Is your Linkedin profile up to scratch?

When it comes to searching for your next job or even your first job it is essential that you have a LinkedIn profile. For those of you that don't know, LinkedIn is a professional business based social networking site which enables both workers and employers to create profiles and connections with each other. So in terms of your career, this site is pretty invaluable. In terms of career networking, Linkedin enables:

• employers to list jobs as well as search for potential candidates
• job seekers to search and review the profile of hiring managers
• users to save jobs they wish to apply for
• users can search for jobs and business opportunities

With this is mind, LinkedIn is a great way to get you and work skills noticed and hopefully land you with that all important dream job. So how do you create a great LinkedIn profile?

When creating your LinkedIn profile it is essential that you remember that this is a professional business based networking site and is not the same as Facebook or Twitter. Your LinkedIn profile should not be treated as personal extension of your social media accounts. Therefore, your profile picture should be professional and specifically of you. Group or 'social' pictures are often not conducive to finding a job.

The next thing is to ensure that your job title/function is perfectly clear. This can often act as your unique selling point and is a great way for a recruiter to ascertain if you are the right fit for the search or even the right candidate for the job.

Now you must write a great summary about yourself keeping it professional and relevant to your career. Remember, recruiters will look for accuracy so make sure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors. It can often suggest that you lack pride in yourself and what you do.

Telling a recruiter about your career history is essential so make sure you list your current and previous jobs. Your career history should be clear and easy to follow. Each job title should be mentioned including a line or two about your responsibilities and the role. Always ensure that your dates are correct as gaps in your career can sometimes have a negative impact on prospective recruiters.

For further information on using LinkedIn for your career search please see our '8 ways to utilise LinkedIn when looking for a new job' feature.

If you are searching for your next career move and would like help in finding your dream job, contact Taylor Green Recruitment on 0161 255 2760. Or alternatively you can visit us online at www.taylor-green.co.uk.