Applying for jobs on LinkedIn can feel like shouting into the void. With hundreds of applicants per role, how can you make your profile and application stand out? The key is optimizing your LinkedIn presence and carefully targeting each application. Follow these tips to get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers on LinkedIn.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression hiring managers will have of you. Make sure it accurately reflects your qualifications and professional brand.
Use a Professional Photo
Choose a high-quality headshot where you look friendly and approachable. It should be well-lit and framed closely on your face. Avoid casual photos, group shots, or pictures cropped too far away.
Craft an Attention-Grabbing Headline
Your headline appears right below your name. It’s prime real estate to showcase your specialties. Include important keywords recruiters may search for.
Good examples:
– Senior Product Manager | Agile Methodology | Digital Transformation
– iOS Developer | 6+ years Experience | Java, Swift, Objective-C
Highlight Relevant Skills
The skills section is one of the first places recruiters look. Include keywords from the job posting, especially technical abilities or industry-specific expertise.
Summarize Your Background
Briefly explain your professional experience, education, and why you’re passionate about your work. Use clear, concise language that gets straight to the point.
Showcase Projects
Displaying portfolio work highlights what you’re capable of. Upload samples or use the media section to link videos, slide decks, or other material.
Customize Your Profile URL
Your public profile URL defaults to a series of random numbers and letters. Create a custom URL that’s easy to remember and share. Simply add your name or a short memorable phrase after linkedin.com/.
For example:
linkedin.com/in/john-smith
linkedin.com/in/software-engineer
Expand Your Network
Having a robust professional network improves your visibility in LinkedIn search results. Try connecting with:
– Colleagues at current and past jobs
– Classmates and alumni from your school
– People you meet at industry events and conferences
– Customers, vendors, and business contacts
Aim for 500+ connections to maximize your reach. But focus on quality over quantity, and only connect with those you have an authentic relationship with.
Follow Target Companies
You can follow companies you’re interested in working for to stay updated on their job postings and company news. Following a company signals interest to their recruiters.
On their Company Page, click “Follow company” below their logo. You’ll then see job postings and updates in your LinkedIn feed.
Join Relevant Groups
LinkedIn Groups centered around professional topics are a great way to connect with industry peers, exchange ideas, and demonstrate your expertise. When you engage in thoughtful discussions, you’ll gain visibility with other group members.
Search for active groups within your profession or specialties. Avoid spammy groups that share irrelevant content.
Build Your Brand as a Thought Leader
Posting high-quality content establishes your credibility as an industry expert. Share articles, insights, and multimedia that provides value for your connections.
Some ideas:
– Commentary on industry news and trends
– How-to guides and tutorials
– Slide decks from presentations you’ve given
– Videos explaining a complex concept
– Useful tools or resources for your field
Post consistently to grow your audience and visibility. You can also re-share content frominfluencers or brands aligned with your niche.
Showcase Awards, Licenses, and Volunteer Work
The honors, certifications, and community service activities you participate in demonstrate important soft skills. Recruiters look for signals you have expertise beyond just technical ability.
In the background section, list relevant:
– Professional awards or recognition
– Licenses, certifications, or trainings completed
– Non-profit organizations you support through volunteering or donations
If you don’t have much to add yet, find opportunities to get involved with professional associations, skills training, or local charities.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile Summary
Your profile summary has valuable real estate below your headshot and title. Use this space to tell your professional story and show what makes you a strong candidate.
Follow these tips for an engaging, keyword-rich summary:
Open With Your Elevator Pitch
Briefly explain your current role and industry specialties in 2-3 concise sentences.
Emphasize Relevant Skills and Experience
Elaborate on your top technical abilities, soft skills, and credentials. Include keywords from the job description. Quantify your experience and impact when possible.
Close With Your Value Proposition
Summarize the unique value you bring to employers. What makes you stand out from other applicants?
Keep your summary under 700 words for best results. Use clear, simple language and break it up into short paragraphs for readability.
Showcase Examples of Your Work
Don’t just describe your skills – demonstrate them in action. The media section lets you highlight portfolio samples, presentations, publications, patents, courses taught, and other content.
Recruiters can quickly assess your abilities through relevant work samples. For writers, upload published articles. For artists, add images of paintings or illustrations. You get the idea.
If you don’t have work artifacts from current roles, create sample content that displays your skills. Even class projects, volunteer work, or hobby pieces can make a positive impression.
Collect Strong Recommendations
Ask managers, colleagues, professors, or other professional contacts to write a recommendation highlighting your qualifications. The more customized and enthusiastic, the better.
Aim for at least 3 recommendations to give credibility. Recruiters look for skills, accomplishments, and attributes the recommenders have seen first-hand from working with you.
Pro tip: Offer to return the favor by writing recommendations for your contacts. The gesture can incentivize great reviews of your work.
Review Your Profile Like a Recruiter
Step back and review your profile with fresh eyes. Would a hiring manager quickly grasp your background, skills, and career goals?
Ensure your profile is:
– **Complete:** All sections filled out, no glaring gaps
– **Consistent:** Same information across resume and profiles
– **Concise:** Tight, scannable paragraphs
– **Convincing:** Paints a compelling picture of your qualifications
Plug any holes in your work history, expand on brief job descriptions, and remove extraneous details. Ask a friend or mentor to review your profile and suggest improvements.
Research the Company
Before applying, learn as much as you can about the company’s products, mission, culture, and initiatives. Check their:
– Website
– About Us, Careers, and News pages
– LinkedIn Company Page
– Social media accounts
– Industry news mentions
This gives helpful context for your cover letter and interview discussions. It also shows initiative, positioning you as an informed candidate.
Leverage Your Network
Apply for jobs at companies where you have insider connections:
– Former colleagues now working there
– College alumni
– Contacts who previously interviewed there
– Friends employed there
Reach out to them before applying. Their employee referral or positive review of you count heavily with recruiters.
Connection | How They Can Help |
---|---|
Former colleague | Refer you for the opening or put in a good word with the hiring manager |
College alumnus | Provide insights on the company’s culture and interview process |
Industry contact | Review your resume and provide tips on how to emphasize relevant experience |
Target Easy Apply Postings
Look for jobs labeled “Easy Apply’ – these only require submitting your existing LinkedIn profile rather than manually uploading documents. The low-friction application increases your chances of getting noticed.
You can filter searches by Easy Apply postings. Note that you’re limited to submitting to around 100 of these per month with a free account.
Leverage LinkedIn Skills Assessments
Complete LinkedIn Skills Quizzes to get badges verifying your proficiency in areas like:
– Programming languages
– Software platforms
– Marketing and design tools
– Business specialties
Feature any badges relevant to the role prominently on your profile. Passing assessments displays hard skills to recruiters.
Watch for Engaged Applicants Metrics
Pay attention to the “Engaged Applicants” data on job postings – this shows how competitive a role is likely to be. Positions with hundreds of engaged applicants will be much harder to stand out in.
When the number is lower, your odds improve. But remember postings can attract applicants via other sources too.
Make Your Application Stand Out
With your profile optimized, put thought and care into your actual application:
Personalize Your Cover Letter
Avoid generic letters copied and pasted for every role. Include specific details on how your background and motivations align with this company and position.
Speak to the Job Description
Address how your skills and experience directly meet or exceed the qualifications listed. Quote relevant keywords and requirements.
Highlight Achievements
Quantify your professional accomplishments with real numbers and examples vs just stating daily job duties.
Explain Gaps
Proactively address employment gaps or overlapping positions. Share opportunities the break provided like education, upskilling, volunteering, etc.
Express Enthusiasm
Convey passion and interest in the company and role. Share why it’s an exciting next step for you professionally.
Follow Up After Applying
Don’t just submit your application into the void. Follow up to position yourself at the top of the pile:
– **Connect** with the hiring manager and recruiter on LinkedIn
– **Send** a brief message re-expressing your interest and fit
– **Follow up** if you don’t hear back after 1 week
Persistence and initiative pays off. But avoid stalking or pestering contacts about the status.
Act Quickly When Contacted
Speed matters – data shows the fastest applicants to respond get interviews.
Set up LinkedIn notifications so you get emailed or texted any time you receive InMail or another message.
Respond confirming your interest in the role the same day whenever possible. If your schedule is tight, propose some alternative interview times.
Prepare for Virtual Interviews
Many LinkedIn screening calls and interviews take place via video chat. Adapt your approach to make the virtual format work for you:
– **Dress professionally** and avoid distracting backgrounds
– **Set up lighting** so your face is visible
– **Test technology beforehand** to avoid glitches
– **Make eye contact** by looking directly at the camera
– **Show energy and enthusiasm** through your vocal presence since body language is harder to read
Practice common video interview questions aloud to feel polished and natural.
Send Thank You Notes
After the interview, email thank you notes to everyone you met with. Personalize each message by referencing something specific you discussed.
Reiterate your interest in and qualifications for the role. This simple gesture can leave a lasting, positive impression with the interview team.
Conclusion
Standing out among the crowd of LinkedIn applicants is challenging, but possible with the right strategy. Optimizing your profile, targeting opportunities intelligently, and putting care into each application and interaction can help your candidacy rise above the competition. The effort is well worth it to land your next great role.