How to write a LinkedIn profile as a jobseeker
How to write a LinkedIn profile as a job applicant
Here is my advice on how to write a LinkedIn profile as a jobseeker.
LinkedIn is incredibly useful for jobseekers in all sectors that I can imagine. As long as your target employers or useful peers or stakeholders are on LinkedIn, then you have a useful purpose on the platform.
Do I need a LinkedIn profile for my job search?
You don’t have to have a LinkedIn profile. You can succeed without one by focusing entirely on responding to advertised jobs and/or applying speculatively. In both of these cases, networking won’t be essential. Your application should stand on its own merits. But, in the longer term, networking with your target employers is good.
LinkedIn is a platform for professional networking, and one that is used extensively by recruiters and employers, hence having a presence on it is likely to do more good than harm.
It also makes sense that your LinkedIn profile should reflect and reinforce what is on your CV. But, knowing where to draw the line is important too.
Can I just copy my CV into LinkedIn?
No, please don’t. Here is why you should not copy your CV into LinkedIn:
- The two things have a different purpose. A CV is intended to get you an interview. Your LinkedIn profile is a reflection of your professional image online and a component of your personal brand.
- They have a different audience. Many people who will come across your profile on the platform are not looking to hire you.
- It makes you look like you are seeking to move. Don’t come across as desperate to leave your current job. Be picky about the right opportunities. Recruiters place a high value on ‘passive candidates’.
- The way the information is consumed is different. A LinkedIn profile is structured to allow quick reading and some sections can be skipped, whereas a CV should be read in full.
- The level of detail is different. Your LinkedIn can include a bio summarising your career highlights. A CV should give much more specific detail about your achievements in each role, with metrics, including some things that you would not share publicly.
A CV can however be a useful reference document, guiding you on what kind of things to outline on LinkedIn. It depends on how good your CV is of course. If your CV is poorly written and not detailed enough then using it as a foundation for your profile will not benefit you greatly.
Think about your objectives
Of course, your ultimate aim is to get a job. But, not everyone who reads your LinkedIn profile is a potential employer. And, you may want to network with others at the same time. So, your LinkedIn profile can’t just be your CV.
How you write your profile will depend on your objectives. These might be:
- Network with leaders in your chosen field. This could be for thought leadership and insight or future opportunities.
- Network with peers to understand industry trends and be alerted to opportunities.
- Build a following of people in your field, deliver value, and demonstrate your value. These could be future stakeholders or customers.
All of this will give you visibility to relevant employers and recruiters.
Think long-term and short-term
LinkedIn is a networking site. It’s not primarily a jobs website, though that is one of its functions. So, it’s worth thinking through the range of opportunities LinkedIn might provide. That way, you can start building towards them now, rather than later.
