In this month’s episode of Chat NDT with ASNT, host Debbie Segor, CAE, talks with Idaho Next Steps Coaching founders Stephanie Renk and Vera Savany-Hughes about navigating the digital job search. One of the biggest topics Stephanie and Vera touch on is the importance of LinkedIn and how to use it as a tool in your job hunt.
Here are 10 tips for maximizing your time and profile on LinkedIn that are discussed in “The Power and Secrets of LinkedIn”:
1. Get your profile to All-Star status
According to Stephanie and Vera, the best way to make sure you’re LinkedIn profile is seen by as many recruiters as possible is to make sure you’ve achieved LinkedIn’s “All-Star” status.
2. Pin your top three skills to attract recruiters
The LinkedIn “skills” section allows you to “pin” your top three skill sets to appear at the top of the section—make sure these skills align with the key words that recruiters will be looking for!
3. Connect with recruiters on LinkedIn
Once you have applied for a position, research the company on LinkedIn to view the employees connected to the company and connect with the recruiter. You’ll be a familiar face when they review applications!
4. Search for available positions on LinkedIn
You can search for available positions on LinkedIn by clicking on the suitcase icon on the main page. This will take you to an online portal where you can search by job title and location.
5. Maintain connections
Once you have polished your profile and made connections, it’s important to stay engaged with your LinkedIn connections.
6. Use hashtags
While posting on LinkedIn, make sure to take advantage of popular hashtags to make your posts more searchable. For example, if you are seeking a new job, you could use hashtags such as #opentowork or #jobseeker. LinkedIn will even autofill suggested hashtags that you can select.
7. Show off accomplishments in the features section
You can attach photos, PDFs, and URLs to the “features” section of your LinkedIn profile. This is a great way to share your accomplishments.
8. Attach your résumé to your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn allows you to upload your full résumé to your profile, enabling you to passively job search as recruiters find you and can immediately review your qualifications.
9. Update your headline with keywords
The headline on your LinkedIn profile will automatically be your current position, but you can edit it to be a more creative descriptor of your career and the value you bring as an employee.
10. Get recommendations
As Stephanie and Vera note, perusing a business’s online reviews is a huge part of our digital world, and your recommendations on LinkedIn are like your own reviews. They help verify your skill set to prospective employers.
Listen to the Podcast
For more detail about these points and other essential tips, listen to the episode below or search for Chat NDT with ASNT in your favorite podcast platform.
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Haley Cowans is Educational Books Editor at ASNT, hcowans@asnt.org.
Debbie Segor, CAE, is Marketing and Communications Manager at ASNT, and the host of Chat NDT with ASNT. To be a guest on the podcast, contact desgor@asnt.org.
For more information on job searches:
“Interviewing Strategies for NDT Career Success,” an ASNT webinar recording, featuring Karen Bruer.
“NDT Hiring for Succession Planning,” an ASNT webinar recording, featuring Jill Lutz, PHR, Employer Relations Specialist, Central Piedmont Community College.
“Managing Your NDT Career in the New Norm” presented during ASNT 2020: The Annual Conference. A panel discussion with Jill Lutz, PHR, Employer Relations Specialist, Central Piedmont Community College and Chris Brenchley, Co-Founder and CEO of Surehand, Inc.
Photo by tapanakorn.