I had an opportunity to meet Stacey Stratton, owner of True Talent Group, a talent agency and learn how a recruiter uses LinkedIn to find talent.
I found the conversation useful and wanted to share her perspective as her feedback will be useful to any job seeker. Learn how to leverage LinkedIn for job searching after college.
To say you have a LinkedIn profile is not enough particularly if you copy your resume word for word and paste it into the appropriate sections in LinkedIn. LinkedIn profiles must be dynamic, stand out from the crowd and get the recruiter or hiring manager to take action and want to learn more about you. Stacey told me she spend a few minutes reading a resume then goes directly to their LinkedIn profile because “people can shine on LinkedIn where they cannot in a resume.”
When I asked Stacey what she first looked for when scanning someone’s LinkedIn profile here is what she said:
- #1 is do they have a professional photo – first impressions matter
- Experience – do they have the experience for the position they are applying for
- Summary section – do they exhibit some personality?
How important is LinkedIn’s summary section?
She relies heavily on this section to determine personality and if there is a cultural fit. “You can have great skills but if you have the wrong personality, it won’t be a good fit.” Read my tips on how to best use your LinkedIn summary section.
The importance of Skills & Endorsements
Stacey thinks this section is mildly important. If you have no endorsements at all this could be a negative because it leaves her wondering WHY no one would endorse the skills you say you have.
The value of LinkedIn Recommendations
Typically Stacey will not place people without recommendations, there may be some variable in that according to the length of time they have been at a job but she likes to know others have recommended the person. Often she uses recommendation to help place a client and add that your recommendations should be recent, over the past three years.
Any value in the volunteer and causes section?
Stacey says yes, goes toward character and what the person cares about. I would agree and often companies that are philanthropic and support causes want employees to share that value.
Are the number of your LinkedIn connection important?
Not necessarily is the short answer. However, Stacey said if you are a social expert and you have very few connections that wouldn’t make sense. She does look at the types of people you are connected to, so be intentional with the people you invite to be in your network.
Top tips for job seekers to leverage your LinkedIn profile
* Get a professional photo, unfortunately people do judge.
* Work on a great summary – be true to who you are, let your personality shine through.
* Have a compelling headline that says I want to learn more.
* List your awards – be proud of your accomplishments and show future employers what they can expect from you.
* Note when you have been promoted. This shows the level of progression in your career.
* If you still play team sports – list it. It says you are a team player.
* Utilize the media feature particularly if you are in a creative field, showing your work visually highlights your talent
Knowing how LinkedIn can help your career is imperative
According to a recent poll done by The True Talent Group, they wanted to know the skill level of their network when it comes to using LinkedIn.
50% said “They don’t know how to make their profile stand out”
50% said “They don’t know what to do once they invite or accept invitations”
I read that ABC News reported , 80% of today’s jobs are landed through networking. So knowing how to network on LinkedIn is as important to your job searching success as is having a great profile that stand out and highlights the points Stacey Stratton and other recruiters tell us are important.
LinkedIn Recruiter customers get access to all of LinkedIn’s users—not just those in their own personal networks. The product allows you to scour this enormous pool of professionals using advanced search functions such as industry, location and current company. – New Talent Times
To learn more about Stacey Stratton and The True Talent Group visit: www.truetalentgroup.com
