Will I be taken seriously if I’m not on LinkedIn?
In my work counseling job seekers and career changers, I am often asked if a LinkedIn presence is necessary. While it is true that many people got jobs before LinkedIn, and people still get hired without a LinkedIn profile, the cold, hard truth of today’s job market is that if you are not on LinkedIn, you do not exist. With that in mind, I always counsel clients to ensure that they not only have a LinkedIn profile, but that it is complete, up-to-date, and accurate.
Profile completion. Be sure that all of your information is complete. When you go to your profile on LinkedIn, you will see a circle on the right-hand side of the screen. This degree to which the figure is shaded corresponds with the strength of your profile. You want to aim for “Superstar.” You do that by writing a strong summary, and listing your jobs in reverse-chronological order. One thing I always advise is that you write the summary in a human voice, and conversational tone. Think about how you would explain what you do and what your strengths are to someone at a family gathering, who knows nothing about your field or industry.
Profile picture. This is an absolute must. If not having a LinkedIn profile makes you non-existent, a profile that lacks a photo sends the message that you are not serious. I have spoken and worked with countless recruiters, both on the corporate side and third party, who say that they will not contact anyone who does not have a photo on LinkedIn. The pushback I usually hear is that it’s an invasion of privacy, and that what you look like has nothing to do with hiring criteria. While this is true, it is also undeniably true that people like to see with whom they are communicating. Go to any company’s website, and go to the section that talks about the management team. More than likely, their photographs are there. Although you needn’t use a professional head shot, resist the temptation to use one of you with your friends at a concert, you with your 5-year-old granddaughter, or the one they gave you when you went skydiving.
Timeliness and accuracy. In the digital world, everything happens quickly. A news article from a month ago is considered outdated. Be sure that your profile stays fresh by regularly updating it with new roles, accomplishments, achievements, or certifications. Also keep an eye on accuracy. . . does your profile link to the correct employer page, or does it take you elsewhere? Does the title you have listed reflect what you actually do? Are the dates correct?
The bottom line.
LinkedIn has truly changed the way that companies source, recruit, and hire candidates. Additionally, it is no longer merely a tool for job seekers and recruiters. It has morphed into a very powerful business development tool, so even if you are not on LinkedIn because you’re looking for a new role, you would be wise to be on it to look for new business. Yes, you must be on LinkedIn in today’s market if you want to be taken seriously.