How do you use LinkedIn in your job search?

Use LinkedIn strategically in your job search

LinkedIn is an invaluable tool in your job search and can also help you expand your network. Read on to find out how to use LinkedIn strategically in your job search.

As many as 79% of large companies in the private sector use LinkedIn as a recruitment channel. In the public sector, the figure is 59% (see Ballisager Recruitment Analysis 2023).

An indispensable tool for communicating your "professional self" to the world, LinkedIn is a combination of a huge CV database and a social network.

A LinkedIn profile helps you with the following:

• Identify, build and maintain your network
• Finding job postings
• Expand your overview of where you can proactively apply for jobs unsolicited
• Leverage all your contacts and networks to strengthen your job search
• Share knowledge and signal professionalism widely
• Being "found" by recruiters and HR professionals
• Signaling that you are "online", active and engaged in social networks.

How to get started with LinkedIn

We've put together a checklist on how to update and optimize your LinkedIn profile.

1. Photo: Upload a photo of you with a neutral background that sends a professional signal.
2. Language: Choose the language that is standard in the industry you are targeting.
3. Headline: Write your job title (or your desired job title) followed by a short, sharp text of 10-12 words containing your core competencies. Remember that the text should make others want to read your profile. When you get new contacts, your headline will be exposed to all your new contacts' own LinkedIn connections.
4. Industry: Choose an industry you want to work in and are qualified for.
5. Profile URL: This is the link to your profile. You can choose to rename the URL so that it has your own name (e.g. www.LinkedIn.com/jens-hansen) instead of a numeric code.
6. About: Start with a short elevator pitch about yourself. Who are you, what are your talents, what are you passionate about and what can you bring to a company. You can also include your phone number and email address so people can contact you if they find your profile interesting.
7. Experience: Include previous jobs, responsibilities and successes - just like in a regular CV.
8. Education: Add your education and preferably what you have learned during your education.
9. Qualifications: Choose 6-7 skills that your network can approve you for. Go in and qualify other connections first - they'll typically do the same for you.
10. "Open to work" frame on your profile picture: Last but not least, you have the option to add a green frame around your profile picture that says "Open to work". This shows recruiters that you are looking for a job.