Boost your career with the power of LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be a powerful tool when it comes to your career, using it correctly can teach you more about your chosen field, help you make new industry connections and even boost your career search, says CABA’s Laura Little.

May 2019

Nearly every industry uses LinkedIn to find and vet job candidates, and over 90% of recruiters rely on the site. So, your profile can’t just be a storage space for career contacts; it needs to be a living, breathing record of your professional life. Below, we’ve shared some top tips to help boost your online profile.

1. Profile: Firstly, optimise your headline as this is the first thing people will see. It should include your job title and areas of expertise; make sure you’re specific about your industry so you can be found by the right employers.
   
   Tailor the summary section of your profile to keep it relevant to your target audience, including any certifications, languages and relevant skills. The more robust your profile, the more likely you are to get noticed. 
   
   
2. Experience: Unlike a CV, where you’re tailoring your experience toward a specific position, your LinkedIn profile should be as detailed as possible as you don’t know the exact criteria people are looking for. We recommend listing every role you’ve worked in, focusing specifically on the past five to10 years, addressing your responsibilities and accomplishments.
3. Endorsements: There are over one million active UK job listings on LinkedIn currently and approximately 20 times the amount of users, so it’s important that your profile stands out. Why not spend some time scrolling through roles that you’re interested in and jot down the specific skills they ask for? 
   
   Often, employers will search using keywords of the job description. Peppering some of these words throughout your profile will enable them to find you more easily.
   
   
4. Recommendations: LinkedIn recommendations can make a positive difference to your online reputation and can have a significant impact on your prospects as a candidate. Ask colleagues and former managers to provide recommendations to strengthen your profile.
5. Network: Joining relevant groups is a great way to network with people who have similar professional interests and enables you to expand your network. Additionally, following other organisations increases your awareness of industry updates, and vacancies. 
   
   Don’t forget that LinkedIn is a social network, so be social. Like, comment and share interesting updates to maximise your visibility and drive traffic to your profile.

Your LinkedIn profile can help you build both your personal and professional brand, showcasing your skillset. Unlike a CV, it gives you the opportunity to talk to your peers and expand your network, making it the most instant way to get noticed by recruiters.

Laura Little is Learning and Development Manager at CABA.