One important path to landing your next great executive-level shared services position is to grab the attention of recruiters. This requires more than just a well-written CV; using social media tools, especially LinkedIn, is essential. Maximizing your LinkedIn presence is an art that involves a strategic blend of personal branding, SEO optimization, and active networking.
Craft an Attractive LinkedIn Profile
The first step to using LinkedIn is to create a compelling Profile section with an appropriate picture and customized profile URL. See our article How to Create an Effective LinkedIn Profile for handy tips.
Activate the ‘Open to Work’ Feature
Around 72% of recruiters use LinkedIn when hiring new talent. Utilizing LinkedIn’s ‘Open to Work’ feature gives exposure to recruiters on the platform and signals to them you are actively seeking new opportunities. LinkedIn takes steps to prevent LinkedIn Recruiter users who work at your current company from seeing your shared career interests; however, complete privacy is not guaranteed, so if this is a concern, weigh the risks. Note this feature allowing visibility to recruiters is separate from the feature in which a green banner is added to your profile photo. Many executives find the green banner unnecessary and distracting. See https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/a507508 for instructions on how to activate “Open to Work.”
Grow your Network of Contacts
As your requests to connect with people on LinkedIn are answered, you build your “1st level” connections. These connections can open the chance to connect to many other “2nd” and “3rd level” connections with shared interests. Networking is one of the three paths to finding your next great role. For tips on networking see Cultivating Your Network to Uncover Job Opportunities.
Engage with the LinkedIn Community
Accounts with active engagement (through regular sharing of updates, posting comments or “liking” other’s posts) all signal to the LinkedIn platform that you are an active user. This is important because when LinkedIn Recruiters users see lists of potential candidates the most active users are listed first. Of course, it goes without saying that being engaged with those in the shared services community will also increase your exposure and lead to additional networking opportunities and job leads.
Increasing your chances of executive job offers on LinkedIn requires a thorough and strategic approach to profile optimization. By following these LinkedIn profile best practices, you can create a compelling digital presence that attracts recruiters of executive positions and helps you to secure the opportunities you seek.
