Is a LinkedIn profile important?
ARE EMPLOYERS PLACING MORE IMPORTANCE ON A LINKEDIN PROFILE THAN CANDIDATES REALISE?
22% of marketers don’t think that a LinkedIn profile is very important when job hunting according to our recent poll. Yet, we know from experience that employers and in particular in-house recruitment teams will review a candidate’s LinkedIn profile, often before even looking at a CV.
So why aren’t marketing job seekers paying enough attention to their LinkedIn profile when looking for a new marketing job?
One reason is that often they underestimate the value of a good LinkedIn profile or just don’t see the need. When applying for a you tend to rely on your CV to sell your skills and experience and many people seem to think this should be enough.
It doesn’t occur to them! Marketers are so used to selling everything and everyone else that when it comes to themselves, using other channels often doesn’t cross their mind.
If you aren’t fully utilising LinkedIn as a channel to present your skills and experience when job hunting (in addition to a CV), you may find opportunities pass you by; and this may be the reason why!
Often the case is that a marketing professional will have a LinkedIn profile, but it is underused. One of the most common issues I see is the half-complete profile. A list of job titles and company names and dates. Nothing more. This just doesn’t cut the mustard if you are actively job hunting! Or even if you are hoping that someone will spot you and potentially offer you the job of your dreams even if you are not looking.
MY 3 TOP TIPS
Add some detail – cover your main areas of responsibilities and celebrate any successes.
Make sure it is up to date – especially your latest job. Also make sure your main title reflects the one in your current role.
Profile picture – middle of the road seems to work best these days. Something too casual doesn’t leave a good impression, but people aren’t looking for the power suit steely stare either. A picture that presents you as a professional but approachable is key. Smiling helps, it makes you look approachable.
Writing a LinkedIn profile is different to writing a CV; they need to reflect each other, but the presentation is different. Your CV is your professional profile being presented in terms of your suitability for a particular job role (if you are writing them correctly that is!). A LinkedIn profile on the other hand is your profile within your industry and consequently has more to do.
This is a difficult balance to achieve and many marketers are amazing a positioning a product or service but struggle to be objective and put those skills to use for themselves.
Do you need help in this area ? If so please do reach out. We offer a variety of options which might be invaluable to you as part of our Career Coaching service.
I’m also excited to be offering a free LinkedIn review as an added extra when you sign up for any of our Marketing Career Coaching services during February 2021.
So not only will we create a new, polished, and customisable CV together in our CV Review, or improve your interview technique with our Marketing Interview Coaching service, but also update and improve your LinkedIn profile to open new doors in your marketing job search.
MORE HELPFUL ADVICE FOR YOUR MARKETING JOB SEARCH
