There’s nothing quite like a break from work to make you realise how much you dread going to the office. We don’t think anyone should ever feel like this. So if you do have that Sunday Night Dread, then it’s worth looking at what’s causing it, as very often it’s not the job itself. If you want to talk through this, we can help here.
If you are thinking about moving on to a new career. Or looking to see what’s out there in the job market, then LinkedIn is the place to start.
LinkedIn has changed dramatically over the past couple of years. If you’ve been in your job a while, you may not have noticed that LinkedIn has become as much about your networking as it is your CV.
Attracting a new employer can be made much easier on LinkedIn. You can showcase your skills before you even apply for the job. If you know-how.
Here are our top tips for making the most out of your LinkedIn account.
1. Update your profile
The first thing you need to do is update your profile. There are lots of elements to a LinkedIn profile so let’s break this down.
Work history
Start with your work history. Make sure every job title and description is accurate. You’ll want to highlight your key achievements in your last few roles and make sure your job descriptions are well-written and engaging.
LinkedIn works by keywords. So, if you’re looking for a job in a particular industry or use a certain area of expertise, make sure you talk about them in your profile.
Your info
When you’ve got all your work history up to date, you want to make sure you’re presenting your best self in your LinkedIn intro.
Profile photo
This is the part where you put in your photo, a header image, a headline and some information about yourself. Make sure your photo looks like you. While it’s nice to leave a flattering picture from when you were younger on there, if a person couldn’t recognise you in the street from your profile image, then you want to change it. Even if your hair colour has changed.
If you’re serious about job hunting then someone is going to look at your profile image before they meet you in person or by video call. An accurate image builds trust and shows you’re honest. One that looks dramatically different will do the opposite. And that’s not the first impression you want to make on a prospective employer.
You also want to update the header image. If there’s an action shot of you at work, or looking like you’re a part of the team – here is the place to display it. You can get creative with the header image if you don’t have anything that works. Have a look at these profiles to get an idea.
Headline
Next, take a look at your headline. This should say what you do. Make it really simple as this will show up in searches for potential employers and people within your network.
If you are a baker, then say you’re a baker. Remember, you want to make it easy for someone to find your profile when they are searching. If you have a recruiter in need of someone to fill a job position, make sure yours is the first profile they see by making your headline simple and to the point.
About section
In your about section, you can elaborate more. Remember that only the first few lines of an about section is shown. For someone to read the full text, they will click on ‘read more’. This means you need to tell an interesting story or make them curious about what’s below that ‘read more’ line.
Make sure you complete as much information as possible in this intro section. And if you’re currently out of work looking for new opportunities, then let them know.
The best thing you can be on your LinkedIn profile is honest.
2. Get some Recommendations
Once your profile is given a polish, your next powerful tool is the recommendations. Nothing else says you’re a good employee and team player than people saying as such in black and white.
Ask those you work with or previous employers to say a few words about you. And let them know that you’ll give recommendations in return.
3. Network with your connections
Now your profile is up to date and easy for potential employers to find, you’ll want to make sure you’re active on the platform.
A little bit goes a long way with LinkedIn. If there are particular companies you’d love to work for, then make sure you follow their company page to see the latest updates and job opportunities.
At the same time, you can see if anyone in your wider network already works there. If there is, then send them a connection request. Don’t forget to add a message letting them know why you’re connecting as this means they are more likely to accept your request.
LinkedIn works like any other social networking site. You need to interact to get the most out of it. When you log in, you’ll be presented with your feed. You can react to posts, comment and message people on the feed.
If something has made you stop and read, hit the like button or leave a message. If you’re not sure what to say, ask a question about what they’ve said. Or let them know that it’s inspired you to do something.
4. Share your views
Don’t be afraid to share your own professional insights and points of view. Prospective employers will want to know what you think about the industry or your current role.
And no matter how bad a time you’re having at work, it’s important to have a positive outlook on this professional network. If things aren’t going well at the moment, try and see the opportunity in it. Has it made you reassess your career goals? Or that you want a better work/life balance?
5. do some Job searches
Then let’s get job searching. LinkedIn is great for seeing what jobs are available in your industry or local area. You can even get an idea of the salary and how many other people are applying for the jobs.
Top tip: if you’re not sure what to put in your profile, look at some of your dream job adverts and see how they are describing the job role and experience needed. Can you use any of these words in your profile?
And finally
Once you’ve gotten started and are interacting with your network, you’ll find that it’s easier to get noticed. You may even want to look at some of the other features on LinkedIn.
There are some great people who can help you get the most out of LinkedIn and really up your job hunting game.
But before you hand in your notice at your current job, have a look at our exit strategy service that can help you avoid more Sunday Night Dread and ease the process into your new career.
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