LinkedIn is a powerful professional social networking site because it can actually help you get hired. With the site recently reporting that it has just surpassed 100 million members, it’s in your best interest to make a profile and market it along with your other personal brand materials. Regardless of how long you’ve been with LinkedIn, there are certain do’s and don’ts you should abide by when creating and maintaining your profile:
DO complete your profile
As stated before, LinkedIn is a professional networking site. As with other professional materials, your profile needs to be completed in full, from your industry to your specialties. How will a recruiter or hiring manager know your area of expertise if things aren’t finished? Further, a LinkedIn profile is a great place to add more content, such as larger job history and work samples. However, the biggest advantage of the site is recommendations. Connect with old bosses or work colleagues that you have a good relationship with and ask for a short testimonial. After all, LinkedIn is supposed to be a supplement to your resume; make sure you take advantage of it.
DON’T link to sites that aren’t updated
LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to link to your sites, like blogs, Twitter, Facebook, or even a personal website. However, do not link to them if they haven’t been updated in six months or you’ve moved on to a different handle. It looks really bad to link to dormant sites because it shows that you don’t care enough to update them, even for a recruiter or hiring manager to see. Chances are, they will find them anyway, so it’s best to just get rid of them if you don’t plan on updating anytime soon.
DO mention you are looking for a job
Many recruiters and hiring managers scour LinkedIn for potential candidates. How will they know you are looking for a job if you don’t say so? You should update your LinkedIn status, stating that you are looking for a job in a certain industry and an area of the country you would like to work in. These keywords will make it easier for people to find you.
DON’T abandon your profile once you have what you want
It’s great once you accomplish your goal and land that job. However, this doesn’t mean you should abandon the tool that could have paved the way for this new opportunity. Continue to update your LinkedIn profile with current accomplishments and job duties. Your could also link your Twitter account to ensure consistent updates or interact in clubs and affiliations you’re associated in. Regardless, you should keep your profile updated at all times to maintain your online presence and personal brand.
What are some other do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn?
Adrian Maynard is Vizibility’s director of marketing. He has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, many of those years in the technology industry. Find Adrian in Google at vizibility.com/adrian.
