What Recruiters Want to See on Your LinkedIn Profile

by Jenny Foss, March 26, 2013 — 10 Comments
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I recently suggested to a client that if you're a professional and
you're not on LinkedIn, you very nearly don't exist.

Don't shoot the messenger. And, please, allow me to clarify:

You very nearly don't exist through the eyes of recruiters who use
LinkedIn as a primary resource for finding outstanding candidates or
checking out people who've applied to their open positions—every
single day.

OK, so you know you've got to be on LinkedIn. But now, we're going to
take it one step further. Recruiters don't just want to see that
you've thrown up a profile, they want to see some very specific signs
that you're worth their effort in tracking you down.

Here are six things they're looking for—so you can update your profile
accordingly.



1. Completeness

Simply put, the more complete your profile, the better the odds that
the recruiter will find you in the first place. So completeness is
important from that standpoint.

It's also important after the recruiter has found you and decided to
click on your profile. That recruiter is looking for details: She
wants to know what you know how to do, where you've worked, and what
people think of you, so don't laze out and skip these steps. The good
news? LinkedIn will actually measure the "completeness" of your
profile as you work and offer suggestions on how to make it stronger.



2. Your Picture

LinkedIn was designed as a tool to encourage engagement and
conversation. So, I ask you: Is it easier or harder to connect with
someone when you can put a face with the name? Easier, of course.
Choose a clear, friendly, and appropriately professional image and pop
that baby up there. Not sure what "appropriately professional" means?
Take a look around at what the people in your target company, industry
sector, or business level are wearing. Match that.



3. A Network

Having 50 or fewer connections on LinkedIn tells recruiters one of
three things: 1) You are a recluse who knows very few people, 2)
You're paranoid about connecting with others, or 3) Technology and
social media are scary to you. None of these are good. I'm certainly
not suggesting you need to be one of those weirdos who wears your
"abnormally large number of connections" like a badge of honor, but
you really should have at least 50-100 people with whom you're
connected as a starting point.



4. Details That Indicate "High Performer"

Recruiters spend countless hours scouring LinkedIn in search of the
high performers. And when they find them, they contact said high
performers. Knowing this, you'll serve yourself well to market
yourself as a high performer, through your verbiage (think action
words, accomplishments—you know, the same stuff that stands out on
resumes) and by having multiple endorsements. (Want some? Start
endorsing others—they're bound to return the favor.)



5. Evidence That You're Passionate, Engaged, and Excited

The most exciting people to hire are the people who are the most
excited about what they do. Show your enthusiasm by joining and
participating in groups related to your field of expertise. Use your
status line to announce stuff you're doing related to your field.
Share interesting articles or news. Connect with the leaders in your
industry. Fly your cheerleader flag.



6. Recommendations

It goes without saying that third-party testimonials go a long way.
Great third-party testimonials go even farther. So ask a few key
people to write a LinkedIn recommendation for you, and be specific:
Tell the person precisely what you'd love showcased and offer specific
examples.

Recruiters often send their own clients (the companies doing the
hiring) right to a job seeker's LinkedIn page if the recommendations
look good, so taking the time to solicit a few great ones can pay
serious dividends.



In sum, your approach to LinkedIn should be the same approach you take
to the rest of your career: Whether you're actively job-hunting or
just want to be an ongoing head-turner, you don't want to just show
up.

You've got to shine.


http://www.thedailymuse.com/job-search/what-recruiters-want-to-see-on-your-linkedin-profile/