Did you know that your LinkedIn profile is just as important as your CV? We all use social media when we want to connect with our friends or to stay abreast with the current affairs. Depending on your morning or evening routine, you will probably spend a few minutes to a number of hours on your smartphone looking through your preferred social media platforms.

It should therefore come as no surprise that an increasing number of recruiters are now looking for ways of recruiting using social media platforms. There are a number of social media platforms and sites that can be used when recruiting, but for today we focus on LinkedIn.

At Tandem HR consultants we recognize that our clients have different needs.  Sometimes they may advertise a number of vacancies but do not find candidates with the skills they prefer.  Other times the time frame given is too short to be able to find the right candidate.  Some may unfortunately at times lack the sufficient budget. In order to assist these organizations meet their recruitment needs, we at times turn to LinkedIn as a tool.

As a consultancy we wanted to share some reasons for revisiting your LinkedIn profile today:

Personal Branding

Branding is very important not only for organizations, but also individuals. Organizations usually have a budget and a number of people who work to ensure that they maintain their image. As an individual however, you usually have a lot less to work with and this is where LinkedIn comes in. Described by Forbes Magazine as the ultimate personal branding platform, LinkedIn provides you with the best opportunity to increase your visibility and credibility with others in your industry and recruiters.

Making connections

Through LinkedIn, you are able to stay connected to a large network of individuals. Your connections provide different insights about any changes in the industry. They can also alert you to various opportunities that may be beneficial for your career. This also increases your visibility to recruiters like us.

Endorsements and Recommendations

Features such as endorsements and recommendations on LinkedIn increase your likelihood of getting an interview. This is especially true if the comments made by your connections with regards to your skills are propitious. Recruiters look for candidates with specific skill sets that their clients require. Having yours endorsed gives you an added advantage.

Access to industry insights

By joining professional groups or organizations on LinkedIn, you are able to gain valuable insights and changes in the industry which are shared by other individuals. This also provides you with the opportunity to build your reputation as an expert in your industry by sharing your insights. 

Job opportunities

All the above stated reasons ultimately contribute to your personal branding by increasing your visibility. This translates to you receiving requests to submit an application for vacancies in various organizations. Another key point is to choose your keywords carefully. They make it easy for recruiters to find you and send you vacancies relevant to your skills and experience.

So, next time you are on LinkedIn, try polishing your profile and increase chances of you finding your next dream job.

Susan Awuor

Recruiter and Trainer 

Tandem Consultants