How to Use LinkedIn Effectively?

While people use LinkedIn for professional networking, connecting, and job searching, companies recruit and share company information with prospective employees.

Tip: LinkedIn is a splendid site for job searching, as well. Get tailored feedback on how to optimise your LinkedIn profile and generate 5x more jobs and opportunities.

Why use LinkedIn?

LinkedIn offers valuable resources for job seekers, providing information, serving as a billboard to highlight your unique value proposition, and making your data public for recruiters and hiring managers who may be looking for what you have to offer.

Sign Up for LinkedIn

Ready to get started? It's simple and free. Go to LinkedIn.com, enter your first and last name as well as your email address in the designated area, and create a strong password.

Get Started on LinkedIn

You'll realise it is quick and easy to get started using LinkedIn. Begin by signing up for an account, create your online profile and add a profile photo. The platform offers two main tiers of membership: Basic and Premium.

The Basic account offers messaging, profile creation, and ways to apply to job postings. On the other hand, their Premium accounts provide added features and resources to grow your online appearance and let you gain more out of their platform.

As soon as you have logged in, you can start using LinkedIn to connect, network, and search for jobs.

Choose a Professional Photo

You will want to make an excellent first impression on anyone who will view your profile, and a significant part of that is the type of picture you choose. It would be best if you decide on a professional-looking photo rather than a casual shot.

You don't have to pay for an expensive headshot necessarily, but you should be careful when choosing the right outfit, setting, lighting, etc., for your profile picture.

Write a Great Profile Summary

Your LinkedIn summary gives you the chance to make a great first impression on recruiters, hiring managers and other professionals, especially if you are interested in new job opportunities.

LinkedIn has a limit of 2600 characters for this section, and you want to make the most of it. The Top LinkedIn profiles take advantage of the character limit and usually have 200-300 words lengthy summaries.

The company itself suggests writing three to five short sections and leaving plenty of white space, so readers' eyes don't glaze over when they land on your page.

Tip: We recommend using short, tight sentences, avoiding slang or writing in the first person, and using keywords.

Please don't be hesitant to add some of your personality into your summary to make it stand out, but stay away from anything that seems too unprofessional or could be controversial.

Finally, proofread this section thoroughly, as you would with your cover letter for a job application. Typos and clumsy writing will send the wrong signal.

Improve and Optimise Your Profile

Additionally to a summary, your LinkedIn profile should contain your work experience, education, skills, endorsements, and recommendations from others in your network.

Important: Your profile helps you get found on LinkedIn because it includes searchable keywords in your information about yourself.

Your profile profits from including relevant keywords that search engines, recruiters and hiring managers look for. Including these buzzwords in your summary, interests, former job titles, and skills can help you stand out.

Request LinkedIn Recommendations

Your LinkedIn recommendations support as validation for your experience, skills and values you add to a company. They verify what you say about yourself in your profile. Most of your profile is you talking about you – who you are and what you have done. Recommendations allow you to have others reinforce your claims. You can request recommendations from your LinkedIn connections.

Utilise LinkedIn Endorsements

Endorsements are LinkedIn features that allow your connections to come to your profile and endorse you for specific skills. They add validity to your online profile by backing up to your work experience.

Connect Your LinkedIn Profile with Your CV

Including your LinkedIn URL on your CV will make it easy for recruiters, hiring managers and future employers to visit LinkedIn to learn more about you and your skills and qualifications. LinkedIn will assign you a URL unless you create a custom one.

To create a custom URL, follow the below steps (Desktop):

Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
Click View profile.
Click Edit public profile & URL on the right side. You'll be redirected to the Public profile settings page.
Under Edit your custom URL on the right side, click the Edit icon next to your public profile URL. It'll be an address that looks like www.linkedin.com/in/yourname.
Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box.
Click Save.

Mobile Browser & Lite App

To change your public profile URL:

Tap your profile picture.
Scroll to the Contact section and tap the Edit icon.
On the Edit contact info page, tap on your personal Profile URL. You'll be redirected to the Public profile settings page.
Under the Edit your custom URL, tap the Edit icon next to your public profile URL.
Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box.
Tap Save.

Sending Messages and Connection Requests

Once you have completed creating your profile, you can start to build a network of contacts. LinkedIn offers a huge opportunity to connect with a massive professional population. Don't limit yourself. Spend a few thoughtful moments writing irresistible LinkedIn connection requests and messages, and you'll start quickly building up your network!

Applying for Jobs on Linkedin

If you look for a new job, you can search and apply for jobs directly on LinkedIn. In addition, you can view and contact your LinkedIn connections, which may refer you for a job.

Searching Company Profiles

LinkedIn company profiles are an excellent way to find more information on companies you are interested in. You'll be able to see if you have any connections at the company, new hires, promotions, jobs posted, related companies, and company statistics.

Keep Your LinkedIn Profile Up to Date

The more you have completed your LinkedIn profile, the better your chances of being found and contacted. Handle your LinkedIn profile like a CV and provide recruiters and hiring managers with detailed information on your skills and experience. And be sure to customise your profile's unique URL to make it easier to find and increase its visibility.

How to Update Your LinkedIn Profile When You're Unemployed

Updating your LinkedIn profile to reflect that you're unemployed can create an issue. Even though you might be unemployed, you must still present yourself positively to prospective employers and networking contacts.

Using the LinkedIn Mobile App

The LinkedIn Mobile App features include searching and viewing profiles, inviting new connections, accessing LinkedIn answers, and actionable network updates. You can send and receive messages, look up contacts or company profiles, and even upload your CV to apply for job openings. Use the app to keep your job search moving forward when you're on the road.

Avoid Being Scammed

LinkedIn has the same challenges as other sites, so watch out for scammers.

Include These Tips into Your LinkedIn Strategy Today!

Now that you know these tips to help you use your LinkedIn profile effectively, head over to your LinkedIn profile and start making these changes today. OXYT offers services and other resources that will help you continue to learn how to present your personal brand on LinkedIn to attract the right people to reach your career goals.

Find out more

Discover how to secure your dream job this year and take a look at example customer service CVs.
Fore those of you who have not graduated, explore high paying jobs in the UK in 2023.
Learn more about why your resignation letter should burn bridges.