How to Maximize Your LinkedIn Profile

What value do you think a strong Linkedin profile can bring to job seekers?

LinkedIn is your passport to the professional world. Earlier you had coffees and dinners, but now, LinkedIn is a place to network and be seen. Linkedin has become ubiquitous. Before I meet someone, I will check out someone’s LinkedIn profile to get a snapshot of who they are. It’s become an important first impression. It’s like an elevator pitch. From your profile to your banner to your headline. It’s where you can create such a strong impression of who you are. I always say that the perfect blend is when you fit out enough and fit in enough. Meaning, on one hand you need to remember that LinkedIn is an SEO tool and a place to be found, it’s a version of your resume. So you want to include all the right keywords and skills so you can be found organically. But you also want to include content that tells a story about who you are and shows your personality.

What are your top LinkedIn musts for job seekers?

My first must is a complete profile. Like I said before, it should be a blend of a resume and your personality. Utilize every feature, so include a profile picture, a banner image, and a headline. Secondly, if you’re actively looking for a job, purchase premium and set up your job alerts. Just having premium will increase your ranking in the organic searches. Second, set up your job alerts. My last must is to start writing. Start thinking about important issues and topics to you and start putting that content onto your LinkedIn. It will help draw traffic to your profile and help others get an idea of who you are.

What makes a good headline? Thoughts on explicitly stating that you're looking for a job? Necessary or not?

I don't think it's necessary to include that you're looking for a job in your headline. There is an option to signal that you're looking for work only recruiters can see. That said, it depends on how senior you are. If you're very senior, signal to recruiters that you're looking privately. If you're younger, it's fine to include it, but I do think that real estate can be used better.

A headline grabs me when I see something beyond just someone's designation. What makes you, you? How are you different from anyone else? What do you bring to the table? What are you passionate about? The headlines that I remember the most have a strong personality.

What kind of engagement/activity should job seekers be looking to cultivate?

Start connecting with people in your field. Find the cross-sections of your industries and your interest. Add people who aren't just in your function but in the industry, you're passionate about. Have a network of juniors, peers, and seniors. They're all instrumental in helping get you hired. Especially peers! They likely get asked, "do you know somebody?" all the time. So get visible. Another important activity is to sign up for speaking engagements. They don't need to be big! They're all valuable. The minute you're at speaking engagements, you become visible, and people attribute credibility to you. This is one piece that women can shy away from. Being public and visible could be a game-changer in getting hired.

What should you include on your LinkedIn profile?

As much as you can. Include courses you've taken, if you volunteer, and things you do outside of work. People often don't even include things they did at work. If you were part of a project, a campaign, etc., include it. Use hyperboles, use numbers wherever possible, and talk about what you're doing beyond your role. Women take on a lot and don't always talk about the additional responsibilities they do at work. Highlight your softer skills as well, empathy, communication, and more. And if you've taken career breaks- acknowledge them! They aren't bad, and you likely gained valuable skills during them. If you don't address it, it's an elephant in the room, but if you address it, it's the magnificent beast from India.

We often work with women who are the only female applicant in the process. What do you think female job seekers could do better to stand out in the job application process?

My biggest tip is to start writing. Here's why- I can guarantee that in the last 20 days, you've read at least two pieces that impacted you. They might not have included anything you didn't already know, but they impacted you. And you could have written it. Writing can help your focus, especially if you're looking for a job. Also, comment on other people's writing. Ally with other women. There is nothing more powerful than sisterhood. Be more vocal on your platform. State your skills and what makes you unique. Reduce your discounting words, the "helped," the "joined," and the "like" in your resume.

In light of COVID. What kind of a role do you think LinkedIn is starting to play, not just job search but building your brand?

It's becoming a must-have. Earlier it was good to have. So many people now are coming to me realizing that their older ways of networking have vanished. They need to build a brand. In that sense, LinkedIn is democratizing professional networking like YouTube democratized content creation. Anyone at any level can get visibility and build their brand without waiting for a ten-year career mark or any other point in time.

Thank you to Saloni Mehta for taking the time to speak with us. Stay tuned for more interviews with experts on LinkedIn, Job Search, and more!