8 tips for the perfect Linkedin profile University of Manchester Careers Blog

8 tips for the perfect Linkedin profile University of Manchester Careers Blog With more and more jobs being advertised online (94% of all recruiters used social media when advertising jobs last year*), it is important that you stay up to date with current trends to ensure that you know where to find jobs and other opportunities. LinkedIn is the platform of choice for most employers who want to recruit and discover new talent, so it is no surprise that students and new graduates are the fastest growing demographic on the site(40 million and counting!). But LinkedIn isn’t just a way to find jobs and be found by potential employers. It provides a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded people around the world, who can surely help contribute to your personal and professional development. Here are some tips to make the most of your Linkedin account: #1 Update your profile The most important things on your LinkedIn profile are the three things that appear at the very top: your name, your photo and the headline. If you’re struggling to think of things to put in the ‘Experience’ section, how about that part-time job you had before uni, the volunteering you’ve done and projects you have worked on? All of these things show you have relevant experience and are likely to make you more employable. #2 Be searchable Include key words throughout your profile to make it easier to find and make it rank more highly when searched for. If someone is using the ‘search’ tool, you want to make sure that your profile is seen first. Edit your headline to make sure it reflects what you offer? What do you study? What research are you doing? What areas are you interested in? What career do you want to go into? If you neglect this, people won’t know anything about you. List all of your skills to show what you can do and how you would be an asset to someone’s company. You can even gain endorsements for these skills which show that you really do have them. #3 Be searchable Include key words throughout your profile to make it easier to find and make it rank more highly when searched for. If a recruiter is searching for graduates, you want to make sure that your profile is seen first. Edit your headline to make sure it reflects what you offer? What do you study? What career do you want to go into? If it simply says ‘student’, people won’t know anything about you. List all of your skills to show people what you can do and how you would be a valuable member of their team. You can even gain endorsements for these skills which show that you really do have them. Top tip: If you are using the mobile app, you’re not currently able to personalise this message, so wait until you are on your PC to do this. #4 Show off This might sound a bit big headed, but you need to prove you can back up you skills and experience. Link to content you’ve produced, whether that is a YouTube video, PowerPoint presentation, your thesis or something else you are proud of that would be relevant to the types of job you are interested in. #5 Join groups If you list your education, you will automatically be following The University of Manchester’s page. But by joining other groups, you will boost your network, allowing you to make connections within them. It is also a good way to introduce yourself when sending invitations. Just search for a few key words, narrow the field by selecting ‘groups’, and see what comes up. #6 Be active Once you are a member of various groups, make sure you fully engage with it and encourage and add to conversations and forums. By answering questions and giving your opinion, you’ll show your passion and that you know what you are talking about. #7 Follow companies If you want to work in a certain sector or for a specific company, follow their pages. This will mean you stay in the loop with what they are doing and may see jobs advertised before anyone else. It also shows that you are genuinely interested if someone looks up you profile after receiving your job application. #8 Grow your profile As your network grows, your profile should too. Update your account to make sure it is up to date and features your latest achievements. Include projects in your profile to show what work you’ve done and add your team members to it to increase the reach. Top tip: Every amendment you make to your profile will show up in the newsfeed of all of your connections (and potentially their connections. While this can be good, like when you get a new job, it can be annoying to see lots and lots of profile changes. When revamping your profile, turn off these announcements to avoid annoying your connections.     All Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted jobs LinkedIn networking social media