January 2021
Ask PQ’s very own agony aunt Karen Young when you need advice from a real expert. Email your dilemma to graham@pqmagazine.com, and he will pass on the best ones to Karen.
THE DILEMMA
I’m looking for a new job but haven’t had much luck so far. I keep hearing that LinkedIn is important when looking for new opportunities, but how true is this? And what are your tips for how I can make my account stand out?
KAREN’S RESPONSE
What you’ve heard is true – LinkedIn should be a crucial part of any job search. There are millions of jobs posted on LinkedIn and more than 700 million people across the globe use it. Many of these are recruiters are employers who are able to connect you to new opportunities. Here are a couple of tips on how to take your account to the next level.
Profile picture: If you haven’t already, upload a picture. It personalises your profile which, in turn, makes it more memorable. Research shows that profiles with pictures receive more views and more connection requests than those which don’t.
Open to work: Another quick win is to let recruiters and employers know that you’re open to new job opportunities. All you need to do is download a green photo frame which sits over your profile picture. You’re more likely to stand out to those who are actively hiring.
Pitch yourself: Not enough people use the summary section on their LinkedIn, but it’s like your personal elevator pitch. It is a great place for you to summarise who you are and an opportunity to stand out from others.
Skills and experience: Make good use of the experience and skills sections. Highlight your roles and what you were responsible for and include your key strengths and accomplishments. Any relevant education, side projects and volunteering experience is also worth including.
• Karen Young is a director at Hays. She is passionate about helping people to find the right job, and companies to find the right person.
