HOW TO MARKET YOURSELF TO EMPLOYERS
LINKEDIN101: 101: LINKEDIN HOW TO OPTIMISE YOUR PROFILE Time to step up your LinkedIn game and attract more recruiters to your page.
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t’s no secret that LinkedIn is now one of the primary means employers use to look for recruits. With over 93% of companies globally using LinkedIn to make hiring decisions, it is critical for jobseekers to have an account on the site to put themselves on the radar and also apply to specific jobs. However, simply creating a LinkedIn profile isn’t quite enough to make yourself stand out from millions of other users. You have to take things a step further to make your profile more attractive and searchable for recruiters. Here are some basic tips for those who are just starting out on LinkedIn and some additional tips that will help give your profile that coveted “wow” factor:
Pick professional profile pictures
Always remember that LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking platform, so make sure to choose your profile photo wisely. A professional-looking headshot is always a safe bet.
Include relevant information
The Basics
Just like what you would do with your résumé, curate your achievements, qualifications and work experience that are relevant to the industry you wish to pursue your career. For instance, if you are interested in digital marketing, you should highlight skills such as search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM). There is a specific section in your LinkedIn profile where you can list down your other skills as well. On the other hand, if you are looking to join a specific industry, such as the retail industry, it may be a good idea to emphasise your work experience as a sales promoter, for instance.
Grow your connections
Once your profile is all set up and updated, the next step for you is to expand your connections. LinkedIn will prompt you to connect with people who you might know through the email account you use to sign in to LinkedIn or through mutual connections. Take advantage of this function and explore the possible contacts you can connect with. When sending an invitation to connect with someone, give it a nice touch by dropping the person a personalised message. Also, if you have pending connection requests, remember to respond promptly and send them a thank you message for reaching out.
90 | SIM CAREER GUIDE 2020
www.sim.edu.sg
