How to Position Yourself to Get a Job on LinkedIn

I know a number of people who have gotten jobs on LinkedIn, a number of recruiters who use LinkedIn as their major recruiting platform and more importantly I have been offered jobs and business opportunities on LinkedIn. It is a good platform if you can wield it.

I’ll like to divide the “How” into 4 parts.

1. Your Profile

2. Your Content

3. Your Engagement

4. Your Network

YOUR PROFILE:

This is ultimately your CV. It contains parts that can answer all the intricate details every recruiter is looking for. This is why it is important to update your profile – 90-100%. Your profile starts with your profile picture (see this as your passport). I’m not saying you should use passport picture o. However, your passport cannot have Snapchat/IG filters, flower on head, far distance shots, etc. The essence is to see your face. Pick a clear and presentable picture. Look sharp. Ready to work. Look good. Look at it this way, if you were announcing your interest to run for presidency what pictures would you use?

If you have the money, you can contact good photographers who specialize in corporate portraits for portfolio images. However, a quick fix would be to use a good phone, take a good picture and upload it. Your shoulder to your hair are the most important features nothing else.

Define your career goals. What kind of job are you looking for? What are you good at? What are you interested in? What companies would you like to work at? What matters most to you – experience or money? Choose wisely. This will guide your profile. Please don’t write “Looking for a job”, “available for job position” and the likes. It is distasteful.

Follow LinkedIn Guides. e.g Your Title would be IT Engineer, when explaining your JD, include what you did. Use industry keywords. Like most social media platforms, keywords are very important. When a recruiter is searching, they won’t search “looking for a job”. Instead, they’ll search for the role, keywords associated with the role and maybe location. Fill your details right.

If your previous company or school has a LinkedIn page, link it. It helps. Find volunteering opportunities too, it goes to show that you’re not idle. Take advantage of the summary page to describe yourself, your skills and goals. Remember to be as detailed/specific as possible when describing your job positions and titles held in the past. Internship counts as experience. Study online too and add your online courses. Most online schools have LinkedIn pages. Link them.

Ask for recommendations from your past colleagues, classmates, etc. skill endorsement is important too. Include accomplishments if you have any. Add projects, certifications, and language(s). Follow accounts that align with your career goal and values. They form your interests. Then enable career interests to let recruiters know you’re open.

YOUR CONTENT:

Don’t just leave your page dormant and hope that your beautiful profile would be enough. Post updates. Be active at least once a week. Share your thoughts on articles you’ve read. Share links to the article. Share things that emphasize your value and career goals. Include keywords in your posts and articles.

Share valuable content. Things to reinforce that you’re “hireable” and you can think for yourself. Don’t write things like “I am a great person”. Write without directly selling yourself. Let the content sell you.

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