Is Your LinkedIn Profile Hindering Your Executive Job Search?
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When it comes to executive-level positions, 94% of recruiters and HR professionals are using LinkedIn to find the best candidates for the job. If you've be submitting your resume to positions for which you should be a top candidate but just aren't seeing results, it might be time to take a look at your profile. LinkedIn is a critical business tool—and it is certainly a part of the hiring process that you cannot ignore.



Your Profile Is Just as Important as Your Resume – So Work on It



The truth of the matter is that your LinkedIn profile is just as important, if not more, than your resume. Your resume is going to (hopefully) at least get the once-over, but your LinkedIn profile offers more room for you to really explain your experience and your personal brand. Employers are likely to take a long look at this information, and you want to be sure that your profile is complete. Ideally, you will spend at least as long perfecting your LinkedIn profile as you do creating your resume.



Create a Forward-Facing Profile



Although the sections on LinkedIn primarily ask about your past history, you want to be seen as a career prospect with his or her eye on the future. Create a profile that is forward-facing. Make sure that you are writing about your short- and long-term goals and aspirations.



Don't Forget to Keyword Optimize



The HR manager for the position to which you just applied isn't the only person who will be viewing your LinkedIn profile—or at least you hope not. Building a strong network through LinkedIn can bring in many career prospects, but you need to make sure that your profile is getting views. This means including important keywords, particularly in your headline and your job titles. Then, when someone searches for that particular role or qualification, your name and profile will (ideally) come up in their search.



LinkedIn is too important to the executive job search to be ignored. These days, it is almost impossible to land an executive position without a strong LinkedIn profile. Following these tips and recommendations will help you to build a better profile and increase your chances of landing the position you are applying for. Just work to make sure your profile is complete and free of errors!