When you look at the clock for the fifth time in an hour, do you ever start to nourish those little fantasies of finding some other kind of work? Or maybe you’re too busy, and you’d like to do something else, but finding another job is just another thing to do. Well, hell, I just found out that recruiters actually use LinkedIn profiles to find job prospects for their clients. Huzzah!
This week’s challenge? Get your LinkedIn profile up, running, and smoooooth. Social media expert Channing Rodman (check her site out here!) suggested some ways to get ‘er done making your LinkedIn a little more headhunter-friendly.
She suggests if your LinkedIn profile’s already complete – that is, “you have your resume up, you have recommendations, you’ve listed your skills and you have OF COURSE changed your “interested in” options to include “career opportunities” – then you may need just a few tweaks to add a little headhunter catnip to your profile.”
Here are her recommendations, in her own words:
aim for the magic number
Get your connections up to 500. It’s the magic number that propels you upward in searches. (Under 500 connections? You’re probably only appearing in about 3% of searches)
be a joiner
Join groups, and if you’ve already had a headhunter approach you, make sure you check out the groups they’re following. If groups annoy you, turn down their volume by adjusting your email settings. But join groups.
leave a trail of breadcrumbs
While you’re searching for new connections in your quest to hit 500+, change your privacy settings so that your name and occupation are displayed when you spend time on other people’s profiles. You want everyone to know who you are and what you’re interested in so that they can follow you back to your amazing profile.
change your keywords
Headhunters are finding you through searches, so make it easy for them by expanding the keywords you use in your Summary, Experience and Skills. If you have connections in your industry who you know were headhunted, go on their profiles and make sure you haven’t missed a keyword.
look like someone they’d want to meet
Consider your profile photo. I know, you’ve heard this before! But photos are hard, so maybe you need to hear this again. Make sure it’s a well lit, clear shot of your face. Casual is ok! Smiling is…fantastic! But avoid drinks/cleavage/poor lighting/blurriness/other people/your baby (seriously, your baby?)/weird looks/squinting/cartoons. Did I miss anything? No cats.
Rare Bird Challenge #3 – Get your LinkedIn profile all polished up and put a link to it down below so we can all be joined on the nets of the Interwebz! Your prize? Connecting with others who are on this site & building your network. You never know what glorious things will be born from those connections!
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Ok, I actually drank my own koolaid on this one and improved my profile – but you guys, I can always use feedback too:) Let’s hear your thoughts and let’s connect! http://www.linkedin.com/in/channingrodman
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