How to Use Your LinkedIn Profile to Get a Higher Paying Gig

LinkedIn is the quintessential social networking platform for professionals. The site is designed to give you a place to display details about your experience. You can also connect with companies and recruiters, and even locate new opportunities. However, to be effective, you need to make sure your LinkedIn profile is designed to impress. If you want a higher paying gig, here is what you need to know about a LinkedIn job search to make it happen.

Using LinkedIn for Your Job Search

LinkedIn boasts well over 100 million users and has a presence in an astounding 200 countries and territories. That’s a lot of reach.

Plus, around 87 percent of recruiters use the platform to source candidates. Hiring managers are also frequently using LinkedIn to learn more about candidates.  Some may be hesitant to hire a job seeker who does not have a profile on the platform.

Create and Maintain Your LinkedIn Profile

Whether you are actively seeking out a new job or just want to discover interesting opportunities that may make it worthwhile to make a switch. Creating and maintaining your LinkedIn profile is a must. If you do not have your most recent experience, skill set, and credentials displayed, you could be missing out.

Since recruiters and hiring managers rely on the platform for screening missing information may make it look like you bring less to the table than you do. That will not help you land a higher paying gig.

However, if you keep everything up to date, you can ensure that those who view your profile know exactly what you have to offer. This increases your odds of being approached with opportunities or catching a hiring manager’s attention after you apply to an opening.

How to Create a LinkedIn Profile That Can Land You a Job

LinkedIn gives job seekers a unique opportunity. Your profile can be much more comprehensive than a resume, which limits you to a specific number of pages. As a result, you can showcase more of your experience, skills, and achievements, all of which make you a more impressive candidate.

Begin by crafting a professional summary (or headline) that highlights the best of what you have to offer. Include details about recent accomplishments, critical skills associated with your target role, and a bit about the kind of job you want to secure.

Then, add the remainder or your skills to the skills area and showcase your recent experience by focusing on information that is relevant based on your ideal position. Make sure to quantify the details whenever possible and associate skills with achievements when you fill in each job area.

Along with details about your previous jobs and accomplishments, you also need a recent profile picture. Otherwise, there will be a disconnect if you meet recruiters or hiring managers in person, and that can work against you.

How to Leverage LinkedIn to Find Job Opportunities

Once your profile is complete, your work is not done. Instead, you need to build out your network. Begin by identifying first degree connections (current and former managers, coworkers, professional acquaintances, other college alumni, etc.) and reach out.

Next, find companies that strike your interest and follow them. LinkedIn makes searching for connections easy, so this will not take up a ton of time. Plus, it allows you to keep tabs on their vacancies, ensuring you can apply quickly if something interesting becomes available.

You can also look for hiring managers at businesses that catch your attention. While you may need to approach them carefully to create a connection or seek out a current member of your network to make an introduction, it is worth the effort more often than not.

LinkedIn Salary Tool

If you really want to find high-paying jobs, take advantage of the LinkedIn Salary tool as well. You can input a job title, and LinkedIn Salary will show information about salary ranges and common perks, like stock options and bonuses. You can even narrow the results by location, making it more accurate for your area, and view openings and compensation at various companies.

Then, it is time to get active. Join professional groups and take part in discussions. Post articles, videos, and updates to generate interest. The more you interact with the platform, the stronger you can make your presence.

Finally, search for opportunities. You can head to the search field and select Jobs from the dropdown. This gives you a chance to see what may be available in your area and even apply directly to openings with your LinkedIn profile. Focus on keywords associated with your target position instead of job titles. Many companies use unique titles, so you may find more jobs by using skill-related search terms instead.

Ultimately, LinkedIn is a powerful platform for job seekers and professionals. Make sure your profile is in order, your network is strong, and that you are ready to leverage the site to help you achieve greater levels of success by following the tips above. By doing so, you may discover that a higher paying gig is easier to land that you initially thought.

Is your LinkedIn profile ready for your next job search? Share your tips for whipping your profile into shape in the comments below.

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