Before starting your job search, it’s important to ensure that all social media platforms are up to date and show you in the most professional light to potential employers. According to various studies and reports from recruitment industry sources, approximately 70-80% of employers review a candidate's LinkedIn profile before meeting them. 

LinkedIn has become a key tool for hiring managers, recruiters, and HR professionals to vet candidates beyond the traditional resume. Employers use it to verify a candidate's experience, assess their professional network, and gauge their online presence and soft skills before deciding to interview or meet with them, so a polished and up-to-date LinkedIn profile can significantly impact your job search success. 

Here’s a checklist to help you get your LinkedIn job search ready. 

Before starting your job search, ensuring your social media, especially LinkedIn, is up to date and professional is crucial. Studies show that 70-80% of employers review a candidate’s LinkedIn profile before an interview. Here’s a quick checklist to get your LinkedIn ready:

Profile Appearance:

Your overall profile appearance on LinkedIn plays a huge part in how you are viewed as a person and a potential employee. Consider things like:

• Profile Picture – Use a professional photo, as LinkedIn’s default image appears impersonal. Employers often review profiles before interviews, so avoid casual images to ensure a strong, professional impression
• Posts you’re sharing - As LinkedIn is more of a professional platform, it’s best to keep it clear of anything offensive or unprofessional. 
• How you are interacting with other users - Interact respectfully, as potential employers could be viewing your comments.
   

Current Employment Status:

Maintaining an up-to-date employment status on LinkedIn is crucial not just for potential employers but also for us as recruiters. LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools in the hiring process, and if your profile shows an extended period of unemployment, it could raise questions—even if you’ve been actively working. Keeping your status accurate ensures recruiters and employers get the right impression of your career journey.
 

Previous Employers:

Listing your current and past employers helps recruiters match you with suitable opportunities. Many employers favour candidates from specific companies, so highlighting this is essential and could help land you that dream job! Another key reason is that recruiters may come across your profile with a specific opportunity in mind, and your current employer could be their client—leading to a missed opportunity and wasted time for both you and the recruiter.
 

Skills:

Recruiters often use the searching tools on Linkedin when searching for candidates, so it’s imperative to ensure your skills are up to date and make sure to include the following;

• Software skills
• Qualifications
• Soft skills (i.e.Time management, Team player etc)
• Management skills if applicable 

 These can make a big difference in appearing in recruiter searches.

Be Active:

Staying active on LinkedIn not only boosts visibility but also expands your network; quick responses are critical when taking advantage of opportunities. If you take too long to reply to a recruiter or potential employer, the chances are they will think you’re not interested and the role will get filled before you get a chance to apply. 

Need help in your job search or require some advice on your LinkedIn appearance? 

Get in touch with one of our recruitment experts and they will be happy to help guide you through the process!