How Job Seekers Leverage LinkedIn Profiles to Catch Recruiters’ Attention

By Mary Olson-Menzel   

Your digital profile matters. In today’s professional arena, you must have a professional LinkedIn profile. Not only is it an opportunity to get noticed, but it is currently one of the most effective sources for connecting with potential employers, sharing news, nurturing and expanding your network, and ultimately finding a job.

LinkedIn has been growing as a professional network since 2003 and connects more people daily. While a resume is a summary of your career history, your LinkedIn profile provides a more complete picture of you as a professional and what you care about—your professional brand.

When searching for a job or building your professional brand, LinkedIn should be your new “best friend” and one of the best online resources for your job search endeavors. It is a great place to keep your finger on the pulse of your professional network and job search and discover what is happening in the business world.

Expert recommendations to build your profile:

• Add a professional photo. You’re 14 times more likely to be viewed if you have a photo.
• Write an attention-grabbing headline. Explain what it is you do. Show your passion and value.
• Draft a compelling summary. Focus on career accomplishments in 40 words or more. Include keywords but not buzzwords.
• Detail your past work experience. You’re 12 times more likely to be viewed if you have more than one position listed!
• Add skills and get endorsements. Include a mix of high-level and niche skills.
• Include volunteer work and causes.

If you have been out of work for a while and have a career gap in your resume or LinkedIn profile, it is not necessarily a deal breaker for employers anymore. Most employers will ask why if the gap between jobs is over a year, so be prepared to tell your story. Don’t stress. Be honest and open about what you have been doing and why and how those skills can translate into a new role.

Think about how best to present the story of your life/career in between jobs and explain why it matters. Did you step out of the workforce to raise children, care for an elderly parent, write a book, travel the world or do charity work? Whatever the reason, stepping out of the workforce and hitting the pause button has become perfectly acceptable. When you tell the story of your decision to leave the workforce, focus on what you did or accomplished during that time. This can illustrate that you either maintained existing skills, learned new skills or gained other experiences or perspectives that contribute to your value or are relevant to a potential employer.

With an employment gap on your resume or LinkedIn profile, your goal is to show a potential employer that the talents and skills you exhibited during this time are of value to their organization. We all have a story, which includes the ups and downs and decisions/choices made from either necessity or desire. Telling your story as honestly and authentically as possible helps demonstrate to a future employer that you are someone they can trust.

Our world has changed so much and continues to evolve in ways we could have never imagined. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were all in the same “storm,” but not necessarily in the same “boat.” Our home situations may have been different, but we all did the best we could at that moment in time. The pandemic has completely changed how many employers look at work and life. We have all been humanized in a way that creates more empathy for whatever boat you’re in. So, keep the story real and truthful. Letting your authenticity and values shine through will demonstrate that you are someone with integrity and worthy of a second look despite your employment gap.

Remember, a gap in your career history does not change the fact that you have skills, qualities and talents to offer to an employer that can go above and beyond your experiences.

Employers are always looking for:

• Creativity
• Clear communication skills
• Collaboration
• Quick, analytical thinking
• Organizational skills
• Intelligence (emotional and intellectual)
• Flexibility/adaptability
• Quick learning
• Resilience
• Problem-solving skills
• Enthusiasm

As a result, I recommend that you find ways to highlight that you utilized these important skills during your leave of absence, no matter what you did in between jobs.

Your resume and LinkedIn profile are two essential components of your job search “toolbox.” They summarize your experience, illustrate what you bring to the table and explain how your skills and expertise can meet future employers’ needs. Keeping them up-to-date will help you prepare for whatever might be next for you!

Mary Olson-Menzel, author of What Lights You Up?, has over 30 years of leadership across global media, tech, healthcare and many other industries. She is the founder and CEO of MVP Executive Development, a national leadership, coaching and organizational management consultancy with offices in New York, Connecticut and Illinois.

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This article was originally published on diversitycomm.net.