In this article we share 7 LinkedIn tips to get noticed
In today’s world – especially in the world of tech recruiting – most recruiters will agree that LinkedIn is king. With over 700+ million account holders, it is the likely first (and many times only) place recruiters will visit to search for talent. Here are Linkedin tips to get noticed.
Some recruiters (typically those that work at large scale companies) will use a tool called LinkedIn Recruiter. This is a for-cost additional layer of software that sits on top of the classic LinkedIn interface that allows recruiters to easily segment and target candidates within the LinkedIn community. Other recruiters (typically those that work at smaller scale more budget-conscious companies) will opt for Sales Navigator, the more economical option. Though this LinkedIn offering is really designed to help sales professionals find decision makers within target companies, recruiters also leverage it to scope, recruit, and hire candidates. Both of these tools allow recruiters to filter LinkedIn profiles based on profile characteristics (such as industry, company, role title) and specific keywords.
Whichever tool recruiters are using, one thing is for sure: it’s important that you as the job seeker optimize your profile so you get noticed. We crafted the below list based on our personal interaction with and knowledge of LinkedIn Recruiter and Sales Navigator. These recommendations will allow you to optimize your profile based directly on the algorithm and the search criteria we know recruiters and hiring managers are using.
Let’s get into it.
7 LinkedIn Tips to Get Noticed
Add a professional profile photo
- You should be the only one in the frame. The photo should be zoomed into your face and showing only shoulders up.
- The background should either be flat or white
- You should be wearing professional clothing. It doesn’t have to be a suit, but make sure it’s not a spaghetti strap dress. While I am a huge proponent of self expression, there is a time and place for it. LinkedIn is a professional network, and while some may love your hot pink mini dress, I promise you there is a recruiter out there that doesn’t. Don’t risk it.
- Tilting your head to the side may make you look more approachable, according to some psychology studies.
Write a byline using keywords that match your desired role
- The byline is the punchy one-liner that appears under your name. It’s essentially a one-phrase elevator pitch for yourself.
- Words matter. LinkedIn Recruiter and Sales Navigator segment the LinkedIn population based on specific keywords recruiters select. Look up the job description of your desired role or team and take note of the specific words they use. Try to incorporate these into your byline. Ex: If the role description uses the word ‘growth’ a lot, consider calling yourself a ‘growth leader‘
- If you have past employment that you are proud of, consider adding those to the byline. Ex: ‘Ex-Facebook, Amazon’ or ‘Early Uber‘
- If you have awards that you are proud of, consider adding those to the byline. Ex: ‘2024 President’s Club Winner‘
Write an evidence-based, keyword-packed ‘About You’ summary
- List your current position and all notable previous positions using similar role titles that match your desired role
- Attempt to tell a linear story. The more promotions or growing responsibilities you can show over the time, the better.
- With each position, make sure to include the company name, dates of employment, your specific job title, your core responsibilities, and the results you drove. The last part is important. When possible, try to use #s to describe impact.
- If you know that type of role you want to be considered for by recruiters and you’ve had relevant but not identical experience to it, try to list your job title using similar words. Ex: Let’s say you want to get into customer success but you’ve only ever served as a support agent. Instead of saying ‘support agent’ on your profile, retitle your role as ‘customer success & support agent’. When recruiters are searching LinkedIn for candidates, they are going to use the phrase ‘customer success’ in their search criteria. If that word does not appear on your profile, you will not show up.
Update the industry section to match your desired industry even if you are not currently in it
- It’s important to not leave this blank. This is one of the key search criteria recruiters using LinkedIn Recruiter or Sales Navigator will use to segment candidates. If you don’t have one listed, you may not show up on their list.
- If you are trying to get into a new industry, update this to match that industry. This way, you will at least show up in the search results and then the recruiter can read the details of your profile to see if you could be a potential fit given other relevant / tangential experiences in your bio.
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Fill out the skills section with skills that match your desired role
- As mentioned in the previous bullets, packing your profile with skills you know recruiters are looking for are going to get you noticed.
- Take it one step further and get other LinkedIn members to endorse your skills. It’s even better if you can get people who are in the same industry (or the same position as your desired role) to endorse you.
Accept most connection requests!
- Mathematically speaking, you have better odds to be connected with a future recruiter when you have more overall connections. That’s why I always recommend indexing on ‘accepting invites’, even if you don’t know the person or that person has a completely different job title than you or works in a completely different industry. You never know how people will be connected to each other.
- In my experience, LinkedIn isn’t as ‘spammy’ as Instagram or other social platforms, but we can’t forget that it is a social platform. If someone requests you, just do a quick gut check to make sure that they are employed and a legitimate person.
- When recruiters use tools like LinkedIn Recruiter or Sales Navigator, the system will recommend a target list for them with their 1st and 2nd degree connections first. This means that if you are connected to someone who happens to be connected to someone who happens to be connected with a recruiter, that may just be the thing that gets you on their lead list.
I would be remiss not to state this last obvious recommendation, but it’s very very important that you do not lie on your profile. Using the word ‘customer support’ in exchange with ‘customer success’ is very different than straight up lying that you did a customer-facing role when you never did. Our LinkedIn tips to get noticed help you
Conclusion
I’ve been a hiring manager for over 10 years at some of the largest tech companies in America. I can attest that these LinkedIn tips to get noticed are the components of a profile that get you noticed. The key is to show up in the search result pages when recruiters are using these tools. Then, once you are on their radar, wow them with the details. We got you covered here when it’s time for that first behavioral interview.
