Eight Tips on improving your LinkedIn profile for job seeking

With over 870 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is hard to ignore, yet job seekers neglect their profiles. If you are considering a career move, it is essential to ensure your LinkedIn profile is as strong as possible.
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Recently we ran an informal survey on LinkedIn to find out what hiring managers rely on most when deciding which candidates to shortlist.

The results are illuminating. While resumes still carry more weight, nearly 30% of respondents say they would rather look at your LinkedIn profile first. This number was even higher for professional recruiters and talent acquisition professionals while hiring managers still favour the resume.

Right or wrong, it is hard to ignore the fact that a solid LinkedIn profile is an important part of your application toolkit when it comes to job hunting.

With that in mind, here are eight tips to help you improve your LinkedIn profile:

1. Make sure your profile photo represents you in the best light. You can use a website like www.photofeeler.com to get objective crowd-sourced feedback on different headshots.
2. Keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date by regularly adding new information and experiences. Set a reminder to update your profile every few months.
3. Use keywords in your profile that align with the job you are looking for. This will make your profile more searchable by recruiters and potential employers.
4. Make sure you use the 'About' section to showcase your personality, objectives and values.
5. Include education and certifications: List your education and any certifications you have earned. This can help to boost your credibility and show that you are well-educated and qualified.
6. Add skills: Include a list of skills that are relevant to your industry. This will make your profile more searchable and help to showcase your strengths.
7. Get endorsements and recommendations: Get endorsements and recommendations from colleagues, supervisors, and other professionals in your industry. This will help to boost your credibility and showcase your skills and experience.
8. Participate in groups and discussions: Join groups and participate in discussions that are relevant to your industry. This will help to increase your visibility and build your professional network.

Remember, the more effort you put into your profile, the better your chances of being contacted for new career opportunities.