Job seekers: be sure to have your LinkedIn profile really stand out when potential employers find it.

To accomplish that you need a headline that attracts attention. Plus you need a summary that illustrates how you will be an asset to their business. But those essentials are not enough.

There are other, often over-looked profile features which can differentiate you from your competition.

 

Highlight Your Certifications Section

• Make sure to include all relevant certifications and licenses. List all the specifics: the exact name of the certification or license, certifying authority, and date granted. If applicable, include the license or certificate number, and the expiration date.
• Then, and this is really important, move this section higher in the profile than where it normally falls. I suggest displaying it right after the summary and before the experience section.
• To move a section, start by hovering your cursor over its top right corner.
• Place your cursor on the icon that appears.
• Then drag the section to where you want it to be

 

Include Your Leadership Roles as Positions in the Experience Section

• Doing this allows you to receive recommendations.  People often want to help job seekers who are looking for work. Those who are familiar with your leadership abilities are good sources of recommendations.

• Even when you are in unpaid positions, you develop or hone skills relevant to the positions you are seeking. Reference these when describing the position, and be sure to use the appropriate key words.

• Hiring authorities are apt to read this section more carefully than the organizations section. So this is the part of your profile that is the better place to showcase your capabilities.

 

Re-Order the Listings in the Organizations Section

• Remember that people like to do business with someone they know, like, and trust. If a hiring authority notices your involvement in a group or organization they resonate with, they might be more apt to reach out to you.
• Include both professional and community organizations. And be sure to include specific descriptions of your role and accomplishments for each one.
• Now, decide which organizations are the most important. These should be the ones most closely related to the types of jobs you’re applying for.
• Just as you moved the certifications section, you can move listings within the organizations section.
•  Hover your cursor at the end of the name of the organization.
•  Hold your cursor on the icon that appears.
•  Then drag that listing to the spot where you want it to appear.

 

How About You?

Job seekers who have landed your dream jobs – what strategies have you used to make your LinkedIn profile stand out while job hunting? What feedback have you gotten from hiring authorities about your profile?

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 45 and up, become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter. She provides social media tutoring and training to business owners, business development professionals, authors, speakers, coaches, business consultants, job seekers, and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com