If you are looking to make a career move you likely already know having a good LinkedIn profile and second, being active on the platform will help you become seen. The thing to remember is that your LinkedIn profile allows you to be so much more than your resume.
Resumes may be necessary, but they are often subjective and overwritten with too much detail. Remember that recruiters skim both your resume and your LinkedIn profile are key.
By focusing on these 3 simple areas of your profile will set you apart
1. You are more than your TITLE!
Include an ideal title for the job you want to be followed by a headline with several keywords/hard skills that support what you bring.
Keywords increase your chances of showing up in search results because recruiters search for skill sets first.
EXAMPLES: (separate keywords as shown)
Director of HR at Oracle | Software Technology | Certified HR Trainer
GMP-Certified | Project Manager | CQE – Helping manufacturers become more efficient through process engineering
Career Strategist & Coach | Workplace Media Expert -> Career Planning & Navigation Tools for Human Resources, Talent Development & Individuals.
2. What ABOUT you?
Write a brief, compelling career story in the first person. This should include what you do or specialize in, who you work with, and the type of results you accomplished. Include a short sentence of key accomplishments that are relevant for a recruiter and lastly, include a list of 6-10 key skills.
3. Update Your RECOMMENDATIONS
Gain social proof through your recommendations. Be sure they are specific and speak to the problems you solved or skills you are known for. Recommendations are a great way to market yourself.
What skills are in demand?
LinkedIn has released its annual report on the most in-demand skills for 2023. The report is based on data gathered from LinkedIn job postings and member activity, providing a unique and valuable perspective on the job market’s current and future needs.
According to LinkedIn, despite fears of an economic downturn and almost daily news of large-scale layoffs, the talent market is still extremely competitive. In the United States, there are 1.9 open jobs for every unemployed job seeker, giving candidates plenty of choices about where to work.
Global talent shortages have reached a 16-year high, as 75% of employers can’t find the talent they need with the right blend of technical and soft skills. As business needs continue to evolve, the skills gap will only widen over time unless employers and their team members focus on upskilling and reskilling.
Focusing on the most in-demand skills can help ensure that employers have the talent they need to address their changing business needs, and that workers maintain relevant skill sets.
As a job seeker you want to be sure you have skills in your title, headline, about section, and in past experiences as well as the skills section itself if you want to be found by recruiters.
The Most In-Demand Skills
- Management
- Communication
- Customer service
- Leadership
- Sales
- Project management
- Research
- Analytical skills
- Marketing
- Teamwork
The Most In-Demand Hard Skills
- Software development
- SQL
- Finance
- Python
- Java
- Data analysis
- JavaScript
- Cloud computing
- Operations
- Customer relationship management
Depending on your area of expertise, you may not be moved to go out and learn software development skills or SQL. That’s okay. These lists can help you identify and close skill gaps, grow your career, or plot your path toward a role change.
Knowing your personal brand, the skills you bring to an employer and how you deliver your career story are all key components in addition to the 3 tips mentioned above. The in-demand skills are simply a guide to what’s currently taking place in the job market.
Conclusion
According to career development coach JT O’Donnell, recruiters use platforms like LinkedIn to find top talent. It’s not uncommon for those who are successful in their careers to get job offers before even knowing that a job is available. That’s why it’s important to put your LinkedIn profile to use.
