I published this article on Betts Recruiting's blog as their Associate Marketing Manager.
It’s that glorious time of year when the sun shines longer and heavy jackets are not as necessary. As you’re digging through closets to make room for new wardrobes, it’s just as important to give your online brand a good spring cleaning.
Whether you’re job searching or loving where you work, your LinkedIn profile is the best place on the Internet to tell your professional story. There are four things you can quickly check on LinkedIn to ensure your profile is as fresh as the flowers blooming outside:
1) Check yourself: Is your LinkedIn story accurate?
A big red flag for recruiters and hiring managers is inconsistent stories between a resume and LinkedIn profile. Does your LinkedIn professional headline match the position title on your resume? Would your LinkedIn job descriptions impress a stranger?
You might think writing the same information in two locations is redundant, but it’s definitely not: Tailor your resume for a specific job, and use LinkedIn to showcase all of your career accomplishments. It shows potential employers you care about your personal brand, and would therefore be a strong extension of their brand on the job.
2) Follow the Pulse: What are influencers saying?
LinkedIn’s Pulse is an amazing resource of curated professional news from industry leaders and publications. Has your portfolio changed in the new year? Wondering what inspires your favorite entrepreneur? Change your preferences in Pulse to keep up with the most relevant, high-quality content. It’s a great hack for keeping up with industry trends you can mention at networking events or a job interview!
3) Catch up with old friends: Who's making moves where?
When you’ve reached that almighty “500+ connections” status on LinkedIn, it’s easy to fall out of touch with the great people you’ve met along the way. You can sort through your network based on how you’re connected (friends, colleagues, college) or good old-fashioned ABC order. You’ll be surprised to see where people relocated, the promotions they’ve gotten, or who changed industries after college!
LinkedIn makes it really easy for you to send a message from the Connections tab: Take 5 seconds to send a quick “Hey! I noticed your new gig! How’s it going at (company name)?” They’ll appreciate the love and you’ll be top of mind the next time they come across an exciting opportunity.
4) Grow your network: Connect with alumni in your industry.
In the heat of March Madness and college pride, it’s a perfect time to make new connections with university alumni. You can easily “Find Your Alumni” under the “My Network” tab on LinkedIn. Discover where they live, work, and what they do – it won’t take long to find someone in your dream job! The moment you mention their alma mater, they will get that warm-fuzzy feeling about their college days (assuming it was a good experience) and be happy to have an informal phone call or coffee meeting.