Recruiters use LinkedIn prolifically to search for talent. Therefore, the best way to optimize a LinkedIn profile is to start thinking from the perspective of the corporate or search firm recruiter doing the hire.
A Jobvite 2017 survey found 94 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates for their open positions. With that staggering number, it is imperative that job seekers not only to be on LinkedIn, but that they reverse-engineer the search and recruitment process to increase the likelihood of their profiles being found by recruiters. In this case you have to optimize your Linkedin profile yourself or use the linkedin profile writing service.
Identifying Keywords and Keyword Phrases
Finding core and secondary keywords and keyword phrases is the crucial first step in building a LinkedIn profile that can be found by recruiters.
The job seeker needs to identify keywords and keyword phrases that the recruiter may use when sourcing for the jobs the candidate wants. To begin, find descriptions for jobs the candidate is targeting via job boards and company websites.
Once two or three viable job descriptions are located, consider using an online word cloud function to zero in on keywords that are relevant to searches for that position. The best known word cloud tool is Wordle.com, but a recent blog article listed nine others. Making word clouds is very easy – copy and paste the content, click, and it’s done!
In identifying keywords, first define those that recruiters are most likely to use to find a specific talent or skill. Then, as you examine various job descriptions, focus on geography, titles, and unique skills not found in other roles or companies.
These keyword phrases – derived from a combination of the job function (e.g., Marketing or Finance), job-level (e.g., Associate, Director, or CFO), location (e.g., Atlanta-GA or Tri-State NYC area), and required and preferred skills (i.e. Oracle, e-commerce marketing, customer services) – are the foundation for optimizing a LinkedIn profile so recruiters will find your clients.
There is more to optimizing a LinkedIn profile than just having the right keywords, although keyword optimization is a very crucial part of the process as mentioned above. This section of the article addresses the other components of profile optimization that should be employed in conjunction with identifying and incorporating the right keywords.
Have a cropped, professional headshot for the profile picture. Having a proper picture increases the likelihood a recruiter will open a LinkedIn profile by 7 times versus if no picture is present. It is paramount the right picture is placed on the LinkedIn profile to complement all of the keyword optimization and content writing efforts made by the job seeker or resume writer.
Be sure to incorporate the keywords and keyword phrases identified from the earlier steps into the headline – the 120-character section found under the name on the LinkedIn profile. For instance, a controller in Seattle who has experience using Hyperion within the advertising industry may want to have a tagline such as, Hyperion Financial System Expert & Controller | Marketing & Advertising Industry | Seattle Metro. This tagline is under the 120-character limit and uses the job function, title, location, and skill keywords pertinent to a search a recruiter would use to find these types of candidates.
Create a LinkedIn vanity URL (job seeker’s name) to improve the optimization within LinkedIn. Remove the series of random letters and numbers from the assigned, default URL given to the member by LinkedIn. Change the URL to be a version of the candidate’s name.
Take those same keywords and phrases and integrate them into the accomplishment-focused content throughout the summary section that outlines the candidate’s value proposition and differentiating factors. This will keep the recruiter’s eye on the profile once it has been opened from the search result summary. You have up to 2000 characters (letters, numbers, spaces, etc.) for the summary section, so it should be filled with valuable information.
Write achievement-rich content using the keywords in the employment section. This will show the recruiter how the experience is related to the position he is filling. Ensure that both the title and description clearly communicate how the candidate succeeded at various job responsibilities while staying within the 2000-character limit given by LinkedIn for this section as well.
Finally, to maximize LinkedIn profile optimization and recruiter attention, showcase skills and topical areas of expertise by using additional keywords and keyword phrases to populate the skills section of each profile.
Inspire Recruiters To Connect With Vibrant Profile Content
The strategy behind the profile – what each person writes and why – will vary according to the unique circumstances of each individual. Strategies and tactics for someone who is gainfully employed might be different from those used by someone who is in between positions. A staff-level employee might use different writing tactics to position himself in his profile as compared to an established corporate executive or business owner.
In conclusion
Job seekers who take the time to understand the sourcing and recruitment process, determine how LinkedIn is a major tool in that process, and follow the thread backwards to start their job-seeking efforts from the recruiter’s perspective, will soon discover that they’re the ones being found and hired!
