LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for professionals looking to advance their careers and for recruiters seeking top talent. To stand out and attract the attention of recruiters, your LinkedIn profile needs to be optimized and polished. Here are actionable tips to enhance your LinkedIn visibility and make a lasting impression.
1. Complete Your Profile 100%
Ensure every section of your profile is complete. A 100% complete profile includes a professional photo, headline, summary, work experience, education, skills, and endorsements.
Key Elements to Complete:
- Profile Photo: Use a high-quality, professional headshot.
- Headline: Craft a compelling headline that goes beyond your job title. Use keywords related to your industry.
- Summary: Write a concise and engaging summary that highlights your experience, skills, and what you’re looking for.
- Experience: Detail your work history with accomplishments and quantifiable results.
- Skills & Endorsements: List relevant skills and seek endorsements from colleagues.
- Education: Include all relevant educational qualifications.
- Certifications: Add any certifications that bolster your qualifications.
The first thing we always see in a profile is the photo. Some people believe that it’s better not to show a photo, as it might work against them. I’m quite old-fashioned, and therefore, I want to see the person I might be working with right away. So, I recommend always adding your photo.
However, it’s important to choose the right one. Remember that LinkedIn is a professional network, so the photo should be appropriate. Avoid photos from the beach, the sauna, parties with friends, or with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Absolutely no cute animals or pop culture characters. Just a good portrait where your face is clearly visible.
2. Use Keywords Strategically
Recruiters search for candidates using specific keywords related to job roles and skills. Incorporate these keywords naturally throughout your profile, particularly in your headline, summary, and experience sections.
How to Find the Right Keywords:
- Review job descriptions for your desired roles.
- Look at profiles of industry leaders and peers.
- Use LinkedIn’s “Skills” section to identify popular skills in your field.
3. Showcase Your Skills and Endorsements
List skills that are relevant to your industry and ask colleagues to endorse you for these skills. LinkedIn allows you to prioritize your top skills, so ensure your most important ones are prominently displayed.
Steps to Optimize Skills:
- List at least 10 skills.
- Pin your top three skills.
- Regularly update your skills to reflect new competencies.
4. Get Recommendations
Recommendations from colleagues, managers, and clients can significantly boost your profile’s credibility. Reach out to people you’ve worked with and ask for a brief recommendation.
Tips for Getting Recommendations:
- Personalize your request.
- Offer to write a recommendation in return.
- Request recommendations from a diverse range of connections (e.g., supervisors, peers, clients).
5. Engage with Your Network
Active engagement increases your visibility. Post updates, share articles, comment on posts, and join relevant groups.
Ways to Engage:
- Post industry news and insights.
- Share your achievements and milestones.
- Comment on posts from your network.
- Join and participate in LinkedIn groups related to your field.
As a Recruitment Lead at Ubisoft, professional experience is key for us, but having an active LinkedIn page can really help catch our recruiters’ eyes faster. Here are a few tips to boost your visibility:
1) Show off your wins: Highlight projects or achievements that showcase your skills and impact.
2) Tell your story: Write a summary that reflects who you are and what drives you professionally.
3) Use the right buzzwords: Include industry-relevant keywords to help recruiters find you.
4) Get social: Engage with posts, share your thoughts, and connect with others in the gaming community.
5) Grow your network: Join gaming groups, connect with fellow gamers, and participate in virtual events. Networking is key!
Check Ubisoft job openings on InGame Job
6. Customize Your LinkedIn URL
A customized LinkedIn URL makes your profile easier to find and looks more professional. Edit your public profile URL to something simple and easy to remember, like linkedin.com/in/yourname.
How to Customize Your URL:
- Go to your profile.
- Click “Edit public profile & URL.”
- Click the pencil icon next to your URL and customize it.
7. Be Active in LinkedIn Groups
Joining and participating in LinkedIn groups related to your industry can enhance your visibility and expand your network. It’s an excellent way to connect with peers and industry leaders.
How to Utilize Groups:
- Join groups relevant to your industry and interests.
- Participate in discussions.
- Share your expertise by answering questions.
- Network with group members.
8. Utilize LinkedIn’s Open to Work Feature
The “Open to Work” feature allows recruiters to know you’re open to job opportunities. You can control the visibility of this feature to ensure only recruiters or your network sees it.
Steps to Enable Open to Work:
- Go to your profile.
- Click on “Show recruiters you’re open to work” below your headline.
- Fill out the job preferences and click “Add to profile.”
You need to have a strong profile and a well-filled LinkedIn, which is professionally designed and up-to-date.
Add achievements and specific results from your work. Specify your main specialization, the fields you have worked in, the genres, and your main tasks. List all your skills, as they are often used as keywords in searches. Just in case, add alternative contact information in your profile description.
We recommend filling out your profile in English, even if you are not fluent at an advanced level. Include links to your portfolio or GitHub in the description of your experience.
Maintain a social presence, periodically publish posts, engage in professional groups, share achievements, add recruiters to your contacts, and generally grow your network. Like and comment on colleagues’ posts, as this will increase your profile’s visibility.
9. Share Rich Media
Enhance your profile by adding rich media like presentations, videos, and portfolios. This showcases your work and makes your profile more engaging.
Types of Rich Media to Share:
- Project portfolios
- Presentation slides
- Articles or blog posts
- Videos of talks or webinars
10. Regularly Update Your Profile
Keep your profile up-to-date with your latest achievements, roles, and skills. Regular updates signal to recruiters that you’re active and engaged.
What to Update Regularly:
- Recent projects and achievements
- New skills or certifications
- Changes in job roles or responsibilities
By strategically optimizing and regularly updating your LinkedIn profile, you can significantly increase your visibility to recruiters. Implement these tips to create a compelling and professional LinkedIn presence that attracts the right opportunities and helps you advance your career.
