At NexGoal, we strive to provide relevant and easy-to-use job search content on a variety of topics for everyone, no matter where they are in their career. In recent years, social media platform LinkedIn has become a powerhouse in the professional community thanks to its networking capabilities, industry insights, and extensive job board.
We’ve covered multiple LinkedIn-related topics in the past to help our audience use the platform to its fullest potential. To give you the most complete coverage, we’ve compiled seven of our most popular articles about the nuances of LinkedIn. Whether you’re just making your profile or you’re looking to take a deeper dive into some of its features, this collection has something for everyone and should increase your personal brand and searchability!
Why LinkedIn Is Important
LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools for advancing your career, no matter what stage you’re in. We’ve covered numerous ways to make the most of the platform, but one question we haven’t dove into is as to why LinkedIn is such a vital tool for your job search.
While most know about LinkedIn’s status as the top social media tool for professionals, not everyone knows the full extent of what can be done using it. We’ll look at the most common uses for the platform to paint a better picture of why you should utilize LinkedIn to its fullest potential.
Pros And Cons Of Using LinkedIn’s “Open To Work” Badge
It’s often challenging to find a new role in a crowded job market. Thankfully, there are a myriad of tools out there to help with the journey. For example, LinkedIn has a badge that can be added to your profile to show that you are “Open to Work” and allow recruiters to easily find your profile. There is a similar “Hiring” badge for recruiters with open positions. Oddly, however, this feature is considered controversial.
Making yourself more visible to those with open roles seems like a massive benefit. But detractors believe it makes a job seeker look desperate, among other reasons. We’ll look at both sides of this argument, but only you can decide whether it’s right for you.
How To Update Your LinkedIn Profile
With many companies ramping up hiring in January, the beginning of the year is a great time to start or resume a career change. That means it’s an ideal time to update your resume and tweak your documents. But don’t stop there! A well-maintained LinkedIn profile is essential in the modern landscape, so the new year represents a chance to make sure your profile is up-to-date and easy on the eyes.
“When people want to research you in a professional capacity— even people who work down the hall from you—they’ll typically go directly to LinkedIn and type your name in the search box at the top of the screen.” –William Arruda, Forbes
Even if you aren’t looking for a job right now, it’s a good idea to keep your LinkedIn updated. You never know when a new opportunity may come your way, and many believe the country is heading toward a recession. Be prepared for anything the new year may throw your way by taking these steps toward a revamped LinkedIn profile!
LinkedIn Connections To Avoid
Networking is the best way to expand your career, and LinkedIn is one of the best tools at your disposal. But there’s more to successful networking than a huge number of connections. In fact, there are many types of unfamiliar connections you should avoid on the platform.
Remember, quality is more important than quantity in your networking efforts. Make sure you’re cultivating a meaningful community by avoiding these types of questionable connections.
Stand Out Digitally With These LinkedIn Summary Tips
In any sort of persuasive speech, your attention-getter sets the tone of the entire performance. An engaging introduction reels your audience in, while a boring one sends them looking elsewhere. Imagine walking into a hotel lobby and finding it unpleasant. No matter how good your room may be, that initial entrance soured the experience.
Your LinkedIn profile is the same way. Using LinkedIn is vital for the modern job search, and your summary is your introduction to recruiters. The website itself declares the summary as one of the most important pieces of information you can describe.
Increasing Your Visibility On LinkedIn
Having a presence on LinkedIn is a must for the modern job seeker. Simply having a profile and being a ghost on the platform isn’t enough. If you’re trying to stand out and find a new job, you need to make an effort to be visible to recruiters and hiring managers.
Competition for jobs is tough, and you need to find a way to stand out from thousands of other users. Make sure that your profile is working for you and keeping you visible by taking these expert-recommended steps!
How To Not Be Annoying On LinkedIn
No matter what industry you’re in, networking is the supreme principle in advancing your career. In most cases, modern networking means a strong LinkedIn presence. LinkedIn has cornered the market as the prime social media option for the professional world, and proper LinkedIn etiquette is a skill every professional needs to learn.
Part of that etiquette is knowing what NOT to do on the platform. LinkedIn isn’t the same as other social media platforms, and if you annoy your network, you’ll find yourself alienating your potential allies.
Your personal brand is important, and you don’t want that brand to be “an annoyance.” Unless you’re looking to be a nuisance, avoid these annoying LinkedIn behaviors.
Wrap up
With a deeper understanding of the nuances of LinkedIn, you can utilize its functions to best fit your needs, create an eye-popping and easily searchable profile, and make the right connections to take the next steps in your career. LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools in your career arsenal when used correctly, and we hope these articles can help! If you have any ideas on LinkedIn-related topics our team should research, please reach out and let us know.
Before You Go
View Current Job Openings
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Follow NexGoal on Twitter
“Like” NexGoal on Facebook
Connect with NexGoal on LinkedIn
