What if investors, recruiters or clients considering working with you only took one chance to glimpse at who you are or what your organization is all about? A study by TheLadders, a job-matching website, shows this might be true; recruiters only spend an average of six seconds reviewing a person’s resume.
But what if it was not your resume, commercial, blog or website they were viewing, but it was your LinkedIn profile? Would it tell the story you want it to? Or is it something you use to simply park information?
I coach clients on the subject of how to be successful on LinkedIn (I’ve even written a book on the subject!). Recently, someone reached out to me because I listed on my LinkedIn profile that I am an executive career coach and consultant. They were able to review my information to decide whether I was the right fit for what they needed. If my information had not been up to date, they might not have come to that conclusion.
Social media can be a great tool to express who we are and what we care about. LinkedIn, for example, gives us the same opportunity, but we have to remember that business-oriented platforms are professional sites that can be leveraged to help us make money, gain promotions, promote our professional initiatives and attract corporate or business vendors and clients who are in need of our services.
Consider the first things a person might see.
What would a recruiter see within the first six seconds of looking at your LinkedIn profile? If someone had the same information that you currently provide on your account, would you be willing to reach out to them to connect professionally, or would you bypass their profile because it seems abandoned, mixed up or bland? Make sure everything is clear, and think: professional.
• Your profile picture: Ask yourself if this picture is the way you would present yourself in the workplace? If your answer is no, imagine your target client or employer is recruiting people with your skill set. View your picture, and see if your personal brand is properly established to match the company’s needs.
• Your name: Include your first and last names, and do not include a nickname unless it is the professional name people refer to you as. This way, people will know how to properly address and approach you.
• Your title: Who are you? Is this a good title for your targeted audience? I believe simply writing “Searching For Work” does not let others know who you are. A great title should describe what you do professionally to highlight your expertise and inspire others to read the rest of your profile.
• Your professional experience: LinkedIn allows you to list your current and past positions. In my experience, using the right verbiage under the positions you list is very helpful for recruiters, vendors and investors who are looking for your skills and knowledge. Listing your information with strong keywords can also help boost your search engine optimization for searches that are both internal and external from LinkedIn.
• Your education: Make sure your education is up to date and listed. Letting others know the technical skills you have acquired can help them decide how to approach you when making a connection. I believe this feature is also a great way for an educational institution to reach out to their alumni about events that are happening at the facility.
• Recommendations: This feature allows your co-workers or clients to explain how you conduct business. LinkedIn members can reach out to those who gave the recommendations for more information if they are looking to create a professional relationship with you.
• Websites and links: If you have a website or link listed, be sure it leads to a published site so the viewer can see your projects and initiatives.
Your professional social media profiles can say a lot about you. If you are able to pass the six-second rule, the person viewing your profile could decide to contact you through LinkedIn, your company’s website or any contact information you have listed online.
Think hard about what you post.
In my experience, postings and articles can be crucial if you are trying to capture someone’s attention. These can provide insight into what you care about and show that you are active on your profile. Be aware of what you “like” because this information can be public knowledge. Politics, for example, can be a divisive subject in the workplace. So if you decide to express your political views on your social media profiles, make sure your stance is clear to avoid misinterpretation, and understand that some employers are wary of this type of content.
I believe it is also important to be aware of the brands you are portraying on any social media platform because content such as pictures or videos can be copied or misquoted if not clearly displayed or explained. And perhaps most importantly, be authentic to give those who are interested in your skills the chance to have an accurate view of what you bring to the table.
In my next article, I will outline how seemingly minor details can impact the performance of your social media.