The secret for increasing visitor traffic to your LinkedIn Profile is to apply effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques.

Effective keyword optimization for your LinkedIn Profile is not as difficult to do as it sounds.

Basically, LinkedIn is a very large database of profiles that uses keyword fields to order (or “index”) the entire collection of data.

Since most of LinkedIn’s revenue is generated by recruiters using LinkedIn to find candidates, LinkedIn knows the best keywords for personal SEO.

The good news? Most of the terms you enter on LinkedIn are searchable by other users — meaning that you can’t go wrong by appropriately including keywords that represent, of course, the job titles and skills appropriate for you that are found in job postings.

However, if you also understand (and leverage) LinkedIn’s indexing method, you’ll be in a better position to grow your traffic. So you’ll want to add more keywords, taking steps to increase the keyword density in specific fields, as described below.

[Related: The 25 Best Keywords for Your Job Search and Career, and Developing Your Best Keywords.]

Best Keywords for LinkedIn Profile

Here are 5 tips for effective LinkedIn SEO (and more views) on your Profile:

  1. Pay Attention to Your Professional Headline.  

The most prominent branding message on your LinkedIn Profile is also the most critical when it comes to SEO.

Next to your name, your Professional Headline, the phrase that appears below your name, is the most highly rated field in the index.

What does this mean? Keywords listed in the Headline field will have a greater impact, increasing your ranking among other users for the same terms.

Now you know why using the default “current-job” Headline is not a good idea!

As an example, consider switching

“Vice President Sales at ABC Corporation” (your current position)

to

“VP Sales. Revenue Growth in Cloud-Enabled Technology Solutions. Product Development & Sales Operations Leadership”  (your current position with more keywords added to more fully explain it)

This strategy prevents ABC Corporation from becoming a highly relevant search term on this user’s Profile, while enabling other keywords (Product Development, Sales Operations, Cloud-Enabled Technology, Revenue Growth) to draw more traffic.

LinkedIn allows you to use 120 spaces for your Headline, and using as many of the 120 as possible is smart.

[Related: Choosing the Best Keywords for Your LinkedIn Profile.]

  2. Consider Adding Keywords to Your Job Title.  

The Job Title field on LinkedIn is also a highly indexed field (as is your Employer name). However, if your current job title is too vague, you can miss out on a chance for more traffic.

What works well in this case is to add content to your Job Title, taking care not to change your job title.

For example,

“Operations Associate” can become

“Operations Associate – Operations Manager for Thermo-printing Division”

The second version more fully explains the true job function to someone outside of the organization.

Other examples:

“Senior Consultant” becomes “Senior Consultant , IT Project Management”

”Financial Analyst” becomes “Financial Analyst – Audit & Compliance”

In each example, the second version provides both more keyword detail and a clearer explanation of the job. LinkedIn currently allows you 100 spaces for your job title, and, as usual, using as many as possible for appropriate keywords is smart.

  3. Use Your About Section for Additional Keyword Content.  

Although not considered a highly indexed part of LinkedIn, your About section (formerly called the “Summary”) must nevertheless contain compelling text, along with a high percentage of keywords relevant to your goal:

“As an IT Director, my goal is to satisfy stakeholders and speak the language of our trading industry users, while implementing technologies to boost processing speed and accelerate business transformation. I’ve led IT project teams of up to 110 in service delivery and brought hosting costs down 32%, even during rapid growth.”

“In Senior Manager and Director of Sales roles, I’ve built trust among customers and captured market trends in the oil and gas industry… with new sales channels and alliances that grew revenue 123%. I enjoy the challenge of creating a competitive edge through increased brand recognition and high-performance sales team mentoring.”

This type of About language employs more robust keyword content than a resume summary — which is a key reason you shouldn’t duplicate your resume on your LinkedIn Profile.

[Related: The Top 25 Keywords for Your Job Search.]

  4. Add Projects and Other “Extra” Sections on LinkedIn.  

Often neglected as a great strategy for adding more detail (and keywords)…

Sections like Projects, Certifications, or Honors & Awards can be used to inject more keywords.

Should you decide to use these sections, keep your wording short and keyword-dense. For example, a Certification for a particular software language could state “Java Developer” with the initials of the credential.

A COO in the real estate industry could also add several Projects entitled “Commercial Real Estate – NYC” to show proficiency in overseeing large-city construction efforts.

In the Honors & Awards section, you can add accolades that begin with your desired job title (“Senior Sales Executive winning President’s Club for 5 years”).

[Learn more: How to List Awards, Scholarships, and Honors on Your Resume]

  5. Choose Your “Skills” and Continue Collecting “Endorsements.”  

One of the most misunderstood sections of LinkedIn, the Skills & Endorsements area started out as a directly searchable group of keywords.

Now, it has evolved into an SEO tool that can draw serious traffic, but only if it’s used correctly.

The terms you add to Skills & Expertise factor more heavily in your LinkedIn searchability when you are endorsed for them. Therefore, it makes sense to add keywords and obtain (and accept) Endorsements on them.

A caveat: ensure the terms you add in this section are really keywords. Given a choice between a “hard skill” (such as “Project Management”) and a character trait (such as “Leadership”), employers may prefer to search for specific competencies.

[Related: 4 Steps to Leverage LinkedIn Skills & Endorsements for a More Powerful Profile.]

The Bottom Line on Keywords for Your Linked Profile and Headline

These are just a few tips for boosting your LinkedIn’s SEO factor (as there are more critical fields and strategies that can be used to generate traffic!). Even if you don’t understand SEO concepts, remember that adding more content to your Profile nearly always results in more visitors – especially when you capitalize on keywords to attract employer interest.

Keywords in LinkedIn Profiles:

• 12 Steps to Outrank Your Competitors in LinkedIn Search in 2020 (Personal LinkedIn SEO)
• Your Name: The Most Important Keywords for Your Job Search and Career
• 7 Best Ways for IT Professionals to Optimize Keywords for a More Powerful LinkedIn Profile
• Social Profile Keyword Success Secrets
• Personal Branding: SEO for Your LinkedIn Headline

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

The post Double (or Triple) Your LinkedIn Profile Views with Keywords appeared first on Job-Hunt.

At LinkedIn’s urging, most users try to update their Profiles as completely as possible. They have also recently rolled out new job titles for parents, caretakers, and others.

Yet entering a “current job” can seem over-the-top when you’re unemployed.

Of course, employers may see through your attempts to cover up a period of unemployment, and resent the implication that you’re working (if the opposite is true).

Create a Current Job

If you choose to omit a current position at the top of the Experience section, your ranking will drop slightly in LinkedIn search results.

In other words, your findability among competing candidates (based on the keywords you have added) will slow somewhat, with your Profile appearing several pages lower than what it would have been.

You can run a test (adding a current job, and then removing it), using Advanced People Search in each case to see what really happens. Sorting your results by Keyword will show how most others find your Profile.

If you do opt to add a current position, keep the description short and in alignment with the job you’re seeking, using these tips:

  1. Note Your Goals, Not Your Unemployment.  

Refrain from using words such as “Unemployed,” “Laid Off,” etc. in describing your current status, as these words have negative connotations and are not used often by employers or recruiters searching through LinkedIn for qualified candidates.

You’re better off pointing out your value to employers by adding skills and job title keywords to help define the type of role you’re pursuing rather than labeling yourself as “Unemployed.”

As an example, adding “I offer a broad operations background, including Lean Six Sigma, team management, production supervision, and plant engineering skills” in the job description can help boost keyword density for an Operations Manager.

For more details about leveraging keywords, read The Top 25 Keywords for Your Job Search.

  2. Use a Job Title That Matches Your Goal.  

Be focused on your goal, not your temporary unemployed status. For example, adding a Job Title similar to what you’d use for a Headline (“Sales Rep Pursuing Dealer Sales & Distribution Opportunities”) will help employers realize why you’re adding the job.

In addition, the keywords in the Job Title field (an area highly indexed within LinkedIn’s search algorithm) can draw additional traffic to your Profile. Read Job-Hunt’s Guide to Personal SEO and The 25 Best Keywords for You in Your Job Search for more details.

  3.  Resist Using Non-Work Activity as a Placeholder.  

Don’t resort to adding volunteer, nonprofit, etc. experience as a current job.

Not only will this skew your results from a keyword standpoint (as Job Titles are very highly ranked in LinkedIn SEO), but employers may believe you’re actually working for this organization — and then question why you’re applying to an unrelated job.

  4. Remember to Update Your Headline.  

Ensure your Headline does not revert to the new Current Job Title (which is the default value on LinkedIn). Instead, change your Headline to reflect your ROI as a candidate, with keywords that increase your traffic.

As an example, an unemployed candidate for IT Manager roles could use “IT Manager Seeking Application Development, Infrastructure, or Networking Manager Roles in Production or Manufacturing” as a Headline – pulling in both the desired career level and skills.

For more details, read Fast Formula for a Powerful LinkedIn Headline and Maximize Your LinkedIn Professional Headline.

  5. Keep “From” and “To” Dates Simple.  

Most people don’t realize they can specify only a year in these date fields, and simply skip adding the month.

This will help prevent others from reading too much into your length of unemployment, especially if it stretches out longer than anticipated.

The Bottom Line on LinkedIn Headlines When You are Unemployed

Should you decide to use your job-seeking status in a “current” job on LinkedIn, consider these best practices, which will help boost your findability and value message to employers.

More About Handling Unemployment in Your Job Search

• Job-Hunt’s Guide to Beating Unemployment
• Job Loss Recovery
• 5 Options to Fill that Unemployment Gap by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Overcoming the Unemployed Bias by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Managing Employment Gaps on Your Resume

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

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Now, we’re being urged to provide a photo in order to be considered for a new job, all due to the new “normal” that is LinkedIn. What gives?

Essentially, the “social” part of social networking has become more critical to your success. As an example, LinkedIn Profiles have emerged as a part-professional, part-personal way to convey your brand – meaning that, as a job hunter, you’ll benefit by responding to the traditional need to pair a face with a name.

After running a quick survey of recruiters who actively source candidates on LinkedIn, I found that the subject of Profiles that are “missing” a photo stirs some intense feelings.

“Personally, I don’t give much credence to those Profiles that do not have a photo,” stated Will Armstrong of Serco, Inc. “I have to wonder what they are trying to hide, and I feel less connected to them.”

Before you decide to use a more “casual” photo, rather than a professional-looking headshot, consider that several recruiters have spoken out against this practice. “I’m not fond of LinkedIn photos that are personal or silly,” declared recruiter Christine Alling.

Andy Foote, Executive Director at LinkedIn N Chicago, was more direct: in his list of LinkedIn blunders, he noted that “No photo, or worse, some kind of random arty or meaningless attempt” was a significant mistake on the part of job seekers.

I’ll eagerly back this up, as two of my clients recently encountered scenarios that seemed to match their LinkedIn-photo philosophy: the job hunter who dressed in a suit secured several offers, while the manager that posed with his wife and kids struggled to gain traction in his search.

Bottom Line

Even if you don’t want to spend the time (or money) on a professional photographer, there are ways to obtain an acceptable photo. As one recruiter noted, you always have the option of dressing in a suit, and finding someone proficient with a digital camera to take several pictures.

You just might find that putting your best face forward will result in more interest on the part of employers.

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

The post How Recruiters View Your LinkedIn Profile Photo appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Recruiters, hiring managers, interviewers, and potential new co-workers WILL be interested in reviewing these publicly-stated testaments to the quality of your work.

While LinkedIn accolades may seem gratuitous on the surface, they are often viewed and can carry substantial weight, particularly for people who don’t know you.

In other words, if you have not gathered many referrals, it is time to get moving!

How LinkedIn Recommendations Work

LinkedIn places Recommendations near the bottom of your Profile, below the Skills & Endorsements section. But, do not be fooled by that placement into thinking that Recommendations are not important.

A Profile lacking Recommendations usually has less credibility with recruiters and hiring managers. They want to see “proof” that the claims in your About and Experience sections are true.

When someone writes a Recommendation for you, you have two options. You can accept it as written or request edits. If you accept, LinkedIn publishes it immediately. If you request an edit, the back-and-forth messaging will delay visibility and, in some situations, may cause a Recommendation to disappear.

When you write a Recommendation for another LinkedIn member, the same process applies. Your Recommendation may be accepted as written or edits may be requested.

Often writing a Recommendation for someone results in a reciprocal response without asking for the Recommendation.

LinkedIn makes your two most recent Recommendations visible to anyone viewing your Profile with the date each was published. Generally, having Recommendations that are relatively recent is a good idea.

In your Profile, LinkedIn publishes a count of the Recommendations you have “Received” and “Given.” Both may be clicked to see the other Recommendations you have received and sent.

For details about the elements of a winning LinkedIn Recommendation, read The 3 Elements of Great LinkedIn Recommendations.

How to Request LinkedIn Recommendations

LinkedIn Recommendations are typically short, a paragraph or two, usually fewer than 100 words. Look at these potential sources for great recommendations:

  To Colleagues  

While you might prefer a LinkedIn recommendation from a supervisor, co-workers can be a solid (and surprisingly accurate) source of testimonials. Unlike a boss, colleagues are usually close enough to spot trends in your work or recall your diligence on a particular project.

When approaching a co-worker for a LinkedIn endorsement, issue a request using the LinkedIn “Ask for a recommendation” feature at the top of the Recommendations section. Include a personal note along the lines of:

“John, I hope you remember our work together on the Alcatraz Project. Would you be comfortable placing a recommendation on my Profile that describes my role and value-add?”

A note of caution: LinkedIn automatically asks every recommendation recipient to return the favor and write a recommendation for the person who just recommended you. While this makes sense in some cases, be sure to limit your reciprocal endorsements, as recruiters may ignore these “traded favors.”

  To Bosses  

Approaching a past (or even current, depending on your relationship) supervisor can feel daunting. However, you can map out a plan that includes approaching your boss personally (with at least a phone call), then a carefully-worded request for endorsement via LinkedIn:

“Jerry, it’s been a great experience to work on your team and learn from you. I am requesting a recommendation that can be used to describe our working relationship and my growth in this position.”

  To Clients  

Recommendations don’t have to come from within your employer’s place of business. Clients often witness the extra effort put in by account reps, consultants, sales managers, and other professionals, and can be approached for an endorsement on LinkedIn:

“Liz, I enjoyed getting to know you and your business throughout my time with XYZ Corporation. Your operation is certainly among the most well-run in the LED manufacturing industry! Would you be comfortable placing a recommendation on my Profile that outlines our collaborative efforts in your business success?”

The Bottom Line

While gaining more LinkedIn recommendations might not be high on your priority list, these testimonials will be scanned – and often – by prospective employers! Try some new ways to gain more recommendations by making it easier for others to verify the quality of your work, using a personal, heartfelt request.

More About LinkedIn Success:

• The 3 Elements of Great LinkedIn Recommendations
• 6 Ways to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out
• Secret to Powerful LinkedIn Profile SEO: Leverage Skills & Endorsements
• Your LinkedIn Summary Is Now the About Section – and It Is More Important Than Ever
• 5 Steps to Shorter Job Search with LinkedIn
• 10 Elements of an Effective LinkedIn Profile
• LinkedIn for Career Changers

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

The post The Secret to Building Credibility with Recruiters: Gather Solid LinkedIn Recommendations appeared first on Job-Hunt.

But did you think of using it to research your competition?

You can bet that a good percentage of LinkedIn users are there for the same purpose as you – finding their next choice job, or trying to catch the attention of recruiters.

Therefore, they’re also polishing their Profiles, linking to industry leaders in your field, and even applying to the same jobs. If you’re continually being edged out for great jobs, you may as well learn something from others in line for the same positions.

Here are some ways to evaluate (and effectively utilize) the competition in your field, all by using LinkedIn as a marketing, keyword analysis, and career assessment tool:

Search for yourself – not by name, but by keyword.

Type the keywords appropriate for you into the search box at the top of most LinkedIn pages. Use keywords such as your industry (Mobile Devices,” “Manufacturing,” “Retail”) or your target job title.

On the search results page, click on “People” at the top and “More filters” which will enable to you specify your Job Title (“IT Director” or “VP Sales”), location, and other “filters.” These include Industries, Past companies, and other options. Click on the “Apply” button at the top of the page, and LinkedIn will perform the search.

The results you see are very much in alignment with how recruiters find candidates in your field. You’re now viewing the direct competitors for jobs in your niche!

Make a note of the first 10, 20, or even 30 names that pop up.

Assess how you stack up.

Next, click on each Profile to review the details. Are you finding commonalities among your competitors that could push you out of the running? For example, do most of them have an MBA, while you didn’t finish a Bachelor’s degree?

Conversely, what trends do you see with regard to their years of experience? Have you been promoted more often (and at a higher level)?

These results can give you a good indication of how to position yourself with employers. Are you aiming too high (and perhaps need to consider a Manager role in addition to the Director job you’re seeking)?

In addition, you might find that you possess expertise or skills that uniquely qualify you among these professionals. If so, it makes sense to convey this edge, with a description of your credentials in the Summary portion of your Profile.

Analyze any missing keywords in your own Profile.

Take note of the keywords that are highlighted in each Profile (using the helpful feature of LinkedIn that shows you why each Profile came up in your search).

The point of this exercise is to find the crucial keywords that may be missing in your Profile, keeping in mind that many of them will be in places you didn’t consider populating. (This is particularly important if your Profile is barely findable among that of other talented candidates.)

Job titles,Summary, Experience, Volunteer Experience, Accomplishments, Skills, Education, and even Articles & Activity sections can be used to add more keywords. You’ll want to keep in mind, of course, that this exercise can be repeated occasionally to verify your Profile’s internal “search engine ranking” on LinkedIn for your top skills.

[For more details, read Guide to Being Found by Recruiters on LinkedIn (LinkedIn SEO), 12 Steps to Outrank Your Competitors in LinkedIn Search in 2020 (Personal LinkedIn SEO), and The 25 Best Keywords for You in Your Job Search.]

The Bottom Line

The job market is more competitive than ever, with new candidates constantly entering the race to win top positions. Since LinkedIn allows job hunters to openly display their credentials, you’ll benefit from using this information to review your direct competitors, accurately target your search, and polish your Profile for better results.

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

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A helpful feature tucked into the site’s People Search (visible at the top of any screen in LinkedIn), Advanced People Search is more than just a list of parameters or industries.

Consider tapping into this huge, nearly 200-million-user database for your own purposes by using the 3 following strategies:

Locate the Companies that Hired Your Former Colleagues

Didn’t stay in touch with former co-workers? No worries—you can look them up on LinkedIn and find out if they’re open to connecting with you, continuing to network, or even helping you get hired at their current places of employment.

1. Find the Advanced People Search screen by clicking on “People” on the drop-down box at the top right of your LinkedIn display. Click “Advanced” to the right. You’ll then see the Advanced People Search display, which contains numerous parameters for finding contacts.

2. From this screen, enter the name of your former employer in the “Company” field.

3. Next, use the drop-down box next to Company to choose “Past not current,” which will ensure you receive names of professionals who’ve left the company.

4. Click on “Search” to see the results.

While you can also search by “Name” or “Title,” leaving these fields blank is a good idea, because you can find colleagues you’d forgotten about, or locate LinkedIn users who didn’t spell out their old job titles the same way.

Of course, you can plan to connect with the resulting list of users (and ask them about current job opportunities within their departments). You may also see trends in the companies that regularly hire your past contacts—and can, therefore, apply at these employers without waiting for a new job posting.

Find Out Who Hires Candidates with Your Education or Skills

Graduated with an unusual degree or struggling to find companies that value a unique skill set? The Advanced People Search function works very well for this purpose.

1. Access the Advanced People Search screen.

2. Use the Keywords field to search for the specific skills you’re hoping to use in your next role. You can also enter the name of your degree here, as the Search function doesn’t have a field for this purpose.

3. To find people who went to the same school you did, enter your university name in the “School” field. Because some LinkedIn users do not populate this field, doing so may limit your results.

4. After clicking on “Search,” you’ll receive a list of professionals who’ve listed the skills you specified.

By researching some of these Profiles, you’ll be able to see where they’re employed (giving you an idea of companies eager for your application).

You’ll also gain insight into the Groups they’ve joined, which can be good places for you to network.

You can also plan to reach out to these users on LinkedIn for advice and networking connections, using an informal InMail message or Connection request.

Perform a “Look Backwards” Search to Research Others’ Career Paths

If you’re trying to research opportunities to advance, consider looking at professionals with backgrounds similar to yours—and discover what they’ve been able to do with the same skills.

For example, if you’re in sales within the biotech industry, but want to find out the best way to advance to a General Manager (GM) role, try these steps within Advanced People search:

1. Enter the desired job title (in this case, “General Manager”) into the “Keywords” field.

2. Next, put your existing title (for example, “Sales”) in the “Title” field, and select the drop-down option for “Past not current” (which will eliminate users still in sales).

3. Go to Industries, and check related boxes, such as “Biotech” or “Pharmaceutical.”

4. Scroll to the bottom of the Advanced Search page and choose the “Keywords” option next to “Sort By.” (This ensures that you see users based on their Profile match to your parameters).

The resulting list of LinkedIn users will show you the career histories of each professional, as well as their employers—giving you an idea of the companies that hire former biotech sales experts into GM roles, plus a list of potential informational interview contacts that may be willing to share career advice with you.

Bottom Line

LinkedIn’s Advanced People Search function can turn up some surprising results that help you see new job opportunities, create networking relationships, or identify companies as likely targets for your expertise.

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

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You might have assumed, as many others do, that your mere presence on the site is enough to make your Profile findable by employers and recruiters.

However, the key information used in some LinkedIn Profile fields can actually make a huge difference in the way employers become aware of your qualifications.

Specifically, your Headline is prime LinkedIn real estate — critical to the marketing and search optimization methods that might be used by recruiters to locate you when they search for candidates.

Here’s how it works:

As a quick identifier, your Headline should be tuned to not only your job level, but your goal, enabling LinkedIn’s internal search engine to do its job more efficiently.

When you first populate your Profile, LinkedIn will ask if you’d prefer to use your current job title as the Headline. Even if you respond with “Yes,” you can (and should) take the time to update your Headline to a branded representation of your job target and value to employers—filling up as many of the 220 characters allowed as possible.

To change your Headline, click on the Profile option at the top of your Home Page, then choose Edit Profile. In the area that lists your name, select Edit to change your Headline.

Consider the following examples when tuning your Headline for greater searchability and relevance to your job goals:

  Example 1 – LinkedIn Headhline for Senior Technology Executive  

Sam is an IT executive who, even though unemployed, has held the title of Chief Information Officer in past roles. Therefore, using CIO in his LinkedIn Headline automatically helps his Profile register results in searches for CIO candidates.

Taking this a step further, Sam’s executive brand can also be presented in the Headline, allowing for some reader intrigue on the part of employers, and also generating additional interest in him as a candidate.

His leadership background includes building IT teams that adhere to strict Service Level Agreements while supporting business units worldwide.

His Headline, built to reflect his career level and his brand, could be set to

“CIO & Executive IT Strategist: Creating responsive, global technical support organizations.”

Notice that we’ve still not filled up all 120 characters, yet the title quickly conveys Sam’s value proposition, with an accurate picture of the type of role he is pursuing.

And his unemployed status? He can either leave his Headline as it stands, letting his employment history speak for itself, or make a slight change to

“CIO & IT Executive: Seeking opportunity to create responsive, global IT support for growing organizations”—a twist that retains his keywords while stating his intent.

  Example 2 – LinkedIn Headline for Senior Operations Manager  

John, a Senior Operations Manager in the manufacturing industry who is seeking a position at a higher level, has already demonstrated the executive skills that qualify him to move up the career ladder as a Director.

However, he is also considering a lateral move, as long as he can continue to conserve expenses and implement productivity changes throughout the organization.

Therefore, he could set up his Headline to read

“Operations Director & Manager – Cost control & efficiency improvement impacting $120M manufacturing operation.”

This descriptions gives the reader more information on his areas of industry expertise, achievements, and the most likely fit for his next employer.

The Bottom Line on LinkedIn Headlines

There is no end to the ways you can tune your Headline—without resorting to just a current job title (or using “Unemployed and Looking,” which doesn’t help your findability or promote your brand).

Spend some time with your Headline, giving some thought to the best way to market your capabilities and value to your next employer, and utilizing as much of the available 120 characters as possible.

For More on Being Findable

• Maximize Your LinkedIn Profile Professional Headline
• 12 Steps to Outrank Your Competitors in LinkedIn Search in 2020 (Personal LinkedIn SEO)
• The 25 Best Keywords for Your Job Search
• Choosing the Best Keywords for Your LinkedIn Profile

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

The post Leverage Your LinkedIn Profile’s Professional Headline appeared first on Job-Hunt.

If you’re using LinkedIn only to provide some history on your qualifications and to seek out job listings, you are missing a great opportunity to assess (and leverage) your competitive edge.

By tapping this wealth of information, you can assess your marketability, improve your ranking in LinkedIn search, and find out about new trends in your field.

Without copying anything, notice what information is presented effectively as well as where and how it is presented. Also, notice the quantity and quality of their LinkedIn Updates and other LinkedIn activities.

5 Steps to Leveraging the LinkedIn Profiles of Your Job-Hunting Competitors

Here are key steps to finding and capitalizing on the LinkedIn Profiles of your job-hunting competition:

  1. Use the People Search function to find competitors.  

Click in the “Search” box at the top of the LinkedIn pages, and select “People” from the drop-down list.

The LinkedIn search “Filters” offer many different search options, like Connections, Location, Schools, and more. You can also type keywords into the search bar, pictured above.

Click on “All Filters to see all of your search options. On the “All People Filters” page, scroll down to see all of the search options that LinkedIn makes available.

Search for competing candidates in many ways, like their alma mater, their current or former employer, industry, or job title. You can find them based on whether they work for a Fortune-ranked company, and add a string of terms related to your target job in the search bar.

For example, to find people who are in either a senior vice president of sales or an IT infrastructure director, type this query in the search bar. Be sure to include the quotation marks and the capitalization shown in this example —

“senior marketing manager” OR “vp marketing“

For best results, add the Zip Code of the area you’re targeting in the Locations field, as this will show you how employers will look for local candidates. Select all the other options LinkedIn makes available, like the different levels of Connections, to include all contacts, no matter their relationship to you.

  2. Analyze the Profiles in your search results.  

After looking over the list of candidates from your search, delve into some of the top Profiles to see how they are constructed in comparison to yours.

• What trends do you notice in your industry when looking at these Profiles?
• Are other Profiles more fully written, with a more complete Summary and Experience history than your Profile?
• Do the other candidates go back farther in their professional history?
• Have other candidates included specifics of related projects?
• Is the Skills & Endorsements section fully used with nearly 50 entries and Endorsements?

Like you, recruiters will be quickly scanning these Profiles to look for key skills and descriptions of achievements. If your Profile seems to fall short in detail, you’ll benefit from a fast makeover and additional detail on your success stories.

  3. Rank your marketability against other candidates.  

One thing you’ll quickly realize when sizing up your competition is where you rank – in terms of skills, education, career trajectory, and years of experience.

This is particularly important intelligence to use in your job search if you believe you’re striking out with employers.

Perhaps you’re not quite at the rank of VP yet, and a quick look at the competition tells you that you’ll need a few more years in the industry. You might also realize that you’re aiming too low, and that you’re overqualified for the roles you’ve pursued.

  4. Improve your keyword strategy.  

If you can find these Profiles, so can employers! Now’s the time to figure out why they’re popping up in your search results – and if their Profiles contain keyword content valuable to you.

• Professional Headlines:Look first at the Headline used by your competitors. This is the strongest field in terms of search optimization (next to the Name) on LinkedIn. How does your Headline rate in comparison?

  If you’re not using hot terms in your field (“VP Operations | 25% to 48% Production Quality Improvement From Lean Six Sigma & 5S | Outsourced Manufacturing Efficiency”), your Profile might not register in the top results from a recruiter’s search.

• Job Titles:Job Titles are also heavily weighted within LinkedIn’s indexing scheme.

  While you should not change your title on LinkedIn, you can add specific skills to this field (Project Manager – Global Program Management) to aid in better keyword strategy.

• About/Summary and Experience:Pull some of the better About (formerly Summary) and Experience sections into a Wordle.net (or TagCrowd.com) application. Then, do the same with your own LinkedIn sections, and make note of areas in which your Profile may be lacking or using different terminology.
• Skills & Endorsements:Look closely at the Skills & Endorsements sections of the Profiles in your search. Adding more terms in this section and gathering dozens of Endorsements (thought to rank in the indexing strategy) will help increase your findability.

Again, take the time to compare your own Profile keywords, even with a brief glance to gauge how effectively you have used this section.

[More: Read Choosing the Best Keywords for Your LinkedIn Profile and Leverage LinkedIn Skills & Endorsements for a More Powerful Profile.]

  5. Find a (more) ideal job target.  

Your search may turn up some intriguing clues to your ideal career path, especially if you see that other professionals in your target position have a job description that fits your strengths.

You might also find that the past work experience or degrees of your competitors will spark some ideas for pursuing slightly different positions.

Candidates with a Psychology degree, for example, are often sought for sales and marketing roles, while IT leadership positions are sometimes gained through years of industry or domain experience.

Make note of job titles and descriptions that interest you as possibilities for your own search.

If these professionals are already working in your dream job, then your dream job does exist, and there are employers looking to hire someone like you for it.

The Bottom Line

Analyzing the LinkedIn Profiles of your job-hunting competition can provide you with a few surprises – as well as clues to the effectiveness of your own Profile. Don’t just read these Profiles; put what you find into an actionable plan for your own job search, whether it’s adjusting your expectations or realizing how many other roles you can pursue.

More About Being Successful on LinkedIn:

• Guide to Being Found on LinkedIn (LinkedIn SEO)
• Guide to LinkedIn for Executives
• Take Your Executive LinkedIn Profile from Basic to Best-in-Class
• Guide to Personal Branding with LinkedIn
• LinkedIn for Career Changers
• 4 LinkedIn Ice Breakers
• 12 Steps to Outrank Your Competitors in LinkedIn Search in 2020 (Personal LinkedIn SEO)
• FREE eBook: Smart Personal Branding with LinkedIn

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

The post How to Leverage Your LinkedIn Competitors appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Unemployed for a while and still struggling?

Or, working for an employer in the process of “down-sizing” and/or “off-shoring”?

If you find yourself in one of those situations, you’re probably updating your resume, reviewing job postings, networking with former colleagues, and shining up those interview shoes.

Out of all the tasks you’ll need to prioritize in your job search, building or updating your LinkedIn Profile should be near the top of your list.

Here’s why – along with tips to quickly accelerate the process of building a strong Profile:

Why You Should Focus on LinkedIn When Unemployed

Technology is changing the way employers recruit, and that technology and those changes are having a very big impact on job search.

Unlike in the past when a stellar resume was a guarantee of job search success, the whole process is more complex today.

Currently, LinkedIn is at the center of the solution for both job seekers (who need to be professionally visible) and recruiters (who are searching for qualified job candidates).

1 – LinkedIn often serves as your public face.

Like it or not, LinkedIn is among the first websites used by recruiters, employers, former colleagues, or industry insiders to check you out.

According to a 2018 CareerBuilder study, many consider you nearly “invisible” if they don’t find at least a LinkedIn entry for you that reflects your career stature, credentials, education, and work experience. And, being “invisible” is like wearing an “out-of-date” tag today, eliminating you from consideration for many jobs.

Hot Tip: Just getting started with your LinkedIn Profile in the face of job loss? Sign up for a new LinkedIn account, and let the site walk you through the basics (identifying information, Headline, Work Experience, and Education). In 30 minutes or less, you’ll have an online presence that backs up the content of your resume.

If you are avoiding social media to protect your privacy, that strategy will hurt your job search. Read Social Proof: Linked(In) to Your Resume and “Social Proof” Is Required for Successful Job Search for the reasons.

2 – Employers spend considerable time “sourcing” candidates from LinkedIn.

You may be surprised to hear that professionals and executives can find you long before you even craft a resume or meet them at a business event.

Given that they’ll be checking you out online (and possibly using outdated information from other sites such as Intelius, Zoominfo, or even places you don’t want them to see, such as Facebook), you’ll need to face reality and get your digital presence ready for scrutiny.

Hot Tip: Increase your LinkedIn traffic by fleshing out details for each job in your Experience section. The content for each job (which should look similar to your resume) will help inject more keywords into your Profile and make it more easily searchable by recruiters seeking candidates with your background. Unlike your resume, your LinkedIn Profile offers plenty of room to describe your accomplishments (and add more keywords).

Having online visibility and managing that visibility to support your job search and career are essential today. For more information, read Using LinkedIn for Personal Online Reputation Management and How to Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn.

3 – Updating your Profile will put you ahead of the competition.

Don’t forget that other job seekers are likely to find the same opportunities or approach the same hiring managers. When compared to your job-searching competition, a barely filled-in LinkedIn Profile could edge you out.

Instead, take the time to carefully construct a LinkedIn Profile that conveys your competencies and elicits a strong response.

Add a headshot to your Profile, using either a professional photographer or employing a friend to snap a few shots of you in business attire. Fill in the Summary with a more robust version of your achievements – noting what makes you unique among others vying for the same job.

You can also attach rich media (such as a document or video) to the Summary or your Experience section for a dash of attention-getting color.

Hot Tip: Boost your competitive edge by touting recent professional developments, even if you haven’t finished them. For example, if you’ve recently signed up for a professional conference, a certification program, or snagged a speaking engagement, these pending achievements are great content for your Summary. You can also use the Summary to detail your value to employers, using a compelling pitch similar to what you’d write in a cover letter.

Tips to make your LinkedIn Profile more effective: read Best LinkedIn Title When You Are Unemployed, LinkedIn Job Search Basics and Why You Need a Photo on Your LinkedIn Profile

Bottom Line

Don’t back-burner the task of polishing your LinkedIn Profile during a new job search. You’ll benefit from the time invested in building a brand-enhancing LinkedIn Profile that conveys your full career story, making you more interesting — and find-able.

More About Handling Unemployment in Your Job Search

• 5 Options to Fill that Unemployment Gap by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Overcoming the Unemployed Bias by recruiter Jeff Lipschultz
• Managing Employment Gaps on Your Resume

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

The post How to Leverage LinkedIn Smartly When You Are Unemployed appeared first on Job-Hunt.

If you’re among them, you may also have tried to attract more eyes on your Profile. With so many users vying for top jobs, the competition is fierce, and you’ll need to employ aggressive keyword strategies in order to be found (and considered as a candidate).

Here are the best ways to boost your findability on LinkedIn, including search algorithm strategy and keyword adjustments:

Add Keywords Representing Your Skills.

Keywords, otherwise known as skills and areas of competency, are not a new concept for job seekers. Resumes are routinely passed through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), where they’re scanned to ensure an adequate match on a set of pre-defined, desirable skills.

On LinkedIn, recruiters search for candidates using these same terms found in job descriptions, trying to find talented professionals. Because of these searches, you’ll need to add specific terms to your Profile, ensuring a match on the strengths preferred by employers.

For example, the following keywords will be relevant to Sales Professional jobs:

Prospecting, Customer Relationship Management, Salesforce, or Contract Negotiations.

A Chief Information Officer can leverage keywords such as:

Enterprise Systems, Applications Development, Project Portfolios, or IT Operations.

To find keywords, first peruse job descriptions and look for common terms. By putting the job requirements into a word cloud application (such as Tag Crowd), you’ll be able to see which keywords are mentioned most frequently, as in this analysis of a CIO job description.

For example, a Plant Manager job description yielded keywords such as:

Service, Compliance, Quality Regulations, and Safety.

The main reason to add keywords? You’ll never know exactly how employers are searching for candidates like you. Therefore, the more phrases you add on LinkedIn, the more likely you’ll be coming up in search results – improving your chances of becoming a strong candidate for an open job.

For step-by-step directions to find the keywords used most often in job descriptions, read Choosing the Best Keywords for Your LinkedIn Profile for more details.

Improve Keyword Density

So you’ve now learned about keyword content and the reasons why your LinkedIn Profile should contain relevant skills, job titles, and competencies for better traffic. However, adding keywords to your LinkedIn Profile isn’t just a matter of volume: it’s dependent on keyword density.

Density refers to the frequency of keywords relative to the overall number of words on your Profile. The good news? This doesn’t have to be a difficult task. If you want a stronger draw on a skill such as SAP Development, you’d simply add this phrase everywhere possible:

• Summary
• Experience (job titles and job descriptions, as appropriate)
• Certifications
• Professional Headline

Keep in mind, however, that focusing on just a few skill sets can make you miss out on other traffic. For example, a General Manager skilled in growing companies and managing functions such as manufacturing, sales, product development, and marketing might add only these terms on LinkedIn, but he or she could rank much lower on abilities such as Team-Building, Restructuring, or Mergers & Acquisitions.

It’s best to routinely review the keywords on your Profile and look for more ways to add them in multiple sections. By doing so, your Profile will more closely align with common skills in your field, with better density for each term.

Remove “Fluff” Words from Your Profile

In addition to boosting your keyword volume and density, you’ll also need to remove words that are not likely to represent your brand or ROI to an employer. For most job seekers, the terms Responsible For, Unemployed, Experienced, Professional, and Highly Accomplished are overused and do not add credibility on LinkedIn.

By replacing these phrases with terms taken directly out of job descriptions, your keyword density will improve — and you can be taken more seriously by employers who find your credentials online.

Adjust Your Keyword Strategy Regularly

If your LinkedIn Headline, Summary, Job Titles, and other sections are drawing the traffic you want, with plenty of employer views and inquiries, then your Profile is working perfectly! If not, you’ll want to swap out keywords and strengthen your Profile for better results, particularly if you’re in an active job search.

When tuning your Profile, begin with the most heavily indexed field on LinkedIn (after your name), which is your Headline. After adding several terms that came up in your analysis of job descriptions, it’s best to wait for at least a week to gauge any change in your LinkedIn connections or traffic.

You can then repeat this process for your Job Titles (perhaps adding a keyword in the job title that represents your main skills), Summary, and other areas of LinkedIn.

The Bottom Line

Keyword strategy is an important part of a strong and effective LinkedIn Profile. By staying on top of desirable skills in your field and adding terms that represent your expertise, you can reap better value from your LinkedIn presence. (Note: Don’t forget to include contact information so they can contact you after they find you, as described in Fast and Easy LinkedIn Tweaks for Success.)

Being More Findable on LinkedIn:

• Improve Your Ranking in LinkedIn Searches in 10 Steps
• Linkedin SEO: How to Be Found by Recruiters on LinkedIn
• Your Most Important Keywords
• The 25 Best Keywords for Your Job Search
• Grab Employer Interest (and LinkedIn Traffic) with Your Success Stories

About the author…

Job-Hunt’s LinkedIn for Job Search Expert Laura Smith-Proulx, Executive Director of An Expert Resume, is an award-winning executive resume writer, national columnist, author, LinkedIn and SEO enthusiast, and past recruiter. Laura is author of How to Get Hired Faster: 60+ Proven Tips and Strategies to Access the Hidden Job Market. Follow Laura on Twitter at @ResumeExpert and on LinkedIn.
More about this author…

The post How to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile’s Findability appeared first on Job-Hunt.