Secret LinkedIn Hacks to Land the Perfect Job

It's 2020, and the rules have changed, especially for job seekers.

We live in times where if you don't use social media the right way…

…employers and the team of recruiters behind them won't even give you a chance.

What does that mean for you?

It means that going through various job postings, sending applications here and there won't help you out!

And now something essential to consider and ask yourself:

How searchable or findable are you as a job seeker? Do you happen to use social media the proper way?

It's critical to know because some employers don't even bother to post a job.

Instead of that, they go on the hunt, looking for the right candidate online, says Dennis Koutoudis, a LinkedIn Strategist and Founder of Linked Superpowers.

Thus, having an internet presence in this digital area is a must. 

But are you sure how to create one?  (More on that below)

He says that if you are serious about landing the perfect job, you have to spend much time detailing your skills & expertise. By using the specific keywords, amongst other things, on websites like LinkedIn that can help you land your next ideal employment opportunity.

And now the best part:

In this comprehensive article, you will learn:

●How you can benefit from LinkedIn to stand out & improve your chances of landing your dream job!

DIY profile picture – your identity

 

A lot of job seekers out there don't take this seriously. But this is the first thing that pops out when someone views your profile.

Think about it – this is your identity, the way people recognize you.

So, what's important to remember here?

- Put the most recent photo you have

- An excellent tip to remember is to adopt the idea of using a professional photographer (don't be casual. Stand out!)

- Employers and hiring managers notice everything. So don't use photos like the ones you upload on social media platforms like Facebook and so on (meaning not to use group photos).

- Be mindful of what you communicate through your profile picture. You can use websites like Photo feeler to find out what people say about you.

 

Your background photo must be great as well.

 

If you think that you are done only with the profile picture… you're wrong.

Another way to add some glitter to your profile is to have a good background photo.

It might represent you in some work environment (depending on your niche), that best fits you for the desired job you are looking for.

Pro tip: Just don't add a photo from your wedding! 

Have a catchy Headline + make yourself easy to find

 

Just like an action movie that everyone can remember, your headline must be:

- Something that represents you in a couple of sentences, describing what you do, who you are and how you do things

- Easy for employers and recruiters to find you

- Critical to know: it must be appealing for the search algorithm

So what does it mean? What search algorithm?

It's all about specific keywords and why you need an optimized LinkedIn profile.

If you want your LinkedIn profile to be more discoverable, you need to focus on keywords. 

These are words that people search on LinkedIn, or that show up on search engines like Google.

Okay, how to come up with them?

Coming up with great keyword ideas requires much work. One way to do it is to roam around different job posts, or merely other LinkedIn profiles.

After that, you can narrow down some keywords and see what's relevant. 

But think about this:

What may sound relevant to you might not always be the case for a particular job. So it's best if you experiment until you nail it.

A compelling Summary plus switch from "I" to "You".

 

Everyone likes to talk about themselves and their needs. And we do it because it's more convenient. 

It's what they teach us at school.

If you go and check a couple of profiles, you may notice that most people start with:

- I will do that…

- I have experience in...

- I will promise you that…

- I am an expert in...

However, what an employer wants to see is what you can do and help within their company. 

The truth is, your profile is not really about you. Instead, it's about your employer and what you can bring to the table.

And it's good to talk to your target audience, using "You" to achieve this.

It's a simple hack that you can put in practice today.

There is a good reason for that:

- It acts as a hook that pulls their attention

- It engages with your employer/recruiter

- It hits back on a personal level

- It allows your target audience to relate to your offer

 

As you wrap this up, you begin to think that you need some skills as a copywriter, no? Just joking with you.

 

Do you have at least 50 connections?

 

For recruiters, profiles that have less than 50 connections raise an enormous red flag.

 This can lead to:

- Negative assumptions about how you qualify amongst other applicants

- The fact that you don't know people in your professional area (or professionals at all!)

- Assumptions that you don't have the desire to connect with other people or don't know how to

Thus, recruiters and hiring managers will pass your profile. 

And now:

While it's crucial to boost your profile and have more connections, here is one advice: don't invite random people.

Instead, do your research! Find professionals with job titles that are similar to yours. Or maybe interests. 

Hint: You can also join a group- this is an excellent opportunity to find new contacts!

 

Do not let them check your competitors!

 

'People Also Viewed' – you have seen it, right?

If you haven't noticed it, you can see it next to your profile. It's handy, but only for you.

However, you don't need Hiring Managers or Recruiters to see that.

Why?

Because they'll move away from your profile, and check some of your competitors.You don't want that.

If you leave it like that, any prospect that views your profile will have the chance to see a detailed list of other professionals in your area.

To stop that, you should go to your 'Settings & Privacy page' and turn it off. Look for 'Viewers of this profile also viewed' and simply change it to 'No.'

 

Who viewed my profile? 

 

Most people are familiar with that one. However, it's a paid feature .The premium membership that LinkedIn offers. 

In the 'Who viewed your profile, you can observe many people who checked your profile. It's for the last 90 days.

However, as mentioned above, this comes with the paid membership version. Whereas with a free account, you can only see a handful of people that viewed your profile – only five.

And here is something great. If you activate this feature, you can:

- See more potential prospects

- Know the position that they have (HR, CEO, etc.)

- From there, you can connect with them personally

- Top companies that visited your profile

- It lets you know how people found your profile as well

 

Using this data will make you think twice before writing your headline, the 'About you' page, and the niche that you want to take part of. You can also talk with the 'Who' people and ask them to provide you with information about other potential offers, different from your niche.

Create/share content or posts that give value

 

Have you seen that some people write 'Posts' and 'Articles' on the platform?

Second question: Have you seen the significant outreach? Lots of likes, lots of shares and comments!

Sounds fascinating, isn't it?

What's the critical element, and how you can use that to your advantage?

1. First off: show that you are active

2. Second: whatever you share or write, make sure it has high-value. But be aware of the fact what they think is valuable (your prospects) and what you think is.

3. Third: be active & consistent. Engage with your audience. It's the best way to present you as an authority.

4. And lastly: Focus on topics that you see yourself as an expert and write about things that you are passionate about. It will show!

 

Now tell us: are there any LinkedIn tips or hacks that we didn't mention? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to share this article, so it can reach other people and help them!