Too busy to tend your LinkedIn presence?
Waiting until you’re in the midst of a job search could be too late.
Maybe you’ve only added your last job, a bit of your education, and no entries in Skills or the About sections. Your Headline may only show your current job.
Unfortunately, these minimal details will NOT differentiate you from the competition – and could dampen your job prospects.
Read on for key reasons you shouldn’t wait to update your LinkedIn presence:
1 – You could be caught in an unexpected layoff.
If you’re reluctant to change your LinkedIn profile because the boss might find out, change your thinking.
For starters, your boss is likely refreshing their profile at the same time – which is why they may be scanning LinkedIn to see what you’re doing.
How to Secretly Update LinkedIn While You’re Still Employed shows ways your can build a subtle personal brand message that promotes your value, but DOESN’T give you away.
If you’re suddenly in need of a new position, you’ll be glad you brushed up your profile and you’ll likely gain faster traction with prospective employers.
2 – You might find a good opportunity… and then you’ll scramble to make changes.
Updating LinkedIn strategically and thoughtfully takes time. In Why the Worst Time to Update Your LinkedIn Profile is When You’re Looking for a Job or Business Opportunity, Hannah Martin points out that your timing is already late if you’re firing off resumes.
Expressing your personal brand takes MORE than a few job titles and lines of text on LinkedIn!
If you haven’t documented your accomplishments (and adjusted them for presentation on LinkedIn), your competition will… and they may do a better job of eliciting interest from recruiters.
3 – Employers might already be recruiting your competition.
Even if you’ve provided a current job title that implies multiple promotions, employers can’t distinguish between you and a comparable prospect for an open role.
Your career can look lackluster against that of another candidate who has taken the time to understand and promote their expertise.
You won’t even KNOW if employers are finding new hires with skills nearly identical to yours, UNTIL you update LinkedIn and start discovering more opportunities.
4 – Your LinkedIn profile won’t match your resume.
Most people prepare a resume first before tackling LinkedIn, so when you launch a job search, employers and recruiters will be confused when they see you on social media. Some employers even take a pass if your LinkedIn profile doesn’t align with your resume.
Think about the volume of information on most resumes, such as multiple job titles and dates, in addition to courses, certifications, awards, revenue results, team management, keywords, and professional affiliations. That’s in addition to the accomplishments that distinguish you from others with a similar career.
Now, compare that to your bare-bones digital identity. Employers might think your LinkedIn profile belongs to another person!
You could even look out-of-date for not having more than the bare minimum of details filled in.
Your best bet? Make a date with LinkedIn – NOW.
Make recruiters’ lives easier and do yourself a favor by documenting and promoting your leadership skills, value proposition, and achievements.
Take notes from:
- A Fast Formula for a Powerful LinkedIn Headline
- 22 LinkedIn Tips You Need Right Now
- 3 Reasons to Take Your Current Job Out of Your LinkedIn Headline
Then, continue to update LinkedIn to keep yourself (and your personal brand) ahead of the game.
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