Bob), use both. I recommend having your name displayed as: Robert (Bob) Jones. This was people can find you whether they search by Robert Jones or Bob Jones.
- A zip code that represents the geographic area you are targeting. Many search algorithms eliminate job seekers based on zip codes so if your current zip code is outside of the geographic area you are targeting, you may want to consider modifying your LinkedIn zip code accordingly. Your zip code does not display publicly.
- A strong “tagline”. The words under your name represent your brand—make them memorable and appropriate. You are not limited to your job title and location; instead you have 120 characters to identify yourself to viewers of your profile. Please note that LinkedIn updates its system regularly; 120 characters is what is available as of this printing.
- A keyword-rich summary. Many people miss the opportunity to use the available 2,000 characters of the summary to further define themselves and highlight their achievements. When creating your summary, use the keywords of your industry and include specific accomplishments. Your summary should be interesting to others and show your personality. Unlike your resume, the use of the first person is encouraged!
- Work experience. It is not necessary to list every job you ever held; stick with the most recent and relevant. And please be sure to translate your experience so everyone can understand it. This means minimizing acronyms and, for those of you transitioning from active duty, eliminating military-speak.
- Education / publications / certifications / volunteer work, etc. Don’t forget to include these as relevant and appropriate.
Maintaining your network is important, regardless of whether you are looking for a job at this minute, so please keep your profile up-to-date. You should work to increase your contacts (500+ or so is considered good); you should also seek and manage your endorsements and recommendations (again, these are used by recruiters). LinkedIn has other features, including an ability to share articles, presentations, and videos, as well as the opportunity to comment on others. Spending time to maintain your LinkedIn presence is worth the investment.
So, do you really need a LinkedIn Profile? The answer is a resounding YES.
