Why create a LinkedIn profile and how optimize it ?

LinkedIn has over 500,000 company pages and 930 million subscribers worldwide. Find out in this article why you need a LinkedIn profile and how to optimize it. 

A platform dedicated to recruitment

LinkedIn is the world’s largest social network dedicated to recruitment. Every day, numerous candidates apply through this platform, and many recruiters are on the lookout for promising profiles in all sectors of activity. This applies to all sectors of activity.

Your presence here will enable you to seize every opportunity that comes your way. Of all the social networks, LinkedIn is the one that gives you the most scope to express your expertise. Its main use is professional networking and recruitment. Indeed, LinkedIn lets you stay in touch and develop your professional network via “connections”. It also enables you to keep abreast of market developments and keep up to date with the latest sectorial news

LinkedIn is also used by human resources professionals and recruiters in their hiring processes. When searching for candidates, recruiters analyze and verify the information presented on your profile, in relation to your LinkedIn CV. Having a well-completed LinkedIn profile makes it easier to be found, and is reassuring for recruiters, as it gives them a more detailed insight into your profile and personality. 

Increase your visibility

Your visibility is generated by your interactions and through the platform’s built-in algorithms, enabling you to be seen by the greatest possible number of people. And that is not all: profiles are also referenced on Google. This is a significant advantage, as it allows you to be found and hunted by recruiters completely free of charge. Moreover, to make your profile easier to find, remember to simplify your URL link to linkedin.com/firstname-lastname.

To optimize your visibility, you need to respect the platform’s codes and meet the algorithm’s expectations. To do this, we advise you to visit your profile regularly (or even daily) to share and/or propose quality content related to your activity or topics of interest. You can also interact with other people, by commenting on and sharing their publications, to show the algorithm that you’re active. 

Optimized profile, enhanced profile

Pay particular attention to your profile. It is essential to have a profile photo, as recruiters mainly consult candidates with a visible profile picture. The aim is to give a good first impression, so make sure it is professional, i.e. framed at face level and with a neutral background. The personalization of your banner is also important: we advise you to opt for a banner that represents your business sector. As for “the title “, be catchy and describe your job or the position you’re looking for. It is important to define it, as it is the element that appears next to your name in search results. You have up to 120 characters to arouse recruiter’s curiosity and make them want to know more about you.

To further optimize your profile, ask your colleagues, customers or collaborators to write your recommendations. These will appear directly on your LinkedIn profile, giving you greater visibility and reassuring recruiters. 

A detailed summary 

For your summary, devote the first 250 characters to keywords that recruiters are likely to be looking for. This part is an opportunity to show your added value by mentioning the most important points of your profile. We recommend that you fill in the full 2,000 characters. To facilitate reading, structure your presentation with short paragraphs. You can also show your originality through your writing, but always keep it professional. Finish your presentation with a call to action, including your contact details.

Presentation of your experience and qualifications

The last thing you need to focus on is detailing your professional experience and training. Don’t confine yourself to listing your current positions, but also your previous jobs. Don’t leave out any experience. Your apprenticeships and internships can be just as important. It is also a good idea to illustrate your experiences (photos, links, videos, documents). But be careful not to divulge anything confidential.

Finally, it’s important to mention all diplomas obtained in the dedicated section. Include as many details as possible, such as honors, degrees or other distinctions. This is also the place to list online training courses, if applicable. Complete the descriptions of your experiences and diplomas by adding the soft and hard skills they have enabled you to acquire. These will appear in the “skills” section of your profile and, once again will help to better reference your profile. We advise you to have these skills validated by relevant people in your network, for added credibility. 

LinkedIn is one of the essential tools for recruitment. You now have all the keys you need to create and optimize your profile to improve your visibility. If you are currently looking for a job, follow Fed Finance on LinkedIn to keep up to date with the latest vacancies. You can also apply to one of our adverts or via our unsolicited application form. Fed Finance is a recruitment firm specializing in finance positions in the Lake Geneva region.