We understand that looking for a job is not as easy as it sounds.
However, if you have a LinkedIn account then it is time to utilize it and put it to good use. We understand that you may think it won’t come in handy especially if you don’t believe in the power of social media, however it can actually work if you do it the right way. In case you’re not aware may recruiters actually check your social media before accepting you and sometimes if your LinkedIn looks dead it doesn’t really help. Here are the mistakes you need to stop making.
1. You have no profile picture
Not putting a profile picture gives the impression that there’s something wrong with you. Most recruiters will assume you’re trying to hide something which will obviously not land you into the job you want. Can you imagine someone sending you a friend request and they don’t have a picture? Well, it’s the same thing with LinkedIn.
2. You have a horrible profile picture
Take this part very seriously. A picture with your dog is not going to cut it if you want to get hired. If you have a blurry or a horrible picture there’s a low chance of anyone opening your account. Take a professional picture that is going to stand out, don’t forget people are naturally more visual.
3. You have typos
Always proofread your work, otherwise no one is going to take you seriously. If you have many typos someone will look at your work and think you’re a joker and will not take the time to get to know you better.
4. You have too many connections
Avoid building connections that have nothing to do with your career. Most recruiters will look at your connections and will assume that you’re confused if you’re connected to everyone. It also doesn’t make sense if you recently started your career and you already have 10k connections.
5. You say too many things
Never put too many things on your profile LinkedIn is not the place to ramble on and on and tell your long stories. Keep it short, straight to the point, compelling and interesting.
6. Your headline is boring
A headline is always important because this is what will get the recruiters attention. If your headline is too long or just seems off it will not work. Make sure you use relevant keywords that if anyone searches they will automatically get your profile.
7. Your summary is not interesting
Always show how indispensable you are in your summary if you sound like all the thousands of people on LinkedIn then you might as well go back to sleep and forget about a job. If you are totally stuck, you can use a guest posting service provider to hire someone to write for you an interesting summary.
8. You’ve put the wrong skills
Always put the skills that are relevant to your career adding that you love reading or that you can cook and you’re trying to get a job as an engineer will not help you.
9. You’re not engaging your LinkedIn
Don’t just upload your career information and then fail to keep it active. Engage with the community make your account look active and allow your connections to know you better.