4 Ways to Ramp up your LinkedIn Profile before Your Social Media Job Search
Slide 1: Survey results show that recruiters use LinkedIn to search for and screen job candidates!
 Bullhorn: 97% of recruiters use LinkedIn
 Jobvite: 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn
 Right Management: 94% use LinkedIn
Conclusion: This is a compelling reason to have a LinkedIn profile!
Slide 2: LinkedIn: It’s not your résumé…or is it?
 Your LinkedIn profile contains elements of your CV/résumé, but you have greater format
flexibility to “sell” your knowledge, skills & abilities.
 LinkedIn is a powerful marketing & network tool that works for you 24/7 in ways that your other
job search documents can’t.
Slide 3: How Recruiters & Others Find You on LinkedIn
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Searching by relevant keywords
o Using LinkedIn
o Using Google’s search engine
Searching by industry and job titles
Following connections in disciplinary areas
Browsing alumni of specific Universities
Note: You MUST proactively link to recruiters!
Sources:
http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/07/16/6-ways-recruiters-use-linkedin-to-headhunt
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140512123345-49246280-7-ways-to-attract-recruiters-to-your-linkedin-profile
Slide 4: LinkedIn Algorithm: How to Improve your Relevancy and Ranking
Take these actions:
 Ensure that your profile is complete.
 Strategically add key words that highlight your high-demand disciplinary and transferable skills.
Add the keywords to your LinkedIn Headline, Summary, Experience section and Job Titles (as
applicable.)
 Add professional connections because a larger network is better, especially when related to your
discipline or profession; 1st degree connections with complete profiles will boost your ranking
 Strategically join professional groups – they add relevant keywords to boost your ranking
Source: http://marketingthink.com/10-ways-to-get-found-more-easily-on-linkedin-social-selling-advice/
Slide 5:
Question: How do I know what keywords to add?
Answer: Analyze job posts and descriptions. Look for repeated words and patters or themes. This will
help you identify the knowledge, skills & abilities that employers seek!
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Slide 6: Six Reasons Why Recruiters Will Ignore Your LinkedIn Profile
1. You don’t have a profile
2. Boring or generic headline
3. Avatar or unprofessional photo
4. Typos or repetitious or “padded”
5. Could not find you: wrong networks
6. Could not find you: wrong keywords
Sources:
http://thebillfold.com/2013/05/how-to-make-a-linkedin-profile-that-will-actually-help-you-get-a-job/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2013/03/04/8-mistakes-you-should-never-make-on-linkedin/
http://socialmediatoday.com/node/1633616
Slide 7 & 8: These slides depict profile examples with red arrows pointing out the URL, Headline,
Summary, and Experience section. A downward arrow indicates many other sections available but not in
view.
Slide 9: Four Quick Steps to Optimizing your Profile
Step 1: Customize your URL
Step 2: Headline must grab attention
Step 3. Post a professional photo
Step 4: Ramp up summary section!
Slide 10: Step 1. Customize your URL
You want to avoid a default URL a bunch of numbers in it. What you want is something that reads
https://www.linkedin.com/yournamehere
Go to Profile>>hover pointer on URL below photo>>click settings icon>>top of right column>>click
pencil.
If you have a common name (e.g., 481 LinkedIn profiles with the name Robin Walker)
 Add initial(s) in front (e.g. rgwalker)
 Add middle name or initial (e.g. robingenewalker or robingwalker)
 Add suffix or degree (e.g., robingwalkerphd)
 Add number, discipline or Twitter name (e.g., robingwalkercareersavvygrad)
NOTE: Best to be consistent – same as your publications, CV & social media
Source: http://marketingthink.com/10-ways-to-get-found-more-easily-on-linkedin-social-selling-advice/
Slide 11: Step 2 Grab recruiters’ attention with your headline
Picture of a man searching with a field glass overlooking six identical recent graduates with diplomas.
Fact: You cannot set yourself apart from other job hunters with a generic headline!
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Slide 12. Rather than the generic Doctoral Student, XYZ University, use Genetics Doctoral Researcher
or Doctoral Candidate in Genetics.
Note: You have 120 characters in a LinkedIn headline, so use them all!
Good:
Biological sciences graduate research assistant and doctoral candidate graduating in May 2015
Better:
Biological sciences doctoral researcher, interdisciplinary plant group, Bond Life Sciences Center
[The words biological, research, interdisciplinary, plant, and life science are all possible keywords a
recruiter may use in a search engine.]
Avoid: “ABD student” because it could draw negative inferences; Use PhD candidate or master’s
candidate because it signifies you have reached a major milestone and are nearing degree completion.
Slide 13: The goal of your LinkedIn headline will change over time (as will your keywords)
Examples:
• Building a brand image
• Finding a job or consulting work
• Marketing a product
• Seeking investors or collaborators
• Getting established in a new location
Slide 14 & 15: Step 3. Post a Professional Photo
A variety of photos are shown to depict good and bad photos. You need a good quality, color head &
shoulders shot with nothing else in the background. DO NOT include pictures of your family, pets,
partying or selfies.
Slide 16 & 17: Ramp up your Summary Section
You have 2000 characters, so use them
 First person narrative is ok
o Most important information on top
o Must be compelling
 Short (3-5) bulleted lists with action verbs are ok
 Use subheads to break up copy (e.g., Research Interests; Scholarship; Leadership)
 Add white space for a pleasing layout
 Optional: A small amount of personal information (like hobbies) can add warmth and convey
that you are a well-rounded person. Avoid anything controversial.
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Slide 18: Possible Narrative Topics
Note: Prioritize to topics of interests to prospective employers.
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Total years of undergrad/grad/postdoc research experience
Research interests and goals
Role on collaborative/interdisciplinary teams
Mentors & those you mentor
Internships/research beyond the academy
Broader impacts of research (e.g., benefit society or environment)
Career aspirations (where you are headed 5-10 years from now)
Slide 19: Narrative Critique #1 – Poor Example of a Summary
Highly efficient and organized researcher who believes in collaborative team work. Entrepreneurial
sensibilities. An effective communicator who is result-oriented with a positive attitude. Known for being
an ethical leader on diverse research teams.
Reasons why this is poor: Filled with assertions. Loaded with clichés. Says nothing specific.
Slide 20: Narrative Critique #2 – Good Example of Summary
I am a MD/PhD candidate in molecular microbiology and immunology, scheduled to defend my
dissertation research in April 2016. Over the last four years I have acquired expertise in Duchenne
cardiomyopathy gene therapy, with eight co-authored publications. My current research focus is
phenotyping cardiac gene therapy in mice. I am seeking a postdoctoral appointment in….
Reason why this is good: It is highly specific and loaded with keywords a recruiter might be seeking.
Quantifies number of publications. Describes current research and expertise. Notes degree candidacy
and defense date.
Slide 21: Be Strategic and Specific in Your Summary!
• Aimed at a certain company (optional)
• High demand skills: equipment, procedures
• Mentor internationally/nationally known
• Scholarship in top tier journals
• Funding by NSF, NIH, DOE, DHS, etc.
• Research awards or fellowships
Slide 22 Other Good Stuff on Linked In
Just a few of the other sections include
 Education, Courses, Test Scores, Certifications, Publications, Projects, Patents, Skills,
Endorsements, Interests, Groups, Volunteer Causes and more!
Remember: a complete profile will appear higher in search results!
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Slide 23: Example of a Complete Profile
John M Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmsmith3
Slide 24: Picture of a word map showing how it is possible to establish global e-network via LinkedIn.
Slide 25: To summarize: Maximizing Visibility on
 Right industry classification = keywords
 Right disciplinary groups = keywords
 Add keywords to all profile sections!
 Follow thought leaders = better visibility
 Connect other social media sites & channels as long as they enhance your brand.
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Connect to targeted companies & recruiters!
Source: http://marketingthink.com/10-ways-to-get-found-more-easily-on-linkedin-social-selling-advice/
Slide 26: Building your LinkedIn Networks
 Hyperlink your LinkedIn profile to email signature
 Join relevant groups within & across disciplines
 Send LinkedIn invites after conferences
 Connect to others whose work you follow – e.g., cited in your lit review or previous studies
 Use search function to find others in your discipline
 Post pertinent, thoughtful ideas to KEY professional groups & invite others to comment
The End
2015 Copyright by Robin G Walker PhD
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