With over 500 million users now on LinkedIn, this is a social network that can be incredibly valuable for professionals and recruiters. Social media is gaining increasing significance thanks to growing recognition amongst recruiters that having a personal brand is a powerful way of extending your influence in acquiring talent for your clients. When reaching out to candidates as a recruiter, people will look you up online to get an impression of your character - having a web presence and especially a strong LinkedIn profile demonstrates that you’re at the top of your game.
The Headshot
A professional LinkedIn profile is not complete without a headshot and with the absence of a profile picture to build a personal connection with those who land on your page you’re likely to lose talent. Your headshot is the first thing people see when they visit your profile and it offers the best chance of creating a powerful impression on your audience.
“The best headshots are taken by a professional photographer,” says Thomas Cheeks, a social media writer at DraftBeyond and Researchpapersuk, “but in the absence of a photoshoot you should choose an image that is predominantly of your face - at least 60% of the frame. A professional outfit and a warm expression will complete the image, giving a likeable and trustworthy impression at a glance.”
The Headline
LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to place a headline beneath your name on your profile and most people use this space to list their job title. However, the prominence of this text makes it perfectly placed to tell visitors to your profile a little more about you, capturing their interest and encouraging a deeper dive.
Get creative in the headline to give people a hint at what it is you do whilst also grabbing their attention. You can outline the opportunities that you create for individuals or highlight your talents as a recruiter - don’t waste this space with a drab job title.
The Summary
The next opportunity on your profile to demonstrate your passion for recruiting is the summary. This is a body of text which should offer value and information for anyone who has landed on your profile. Steer clear from tired old cliches about your experience in the industry and aim to use the summary to reveal what it is that makes you unique. This is an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
Creating A Strong Sense Of Purpose
When constructing your LinkedIn profile, remember that candidates will be drawn to your profile wondering what it is you can do for them. “As a recruiter, you know people are driven by a desire to make an impact in the world as much as by salaries and benefits,” says Robert Limones, an HR expert at Writinity and Last Minute Writing. “Appeal to this sense of purpose across your profile to emphasise that potential candidates that work with you will play a vital role in the companies you can place them in.”
Connecting your role to a broader sense of purpose sends a strong message to your candidates that you understand what drives them. Candidates are drawn to recruiters whose passion for enacting change in the world matches their own - ensure your LinkedIn profile demonstrates this passion.
Find Your Niche
If you’re seeking candidates with a specific skill set, tailoring your LinkedIn profile to emphasize your specialty will draw in a higher caliber of candidate. Recruitment has been becoming highly specialized in recent years, meaning candidates are reluctant to work with anyone who lacks relevant knowledge of their industry or locale. Demonstrating your value to potential candidates is an essential function of your LinkedIn and will connect you with the right candidates.
Service With A Smile
LinkedIn is a platform for professionals but within recruiting in particular candidates are reluctant to work with people they don't click with. Your LinkedIn profile provides an opportunity to make a personal connection with potential candidates so use warm language whilst staying professional. Your headshot and a creative headline can work to demonstrate your professionalism with a personal touch. A great LinkedIn profile will build an instant rapport, connecting you with candidates in your industry.
Ashley Halsey is a professional writer at Luckyassignments.com and Gumessays.com and has acted as a recruitment consultant for many organizations over the past two decades.
