How do I make my LinkedIn and online presence work for me?
Most people treat a profile as a CV with a photo. It is closer to a search result: it has to be found, then it has to answer one question quickly.
- Session length
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Matched on
- Your field
Three things worth knowing.
Write the headline for the job you want, in the words that job is advertised with. That line does most of the work in search.
The opening section should say what you do, who for, and what you have done. Three sentences beat three paragraphs.
Publishing anything at all puts you ahead of most people. A short post about work you understand is enough.
A sequence that works.
- 01
Fix the headline
Role words a recruiter would type, not a job title only your employer uses.
- 02
Rewrite the summary
Three sentences: what you do, for whom, with what result.
- 03
Add evidence
Projects, writing, talks or work anyone can look at.
- 04
Turn on the signals
Open-to-work settings, correct location, and the skills the adverts name.
What to avoid.
A headline that only makes sense inside your company
A summary written in the third person and full of adjectives
An outdated profile that contradicts your CV
Waiting until you need a job to start
The things people ask first.
Do recruiters really search this way?
Yes, mostly by keyword and location. Terms you never use will not find you.
Should I mark myself as open to work?
The recruiter-only setting is low risk and effective. The public badge is a personal choice.
How often should I post?
Rarely and usefully beats often and empty. Once a month is plenty.
Get this answered for your situation.
A mentor who does the job you are aiming at can tell you which of this applies to you.