So I spoke with a hundred or so people who use the site regularly, and have compiled some of the tips you are less likely to have heard other than the standard "fill out all your profile", "Join groups", "use a good photo" and so forth. I liked them and have done many myself now.
Continue updating your profile regardless of your job status. Even if you just landed a new job, don't forget about LinkedIn. Keeping your profile up-to-date will help you stay relevant and in touch with the latest
business and career shifts. – Lisa Parkin, President of Social Climber, LLC
Don't ignore endorsements. Despite press saying they're "over hyped" many
young professionals take them seriously when considering one's professional
credibility and rapport. – Gerard Boucher, CEO Boucher + Co
Delete irrelevant recommendations and details – As a recruiter, I spend time printing off LinkedIn pages and using details uncovered for my searches. I often notice completely irrelevant and unrelated information on the LinkedIn page. Your page is your visible résumé and it should not highlight unrelated recommendations, endorsements, or position. As a side note, carefully check out your recommendations as recruiters make a point of assessing what is being said about the candidate and whether it is relevant. – Charley Polachi, Partner at Polachi Access Executive Search
Spell check. Spelling and grammar mistakes precede you. They say that you are careless and may not be a professional in all aspects of your work. Make sure you have someone look over your profile, or you use a spell/grammar checking tool before publishing. – Allison VanNest
Head of Communications, Grammarly
Make those wanna-be connections ID themselves: When I don’t recognize the person who has written to me, instead of blindly accepting (which accomplishes nothing) or refusing them (likewise), I check their contact info button. Much to my surprise recently, I discovered that most people put their e-mail address there. I write them a quick note (always identical and pasted) which says:
"Hello! I saw your request to connect on LinkedIn. Please remind me how I know you; I'm not placing the name right off, but I know myself well enough to know that that doesn't’t mean we haven’t met! Or, if we haven’t met and something about my profile caught your attention,please let me know in what way! My public speaking coaching? My improv teambuilding work? Something else?"
– Milo Shapiro, The Improv Guy
Keywords in the profile: Make sure your profile uses keywords that an employer would search
if trying to find a candidate. If you are a writer, now is not the time to say "Word Aficionado," but rather terms such as "excellent writing skills." – Chelsea P. Gladden Director of Marketing & PR FlexJobs.com
Pay attention to who is viewing your profile. You can check this out in the "who has viewed my profile" link within your profile. It's useful to know, it gives you the heads up someone may be about to court you for a job. –Maree Jones, KC Projects "Telling Your Story & Moving You Forward"
Advanced Search function. This little-known feature packs a big punch. Laser focus your search by using LinkedIn’s many search filters: keywords, title, industry, location, etc. Premium account holders can narrow their search even further. This is a great tool for job seekers.Find and contact people at your target companies to get a leg up on other candidates. – Wayne Breitbarth, Speaker | Author | Consultant Power Formula LLC
