By Ana Margarita Olar| Executivechronicles.com | How to Use LinkedIn for Career Advancement | Social networking sites are now one of the channels through which companies are choosing their job recruits. One such site, the LinkedIn has now grown to more than 100 million users. It grows in reach and strength continuously.
According to New York Times, LinkedIn could become a standard utility for HR recruiters. Here are some ways to use it to boost your career:
ADD A PHOTO ON YOUR PROFILE
LinkedIn profiles with photos are seven times more likely to be viewed. People prefer to connect to a profile with a picture. And for your career advancement, you have to look professional on your profile picture. Avoid posting these photos on your profile. Wear business attire. Have your photo taken by a professional to create a lasting impression.
USE HEADLINE AND SUMMARY FOR YOUR ADVANTAGE
Make the most of the headline to tell people about you. Write your job title. Choose keywords that people will most likely use when searching for you. Spice it up a bit by writing something intriguing or interesting about you.
EMPHASIZE YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
You may have other skills outside of your profession that you want to offer. Arrange your skills according to the level of expertise that you have. You also need to tell the details of your experience. Specify the company that you worked for. State your job description.
Choose the company from the LinkedIn list, to automatically import the company’s logo.
HAVE A CREDIBLE RECOMMENDATION
This is also important if you want to level up your career. You need credible references to back up what you are saying. References should be prominent in their field. Include the company that they work for, and of course, what can they say about you.
BUILD PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
One key to increasing your visibility in searches is to accept and increase your connection. Join groups with like-minded individuals on your area of expertise. This is a great way to acknowledge others and gain new acquaintances. You can also use the Alumni feature to connect with professionals within your Alma Mater.
BE A BRAND AMBASSADOR
Creating an impressive profile will work for you and your company. When you include your company’s logo to your profile, you will automatically be a follower of your company’ page. Share relevant content about the latest achievements of your company. Update posts of your company’s activities. Share these posts to your connections and groups.
Finally, check these LinkedIn mistakes that you should avoid. Keep in mind that you need to enhance your personal brand. Seek opportunity to improve yourself. Your virtual profile should go along with your real world profile.
