Recently, multiple people have told me that while they use LinkedIn to search for job opportunities, they do not have an actual LinkedIn profile, which surprised me. When I asked why they didn’t, the most frequent answer was that they didn’t see the value of having one.
If you are starting your career or are an experienced professional looking to make a change, having a profile on LinkedIn can be a useful tool to support your career goals. Here are 5 reasons why you should create a LinkedIn profile today:
1. Help Hiring Managers and Recruiters Find You
In addition to posting job opportunities, many hiring managers and recruiters also use LinkedIn to search for potential candidates. By having a completed LinkedIn profile, you’re putting yourself out there and offering hiring managers and recruiters an easy way to find and reach you about their job openings that match your background and experience.
2. Strengthen Your Resume/Application
Including a link to your LinkedIn profile in your resume or application materials provides a chance to quickly show that you have a strong professional network and social media skills. You can also share information that you couldn’t include in your resume or application at this early stage in the process, such as samples of your work or people who’ve given you recommendations.
3. Manage Your Professional Contacts, Past and Present
Colleagues come and go over the years. Whether it’s someone you met at a conference or a person you’ve worked with, having a LinkedIn profile helps you stay connected and get in touch with them if you ever need to.
4. Network, Network, Network
A key benefit of using LinkedIn is being able to leverage your connections for referrals and resources. You can look at your contacts’ connections to see if they or someone they know works at a higher ed institution that you’re trying to get a job at. You can join LinkedIn Groups that align with your experience (e.g., higher ed marketers) or what you’re seeking (e.g., experts in multicultural marketing).
5. Build Your Professional Brand
By being active and engaged on LinkedIn, you are demonstrating your expertise and potentially influencing others. Use your LinkedIn profile to share stories and resources that matter to you to build trust and credibility within your network and beyond.
Make sure you keep your LinkedIn profile updated with your activities and experience. Check out this HERC article on how to use your LinkedIn profile to tell your story.
Check out more Top Articles on HERC Jobs.
About the Author: Marcia Silva is the director of marketing and communications at the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium. She strives to create engaging, research-informed content that empowers job seekers and employers committed to creating inclusive workplaces. She is passionate about using digital media and technology to encourage participation and strengthen communities.