Consider your professional LinkedIn Profile to be equivalent to the front page of the website of you. It’s not a resume of your experiences: It’s a tool to showcase your professional brand.
And while recruiters might check you out as a potential candidate if you have a strong profile with relevant skills, the objective in creating one is about building out your branded career story and showcasing the key positions you’ve had and experiences that will help your profile standout and showcase your core skills.
Job Search Strategies
DID YOU KNOW:
Recruiters using LinkedIn use keywords and phrases found in your headline and summary sections of your profile to find potential employees -- that’s why it’s so important to be thoughtful and intentional about these two sections in particular if you’re wanting to use LinkedIn as an avenue for finding future careers. Update your headline and summary often to keep them fresh
Sample Headlines: Aspiring Java Software Developer | Seeking Entry-Level Programming Position | Experience with JavaScript and Python
USING LINKEDIN FOR JOB SEARCHING
In 2019, LinkedIn had more than 645 million users, more than 30 million companies, and more than 20 million active job postings. It truly is a powerful networking tool for the 21st century, but it isn’t enough to simply have a LinkedIn profile; you must actively use LinkedIn to reap its benefits. Check out how you can effectively use LinkedIn in your job search:
Expand Your Network
You can search LinkedIn for other UPM alumni; specific people including your former classmates, professors, former supervisors, just about anyone!
Search and follow industry-related group pages:
In the search bar, type in your career field and click on “in Groups”.
Find several groups which sound interesting to you.
Click “Follow” to stay up-to-date on posts from selected groups.
Search and follow specific employers:
If you know you want to work for a specific company, search for them in the search bar.
Click “Follow” and browse their employer page.
Check out profiles of those currently employed as well as any open jobs they have listed.
Maintain and Develop Your Connections
Once you have expanded your network, maintain and develop your connections by:
Posting relevant information. Share or create posts with timely information related to your career field. Just like any other social media platform, your connections will be able to comment and share your posts with their connections.
Paying attention to your notifications. LinkedIn will notify you if anyone is celebrating a work anniversary or if someone has been promoted or has changed companies. Stay connected by sending them messages when you receive such notifications.
Endorsing others or asking for endorsements. You can request recommendations from former professors, supervisors, co-workers, etc. to endorse the skill sets you have listed, which builds your credibility.
Search for Jobs and Other Opportunities:
LinkedIn makes it easy to search for and apply using your LinkedIn profile as part of your job application (another reason your LinkedIn profile is important!)
Use the filters. Using filters such as School, Location, Date Posted, Experience Level, etc. can help you identify appropriate opportunities.
Turn on Career Interests. Located on your dashboard, turn this function on to let recruiters know you are open to new opportunities.
TOP 10 TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR “PERSONAL BRAND”
Figure Out Who You Are and How You Want to Present Yourself
Assess your strengths and weaknesses, where you want to go in the future, and the steps you need to take to reach your professional goals. What are your motivations and interests? What characteristics do you wish to emphasize and continue practicing in your career? Who do you want to connect with through your experiences and skills? These are some questions that you will want to answer to optimize your brand.
Research Your Desired Industry
What market do you wish to join? Researching industry expectations, involvement, and skills requirements can help you decide what strengths, expertise, and experiences you want to advertise through your personal brand. If your goal is to become a web design and content developer, you might create a webpage or blog that showcases and discusses your design and blogging ability.
Have a Focused, Engaging Message
What do you stand for? What values do you embrace and how do you want to express these values, goals, and motivations? by creating a concise, engaging message that highlights what you find important and wish to contribute to the industry; you can advertise your brand more efficiently and better ensure that you gain your desired audience.
Maintain Consistency Throughout
As your brand speaks to who you are and where you wish to be, you will want to keep your goals and message clear and consistent. Once you begin using your online presence to promote your unique skills and experiences, make sure to try not to change your message often Having many differing messages and profiles can cause potential employers and connections to perceive you as unreliable or inexperienced.
Your Brand
Promoting and publishing information that you are truly interested in makes it much easier to stay active with your brand and online presence. If you are interested in a marketing manager in the sports industry, for example, stay informed on athlete and industry news, practice writing content discussing changes and advertising strategies, and remain involved in the industry.
Project a Positive Attitude and Community
With the possibility of employers and co-workers viewing your online activity, refrain from posting or advertising negative or offensive content about your current occupation, employers, co-workers, or habits. Hiring committees may use your online attitude and posts to determine your character and negative content could prevent you from reaching intended goals, positions, and audiences.
Stay up to Date
Whatever sites and sources you use to publish your personal brand, make sure to remain active and current. Changes in employment status, location, goals, and life statuses are all examples of information that may change your occupational trajectory and life goals, so you will want to update this information to keep your brand current and authentic. Post relevant and interesting content to show investment in your market and sustain connections within your growing network.
Grow Your Online Presence
Creating and maintaining a LinkedIn profile, personal website or blog, online portfolio, and Twitter account are some ways that you can establish and grow your online presence and network. Using professional online connections can increase the publicity of your personal brand and show a wider audience your qualifications, interests, and goals.
Reinvent as You Experience
It is increasingly common for people's occupational goals, interests, and personal messages to change throughout their lifetimes. As you work and gain experience, you may change the message and presence you wish to advertise. By updating your profiles, blogs, and connections; you can reinvent and add to the messages and activity you publicize to future employers and companies. Do not be afraid to slowly change your brand — just make sure to stay honest and consistent with who you are as a professional.
Let Your Personality Show
Finally, don't be afraid to show your personality through your personal branding. At the end of the day, employers want to get to know you.
Contact Us
BC-121, Male Students' Section, University of Prince Mugrin, Madinah, Saudi Arabia