How to optimise your LinkedIn profile and get that job interview

It’s almost certain that every recruiter and employer will look at your LinkedIn profile when you apply for a role. This an opportunity to sell yourself, and let them know what you can do at a glance. Your profile has got to look professional, credible, and highlight all your key skills and experience. Stay one step ahead and make sure your online presence is slick, smart, and up to date. 

Add a photo

Greet any prospective employer with a friendly, yet professional photograph as your profile picture. If you have one, you could use the photograph taken at your current role for the company website (if you have their permission, that is). If not, consider taking a new photo of yourself, as a casual photo from the pub won’t send the right message to prospective employers. Dress professionally and ask a friend to take your headshot against a neutral and professional background. Don’t forget to smile!

You could also consider adding a header photo. This could be the logo of the firm you currently work for, a promotional image for a project you're working on, a second professional (landscape) photograph of you, or a tasteful shot of the city you work in. You could choose anything, as long as it's tasteful, professional and the correct dimensions.

The minimum size for a LinkedIn profile photo is 400 x 400 pixels, which can be up to 8MB in size. For the profile cover shot it's 1584 x 396 pixels, which is an aspect ratio of 4:1. Make sure whatever photos you choose are high quality and not blurry once they're uploaded.

About me

Write a brief summary of your career in the ‘About Me’ section, which should include where you work at the moment and how many years experience you have in your field, as well as any relevant qualifications or certificates and additional languages spoken.

Work experience

Make sure your work experience section is totally up to date, including your current job. Include a list of your duties, responsibilities and achievements in each role in a bulleted list for each job you have had, and be sure to include the dates, leaving no gaps if possible (and accurate!) Double check your spelling, grammar and formatting and keep it consistent across your whole profile.

Education

Update the education section, not only with your school and university achievements, but with professional courses, qualifications and accreditations you have undertaken. This may be very helpful to an employer or recruiter searching for someone with specific qualifications.

Posts and engagement

Share posts on your profile that are relevant to the space you’re working in, or want to work in, to show you have a genuine interest in the subject. It may also help you connect with colleagues, as well as potential future employers. Reserve any political views or personal announcements for Facebook and Instagram, LinkedIn should remain a strictly professional space.

Connections

It’s beneficial to be well connected within your industry, so send connection requests to your colleagues, follow relevant industry pages and any companies you aspire to work for. Engage with their posts and get your name into the conversation!

Recommendations

Ask for recommendations from professionals in your industry, ideally from your current and/or previous manager, director or colleagues. These will help to give you extra credibility and speak to your competence in your role and the skills and qualities you have.

There you have it, everything you need to make your LinkedIn profile stand out from the crowd. Give us a call on 0207 117 2542 or email info@ajfoxcompliance.com to discuss how we can help you reach your career goals.