Yahoo Finance LinkedIn Australia’s careers expert reveals top tips for a killer profile
Long gone are the days where you’d stay in one job for life: it’s now the norm to jump between jobs and even careers every few years.
LinkedIn research shows 70 per cent of Australians would consider a career change, while two in five Aussies have worked in two different industries over the last five years.
And if you’re looking for that job change, a clean, up-to-date LinkedIn profile could be the difference between being shortlisted or being overlooked entirely.
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Speaking to Yahoo Finance, LinkedIn Australia’s career expert Shiva Kumar revealed the top tips to take your profile to the next level and make the most of the professional networking website.
“First and foremost, you have to get the basics right,” he said. Make sure your profile has these two non-negotiable must-haves ticked:
A professional photo of yourself; and
Your current job title and industry.
“These are all simple but important aspects that help to tell a compelling story about who you are as a potential job candidate.”
And before you even begin your hunt, ensure that the ‘Open to opportunity’ setting of your LinkedIn profile is switched on to ensure recruiters get the message you’re open to opportunities, Kumar advised.
LinkedIn Australia career expert’s top tips for a killer profile
1. Say where you’re based
“Recruiters rely on location information to find candidates,” Kumar said. “You’ll stand out by as much as 23 times more if you include the city you’re based in in your profile.
“Often times recruiters will use advanced search based on location, so the more details you have the more likely you will be found and connected to your next opportunity.”
2. Have your elevator pitch ready
If you’re wanting to attract and capture the attention of recruiters or potential bosses, say a few words about yourself and what you do to make yourself memorable.
“Adding a summary of 40 words or more, makes your profile more likely to turn up in a future employer’s search,” Kumar said.
“A good tip is to ensure your summary includes keywords featured in desirable job descriptions for your field.”
3. Let your skills do the talking
Job titles will vary from organisation to organisation, so it’s a little tough to know what to search for when you’re job hunting.
“By listing all of your skills on your profile you are more likely to attract recruiters and show up in the right talent searches,” said Kumar.
4. Avoid buzzwords such as ‘motivated’
How much have you stumbled across the profile of someone who claimed to be an “influencer” or an “entrepreneur” or “enthusiastic” or a “team player”?
Avoid overused yet less valued words like the plague if they’re not actually adding anything to your profile – recruiters see the same descriptors in every profile day in day out.
“What they really want is to understand your capability for a certain role,” said Kumar.
“Let your experience do the talking; show who you are, don’t tell. Add visual examples of the work that you did.”
5. Showcase your interests
An active LinkedIn profile can speak volumes for you: share content that you enjoy like an interesting video or a thoughtful news story, or even a particularly impressive presentation through regular updates, said Kumar.
“With as little as a sentence, updates help get you noticed, and they are a great way to interact with and engage your professional network in conversations.”
Tick all these boxes – and don’t forget to set up job alerts – and you’ll be in good stead to catch the recruiter’s attention, Kumar said.
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