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Power Profiles: LinkedIn Or your Resume

Every human resources director, headhunter, or recruiter will tell you the same thing: the best way to find a job is through networking, which includes social media. The best social media networking tool for professionals is, without question, LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is an insanely useful tool for every working person, not to mention every job-seeker and student. LinkedIn has redefined the online version of a resume and having a well organised LinkedIn profile is now essential.

We have put together some of the tips that will enhance your Profile:

  • Your headline should be catchy and have keywords and phrases that you would want to turn up in Google search results
  • Fill up all the fields, don't leave anything blank. It has been shown that a 100 % complete LinkedIn profile is viewed in a better light than one with a lot of blanks.
  • Add a photograph to your profile. Profiles with photos are nine times more likely to be viewed. Use a photograph that portrays a professional you.  
  • Use an arresting headline. That is the first thing that anybody who is viewing your profile will notice. If you don't change your headline manually, the default will be your job title and your company, which isn't really enough, and sometimes not even self-explanatory. So make the headline as specific as possible, and at the same time all-encompassing.
  • When filling up a LinkedIn profile, just like in your resume, lay emphasis on what you have done, rather than what your job responsibilities are.
  • Join groups on LinkedIn that are relevant to you. And make sure you participate in discussions in these groups. If you are looking actively for a job, keep a sharp eye out for leads.  
  • Update your profile regularly. Keep all information current, all the time. If you have uploaded your resume, make sure that the latest version is online.  
  • Customize your LinkedIn profile url to your own name. It will make searching for you that much easier.
  • Make your profile public and set it to Full View so your LinkedIn profile shows up in web search results
  • Include all of your main email addresses in your profile so people can connect with you. LinkedIn does not display your email addresses to the public; it simply keeps your email addresses on file when someone tries to connect with you.
  • Spend a small but productive amount of time, on a consistent basis, updating and maintaining your LinkedIn network and profile.
  • Research someone on LinkedIn before meeting him in a job interview or business meeting.
  • Stay on top of your network updates so you know if someone in your network has been promoted or switched jobs to a company where you would like to work.
  • Make sure your profile highlights measurable accomplishments you achieved at your jobs. For example, instead of saying "I managed the sales force," say "I managed a 37% growth in revenue in the last four quarters."
  • Use LinkedIn Company pages to see which of your network connections works at a particular company, if anyone you know has recently been promoted at that company, and specific information about the company that you need for your cover letter and interview.
  • Don't forget to use LinkedIn's job board. As of this writing, there are millions of postings available when you search the web on LinkedIn's job board.

LinkedIn has massive opportunities which are not easily visible elsewhere on the web. Ensure you spend productive time in creating not just a boring LinkedIn profile but a MASTERPIECE or seek help. There are quite a few expert consulting firms like Staffio HR who can help you Get Things Done.
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