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Optimising Your LinkedIn Page for a Job Search
In today’s digital age, your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression you make on potential employers. A well-optimised LinkedIn page can be a powerful tool in your job search, helping you connect with recruiters and showcase your professional brand.
Here’s how to make the most of your LinkedIn presence.
1. Profile Picture and Background Image
Your profile picture should be professional, approachable, and high-quality. Choose a background image that reflects your industry or personal brand. This adds a visual element to your profile and makes it more engaging.
2. Compelling Headline
Your headline is one of the first things people see. This could be your job title and / or you can choose to specify which fields that you specialise in. I.e:
HSEQ Manager | CDM & Construction
Health and Safety Manager | Manufacturing & Engineering
Health and Safety Director | Multi-sector experience
Alternatively, use your headline to communicate your purpose. I.e:
Health and Safety Manager - Ensuring that everyone goes home to their families
Health, Safety Environment Manager - Motivated by inspiring culture change
3. Customised URL
Make it easy for people to find you by customising your LinkedIn URL. This can be done in your profile settings and helps in sharing your profile on resumes and other platforms.
4. Detailed Summary
Your summary is your opportunity to tell your story. Include your professional journey, key skills, key achievements and what you’re passionate about. This is also a good place to mention which types of opportunities you are looking for.
5. Highlight Your Experience
Use the ‘Experience’ section to detail your work history. For each position, include bullet points that outline your key responsibilities and achievements. Focus on quantifiable results to demonstrate your impact.
6. Qualifications, Skills & Endorsements
List relevant skills that match your career goals and invite colleagues to endorse you. This boosts your credibility and makes your profile more attractive to recruiters and will appear in more selective searches.
Include key words here relevant to your experience that will increase your visibility in recruiter searches:
Accident investigations
ISO Management Systems; 45001, 9001, 14001
Management of direct reports
PUWER, LOLER
Fill out the ‘Education’ sections to list your relevant qualifications in your field i.e;
NEBOSH General / Construction / Fire Certificate etc
NEBOSH Diploma
NCRQ / NVQ
MSc in Occupational Health and Safety
7. Recommendations
Request recommendations from colleagues, supervisors, or clients. These testimonials add a personal touch and provide social proof of your abilities.
8. Let Recruiters Know That You Are Open to Opportunities
Toggle the 'open to opportunities' button in your LinkedIn settings to let recruiters know you are open to new roles. This feature allows you to specify the types of positions you are interested in, increasing your visibility to potential employers.
This is a confidential setting, only visible to recruiters and is different from the ‘open to work’ banner that you sometimes see on people’s profiles. This is a private setting only visible to those with LinkedIn Recruiter accounts.
9. Let Companies Know You Would Like to Work for Them
If there are specific companies you’d like to work for, click on their company profile, go to 'About,' scroll down, and click 'I'm interested.' This action signals your interest in the organisation, even if they don’t have any live vacancies at the moment. Potentially putting you above any competition before it comes up!
10. Engage with Content
Share articles, comment on posts, and engage with industry-related content. This increases your visibility within your network and establishes you as an active participant in your field.
Conclusion
Optimising your LinkedIn page is essential for a successful job search. By presenting a polished, professional profile, you can attract the attention of recruiters and potential employers. With the right approach, your LinkedIn page can become a valuable asset in your career journey.
About this series
This 10-part series in how to land your perfect role is a published form of the advice that we are offering safety, sustainability & quality professionals day-in-day-out.
Our team can only have so many conversations in a day / week / month / year. By publishing this series, we are hoping to reach and add value to professionals across the industry and beyond that we haven’t yet had the pleasure of working with.
If you would like to get in touch with us to find out how we can provide tailored career advice and opportunities - please visit www.search-recruitment.co.uk and get in touch.
To keep up-to-date with each instalment of this series - follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/search2
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