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6 Min Read
Published
October 06, 2021
Author
Tom Meehan
Did you know that LinkedIn has more than 774 million users from over 200 countries worldwide? Now you know.
Since its launch in May 2005, LinkedIn has grown into one of the largest professional social networking platforms connecting the global workforce.
Typically, through this platform, you get to create connections with other professionals globally who have the same skillset as you. And through these online connections, you increase your chances of knowing about opportunities as soon as they arise, applying for them, and getting hired.
However, to increase your chances of getting hired through LinkedIn, your profile has to stand out. Remember, you're competing with millions of other qualifying candidates, so your profile should give your potential employer enough reasons to hire you and not any other candidate.
So, how do you set up your LinkedIn profile to get hired in tech? Keep reading this article for our top tips on how to optimise your LinkedIn profile.
Your profile photo is the first thing anyone who visits your profile sees. So, it's good to add a professional photo that creates a great first impression.
Statistics show that LinkedIn members with a photo in their profiles receive more engagement than those without. They get 21 times more profile views, and as if this isn't enough, their connection requests are also 9 times higher.
Unlike other social media platforms where you use overly edited and filtered photos for your profile, LinkedIn calls for a professional headshot.
Don't use a photo with unkempt hair or a wrinkled shirt—this would make you look less credible. Consider dressing well, like you're attending an interview, and remember to smile; no one wants to reach out to an angry-looking candidate. Besides, your profile photo should be well-lit with a neutral background.
A professional headline should accompany your professional profile photo. By default, LinkedIn uses your current job title and company to populate your headline. And while it's okay to leave your profile with this default headline, you can still edit it to your preference.
To make your profile stand out and increase its chances of appearing in client searches, use keywords. Consider listing your specialty but keep it simple and free of jargon.
For instance, your headline can read, 'Front End Web Developer.' You can also add your area of expertise, such as 'Front End Web Developer- Angular, JavaScript, React.'
Keep your headline to about 10 words.
The LinkedIn summary offers you a chance to showcase your skills and expertise.
However, this isn't the place for flowery language or a long list of achievements, but rather a quick paragraph that'll give potential employers a glimpse of who you are and what value you could bring to their company.
Potential employers don't have the whole day to read through your list of achievements. So no, essays, please! Even if you have a lot to say about yourself, pick only the most relevant points, say 5-6 points.
It's advisable to include bullets points to make the summary highly readable and skimmable. You can even add a video to showcase your tech prowess.
You can also use this part to let the target audience know your job searching status, for example, 'Open to opportunities,' 'Seeking an early-career position,' or 'Looking for transitional roles,' to mention a few.
Your summary should be between 350-400 words or 2,000 characters. Remember your LinkedIn summary is your elevator pitch, and so you should craft it to your level best.
The professional experience section is another great opportunity to showcase what you are best at.
Make a list of your previous professional roles, and if possible, the ones relevant to the position you are eyeing. However, don't leave out your previous roles that might not sound so relevant to the position you're applying for because they might be a great way to show your growth and transition in the tech industry.
Just like you do on your resume, your professional experience here should contain information about your responsibilities and achievements in your previous positions. Remember, numbers are the best way to showcase what you have done, and they capture the potential employers' attention easily. So, if possible, quantify your achievements. For example, say something like 'modified numerous software applications, increasing user-friendliness by 27%.'
A bonus tip: Make the most out of action words that show impact, for example, achieved, doubled, tripled, created, established, led, etc.
When listing out the companies you have worked for, ensure you include the job title, location, and work period.
When filling in your skills, ensure you optimise them by using keywords. Optimising your skills makes it easy for your profile to appear when a potential employer searches for a specific skill set.
At a glance, your skills show an employer what you can do, and it can be convenient if you're applying for a job where the company asks for specific technical skills.
If you feel that your skills are insufficient, you may consider reskilling or upskilling to fit into the current job market. You can learn more skills on Knoma. At Knoma, we offer lifelong learning to bridge the digital skills gap created by industrial and technological advancements
If you have a long list of skills, you can leave out some general skills in these current tech times, like proficiency in word processors and time management, to mention a few. Consider including web development and digital skills that might make you stand out.
Pretty self-explanatory but worth noting that your education section should include any qualifications you might have, not just your degree.
Education details show how you gained your tech knowledge.
Always include the name of the institution, location, year of study, and whatever certification you got from the institution.
Most learning institutions have logos for LinkedIn, so make sure most if not all of your schools have logos. Logos make the institutions look official.
When stating your educational qualifications, it's not really necessary to include your high school or preparatory schools.
Not every employer looks at this section, but it's good to have something here too. So, get people to endorse you, such as friends, colleagues, former employers, or anyone you have interacted with professionally.
Endorsements act as an assurance that you're indeed competent in what you do, that you actually possess the skills you have listed. Don't shy away from asking for endorsements or recommendations; they may be what makes you stand out among other potential candidates.
After setting up everything on your LinkedIn profile, ensure it's always up to date. The vital information you need to keep updated includes your contact information, location, and job position.
When you achieve something, say a new skill or a professional achievement, always add it to your profile.
Keeping an updated profile by adding recent achievements helps recruiters see your commitment to your career path.
Be vigilant, connect with other people in the tech field. There are hundreds of millions of people on LinkedIn, and it's upon you to choose who to connect with. The more connections you make, the better it is for you because you get more sources of information, career help, and endorsements.
Don't just create your profile; optimise it and leave it that. No, you need to stay active just as much as you do with other social media platforms.
You can stay active by posting meaningful content on LinkedIn, commenting on other posts, engaging in relevant discussions, etc. You can also remain active by regularly updating your profile.
Being an active LinkedIn member increases your visibility, meaning your profile appears on more searches, increasing your chances of getting hired for programming and tech development jobs.
LinkedIn is the perfect place to get your name out there and show off your skills, expertise, and professionalism. We hope these 10 tips will help you set up your LinkedIn profile to increase your chances of getting hired in tech.
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