Despite the rapid development of technology and the ever-increasing presence of social media platforms in every aspect of life, many continue to neglect LinkedIn. The reason lies in their lack of awareness of its great contribution to both finding a job and increasing their clientele.
However, LinkedIn is capable of elevating a freelancer, a business, an employee and, in short, any professional. But, for this to happen, it requires that it be used properly and that the potential it offers be utilized to the fullest.
Often, one will see incomplete profiles, zero user activity, a complete lack of interaction, unattended texts and incomplete biographies. The reason behind this lies in the fact that many tend to perceive LinkedIn as just another simple, social media social networking platform - like Facebook or Instagram. But the truth is far from it.
In fact, LinkedIn is a tool that is changing and redefining the job market. It acts as a helper for every person who is working or who has the desire to work, helping them to make professional connections, stay up to date with developments in their industry and - why not - find their dream job.
So how can someone optimise their LinkedIn profile, making all of the above possible?
Select the Ideal Profile and Cover Image
First impressions are always crucial. As LinkedIn, as an online social media, does not allow for direct contact, the user must choose a decent profile and cover image. The photos chosen are wise to allow the face to be clearly visible and, where possible, to be compatible with the subject matter.
Avoiding Overly Descriptive CVs
Clearly, in one's CV, it is very important to include all one's achievements, as well as one's jobs. However, over-analysis tires the reader, who does not like to read oversized texts. Therefore, it is ideal to be concise, describing in a few words his/her background and focusing on the appropriate points each time. Also, if a portofolio and/or a personal website is available, it is important to add it to the profile - it will enrich it and highlight it in the best possible way.
Keeping an Active Profile
LinkedIn is more than just an online CV - it is also, as mentioned before, a social networking platform. So, if you want to get the most out of it, you have to stay active, making your presence felt with posts and/or interactions with other users' posts.
Participate in Groups
Being an active member of groups that are relevant to your industry or your interests can help you both to develop as a professional and to stay up to date with all the developments in your field. Also, groups of this type encourage interaction with colleagues, making it easy to communicate ideas and increasing the chances of being offered a job.
Increase "Contacts" in your Profile
The more connections you have, the more chances you have of being selected by a recruiter. Ideally, the user should aim to obtain more than five hundred.
Write Your Own Articles
LinkedIn is an ideal tool for any professional to share their thoughts, opinions and feelings about their industry. By writing one article a month, the user demonstrates that he is passionate about his subject and that he is thinking about it, constantly trying to develop it. This makes him an ideal candidate. Also, articles generate discussions in the form of comments, which helps to build and consolidate the user's relationships with his contacts.
In summary, LinkedIn is a powerful tool in the workplace and taking advantage of its benefits can benefit you in a variety of ways. So by following the above steps, he will see his proposals increase and at the same time improve his skills in the way he presents himself and approaches prospective clients!
