Having a great LinkedIn profile is becoming an important factor in your professional presence.
One of the first places employers will look after receiving your application is online. Not only should you have a LinkedIn account/page, your profile should be strong enough to convince employers to give you a shot. Follow these tips to create an impressive LinkedIn profile.
Little details matter. In the area around your name, make sure to market yourself.1 Directly underneath your name, list your position, your company and a brief description of what they do, such as “Social Media Agency.” Also note the industry you work in. In the section summarizing yourself, include keywords. Subtly including these words not only makes you look well-versed, but you also come up in more searches by employers. When describing previous jobs or your job experience, use as much detail as possible. Listing numbers is a great way to avoid sounding vague. Also, add lots of skills. Have friends and families attest to your skills if you're new to LinkedIn. Reorder them to make them most relevant to your industry and field. For example, if you're pursuing a position in nursing, you'll want to add skills relevant to medical knowledge, healthcare IT and people skills.
Be social. Use LinkedIn like any other social media platform and make an online presence.2 Post articles and other content related to your industry regularly to appear informed. It also will help you get noticed more quickly. Don't just rely on text, use different types of media that display your knowledge of the healthcare industry as well. There are plenty of groups related to several different communities, whether it's related to school or work, and joining one is a great way to meet new people and appear connected. Of course, make sure what you join is relevant to what you do. Voicing your opinion also trains you on becoming an expert on certain topics. If you're asked about a current event in the healthcare industry or about a controversial topic, you'll be more likely to deliver a solid and informed answer.
Include extracurricular information. Don't make your profile only work information. Include experiences you've had volunteering for various organizations. Even if you ran in a 5 kilometer that benefited a certain foundation, include it. This experience shows that you're well-rounded and involved in different activities. One survey found that 42 percent of employers found volunteer experience just as important as work experience. Also be sure to mention your education as well. Education is noticed by employers, despite applicants believing it's not. Note your education, the degree you achieved and even small details like the year you graduated.
Having an impressive profile can make the difference in whether you're asked for an interview. Use these suggestions to beef up your profile if you're concerned about its appearance.
1 http://blog.linkedin.com/2014/07/01/creating-a-killer-linkedin-profile-tips-from-link-humans/
2 http://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2014/03/04/22-linkedin-secrets-linkedin-wont-tell-you/