LinkedIn has been widely used by job seekers since its creation in 2002. It is a social media site that is largely used by users to find better career opportunities, as well as a place where HR managers search to fill openings that they have within the company. Networking is a huge 
part of the reason why people use LinkedIn. Many hiring managers and recruiters look to LinkedIn for potential employees. LinkedIn can be an important piece of online marketing for your own brand, so it’s important to craft the perfect online profile for others to see. In the following article, we will go over how to create an ideal LinkedIn profile.
Start With the Profile Picture
For other social media platforms, we spend a lot of time deciphering which profile sends the best message to our followers. Your profile picture on your LinkedIn is not designed to get likes, but rather attract potential managers to your personal brand. When it comes to online marketing, you want to stand out. In a good way, though. Your profile picture should not be one that would go on Instagram or Facebook. A simple headshot will do for your LinkedIn profile. No selfies, though! When you think of your high school yearbook photo, try to think about emulating that. You want to be presentable and professional!
Update Your Profile Before Your Job Hunt
Take a moment to look at your LinkedIn profile, if you already have one; before deciding to begin your job hunt. When working and enjoying your work, you tend not to keep up with your LinkedIn profile. It’s only until you have realized that it’s time to move on that you remember you need to clean up your LinkedIn profile. Many hiring managers will search LinkedIn after receiving your resume and if you have an outdated profile, then you are not presenting yourself properly. This is why it’s important to clean up the clutter and make your profile presentable for potential jobs.
What does cleaning up your page mean? It can mean anything adding job titles, skill sets, and even hobbies. A LinkedIn profile is not only a resume but also can be a reflection of your personality. This is why you should not be afraid to add interests and groups that you are involved with. At the same time, if there’s something on your profile that isn’t relevant to the field that you are looking to go in, then it’s best to take it out. You want to present yourself in the best light possible.
Add Some Personality to Your Profile
We mentioned high school photos, but your LinkedIn summary is not an essay you wrote in tenth grade. Don’t be afraid to add a flare of personality in your profile’s summary. You want to remind whoever is looking at your profile that you are a human and not just a mindless robot. The hiring manager to the company you are applying for may have a certain culture they are hoping to upkeep, so by looking at your summary they can get a feel to see if you are a good culture fit for their team.
Some More Recommendations to Help Your LinkedIn Pop!
Marketing yourself may not be something you’ve thought of needing to do. It may also seem like a difficult thing to do. You should look at your LinkedIn profile as a means of self-marketing that can be very vital to get the job of your dreams. Another way to help sell yourself is by asking colleagues and connections of yours to leave recommendations for you. Think of when you are looking for a restaurant to visit. You would first read reviews online. Recommendations let people know why they should work with you and what makes you a valuable asset to your team.
Unemployment is down to about 4.1% and there is a lot of competition out there. This is why you want to set yourself apart from others. In the digital age, online marketing for brands is key. You are a brand and there, you need to market your brand properly. Around 92% of hiring managers use social media during their searches. Your profile has most likely come up in searches by hiring managers. Get your LinkedIn profile in order prior to going on a job hunt so that when a recruiter or HR manager take a look, they can happily connect with you, knowing they have a viable candidate in front of them.
Using LinkedIn for Business
As we live in a very uncertain world and having absolutely no idea what the global economy will bring you may find yourself looking for alternatives.
One sector that is growing and showing no signs of slowing down is to start an online business. Whilst you could just go to Google and start searching for a way to do this, unfortunately, you are setting yourself up to fail.
To give you the best chance of success you need to get a mentor and I can highly recommend John Thornhill. Regardless of your knowledge, he will take you from newbie to having products online in less than 12 months. To discover more watch this webinar where he will show you how he will help you 1 on 1 to succeed.
This is a guest post from Stuart Vickers, if you would like to be considered for a guest post please contact me.
