Many clients ask me how to handle their employment status on their LinkedIn profile when they’re unemployed. So here are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your profile is being viewed as much as possible when you’re looking for a job and aren’t employed.
1. Update your Headline
A good first step is changing your headline to reflect that you’re open to new opportunities. Be sure to update your “completion” status. Searches of your profile will drop when it does not have a “to present” position listed on it. For example, if you have an end date for your last position on your LinkedIn profile and do not have a current position, your status may drop from “All Star” to “Expert.” This can make it more challenging for your profile to be ranked higher in search results and for recruiters to find you. Changing your headline will help with the keyword optimization of the profile. For example, list your title as “Seeking Marketing Manager Position.”
2. Seek an All-Star Profile Status
There are five levels of LinkedIn profile strength: beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert, and All-Star. Getting to the All-Star Profile Status is critical because many studies have shown that people with All-Star profiles are 40x more likely to be contacted by recruiters.
Reaching an All-Star profile status isn’t too difficult. It only requires that you add a professional profile picture, include your work experience/education, have at least five skills listed, and have at least 50 connections.
3. Use the Summary Section
Similar to the headline, the summary section of your profile should deliver a powerful message to prospective employers. Mainly, you’ll want to use this to reinforce the value you would provide if hired. There are two ways to accomplish this: 1.) The first is using your summary as a place to list achievements, accomplishments, and awards. Entice the reader to keep reading by giving them a strong impression early on in the profile. 2.) Alternately, you can also use this section to answer the main question on an employer’s mind: What value add do you bring to their organization? Answer this question while making sure to use keywords associated with the position you’re looking for. Lastly, you’ll want to make sure you have a call to action at the end of the summary, such as encouraging employers to contact you via email and/or phone.
You can also adjust the settings of your profile to let recruiters know that you are on the job search. Be sure and let people know that you are actively on the hunt for a job. If you are in need of help with your LinkedIn profile, please reach out to us at nocoastconsulting@gmail.com.
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Contact Dr. Anderson for assistance with LinkedIn.