How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile to Get More Job Offers
LinkedIn is the world’s largest online professional network. It is a powerful platform that gives you the opportunity to connect with more than 575 million users by sharing your career journey and bringing your professional brand to life.
Your LinkedIn profile is a visual representation of your skills and qualifications and how they got you to where you are today. It is always a good time to learn how you can optimize your LinkedIn profile and leverage its power to skyrocket your career!
At UCF Alumni Professional Engagement, we’re here to support our fellow Knights and make sure you have the maximum amount of opportunities. Here are 4 strategies you can use to stand out and get more job offers:
1. Optimize your LinkedIn Profile
The first step for doing this is adding a professional photo. Users with a photo gain 21 times more views than profiles without a picture, according to LinkedIn. If you have pictures or media of you presenting or volunteering, add them to your About Me or Experience section. After you upload your profile picture, be sure to complete the About Me summary, Education, Experience, and Skills sections. Add the company name and logo and provide a brief overview of your role and any accomplishments you achieved while you were there. Listing your education and alma mater can give you 10 times more views and listing two-plus positions under experience means that you will be 36 times more likely to be found by recruiters.
2. Make Meaningful Connections
LinkedIn has a huge network of communities, groups and fellow alumni. These resources can provide professional advice and even job opportunities. Tell the LinkedIn community what you need help with. Are you interested in a job or volunteer opportunity? Do you own a business and want to promote your services? Find people who are alumni from your alma mater or the organization you want to work for and send a connection request. Doing so increases your chances of the person accepting your request. Since 85% of jobs get filled through employee referrals, search the UCF page, click on Alumni and you can see where your fellow Knights live, what companies they work for and what industries in which they work. How cool!
3. Utilize Job Features
LinkedIn has amazing job features that you should utilize. Under the Job Search tab, you can search opportunities available by career interests, job titles, company name and even set up alerts when a job that matches your criteria is available. LinkedIn will even recommend jobs based on what experience and skills you have on your profile, so be sure to complete these sections accurately. If you want to appear in recruiter searches, go into your privacy settings and update your job seeking preferences. You can let recruiters know that you are open to opportunities and you can signal your interests to recruiters at companies for which you created job alerts.
4. Follow Up
Networking and making connections are extremely important, but that is just the first step. Following up with professionals or recruiters you meet in person or on the platform is what will distinguish you from the rest. After you apply for any position, use the People Search function and type in “recruiter” or “talent acquisition of X company.” You may find a list of people in decision-making positions who work for the company where you applied. See if you have any connections in common or if you are tied to any professional associations or schools. Click on that employee’s profile and send a customized connect note saying, “Hi, I see you are a Project Manager at ABC Company, as well as an alumnus from UCF. I would love to chat.”
LinkedIn is changing the way we search and apply for jobs. Grow your professional skills and connect to new job opportunities through a great LinkedIn profile!
UCF Alumni Professional Engagement
Whether you’re a new graduate about to be launched into the workforce or an experienced professional looking for a career transition, we’re here to help. Visit our website for more information!
About the Author
Ashley Colquhoun ’12, SHRM-CP is a human resources management and event services professional with a background in HR generalist affairs, including employee recruitment and retention, staff development and employee relations.
