As the years go by, the world changes with it and we are left to adapt to new technological advancements. One thing that is constantly changing more than ever is the workforce.
Back then, hiring looked a lot different than it does now. People would print out their resumes and deliver them to the job they wanted to apply for, or even applied at the job location itself. Now, it’s all about applying and sending resumes, cover letters, samples and everything else to the company digitally.
While this may be convenient, it does make it harder for applicants to establish personal connections with recruiters or hiring managers. We now have to think of the many ways to stand out among the crowd in a one-page resume — which sounds difficult, but not impossible.
Luckily, there are tools that can help applicants stand out even more! LinkedIn is a platform where anyone can network with professionals from many different companies. Through this tool, the applicant can create an account and list all of their abilities, skills, experience, samples, education and so much more. It is a great way to keep things organized and build connections with other people. Anyone who is looking for a job or internship, who’s trying to advance in their career or who wants to showcase their skills can join.
However, having a LinkedIn account does not guarantee that companies will reach out. The applicant needs to put in the effort and work.
Input LinkedIn Profile Link On Resume
Not only does the applicant get to submit their resume and/or cover letter when applying to a position, but they can include their LinkedIn profile link on both documents. The more the applicant showcases their skills, the higher chances they have of standing out and being called for an interview.
Update LinkedIn
It’s important for applicants to remember to keep their profiles up to date. In the beginning, when an account is created, the applicant might be doing this constantly. But everyone gets busy with other things and that means they could forget to update their profile or even polish it. Remember, recruiters and hiring managers are constantly looking for candidates who share their qualifications. That means there is a possibility that they will look at the applicant’s LinkedIn profile to find out more information on what they have done over the years.
Keywords are Important!
Keywords are so important when it comes to applying for a job. A good way to be noticed by a company after applying to one of their positions is to make sure to have your biography match their job description. Inputting certain keywords into your bio might give you a higher chance of being noticed by the company. The same goes with any other documents that are submitted; make sure the keywords of the job description are somewhere in there!
Share Your LinkedIn Profile
Applicants can include this link on their bio on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or any other social media platform they may have. That is how connections are built! Applicants can ask classmates, peers, professors, current coworkers or anyone that they’re interested in connecting with for their LinkedIn profile. The worst they can say to an applicant is no, which is okay because there are many people to build professional relationships with.
Make Connections
Lastly, applicants need to put in the work to build those relationships. It’s not just about connecting. A quick message to other people/companies can probably go a long way and help the applicant get noticed. Scheduling a Zoom meeting to learn more about the company is another option. Some companies do this and it doesn’t hurt to ask if they have time to schedule something with you. This platform is meant to help facilitate relationships, but it will not do all the work. With that being said, reach out! There are many people out there who are willing to help.
LinkedIn is a great source to connect with others and learn more about companies. Do take advantage of this tool to showcase anything that might not fit on a resume. As always, best of luck with everything!