Want to get your profile noticed by recruiters? How do you increase the chances of being found on LinkedIN? We have prepared some key principles:

1. Header/headline- it's a good idea to include in your profile header ( the space under your name) the position you are currently holding and key information about what you specialise in e. g. HR Business Partner, Recruitment, HR Consultancy.

Some Linkediners write 2-3 sentences in the headline describing what they do in addition to their position. This is also an interesting option to present yourself, but we usually recommend typing in specific phrases, specializations that define your work.

This information is also always visible to people who have not yet accessed your profile, e. g. when you comment on other posts, when a recruiter searches for similar positions or types your name into the search engine.

A properly constructed headline is the foundation of a good positioning and a chance for a recruiter to notice you. Think about what specialty you want to be associated with. Recruiters search for specific people by position or keywords.

2. Photo- a profile without a photo is incomplete and it is always advisable to include a profile business photo, preferably en face.

If all you have on hand is a vacation photo or other informal photo you’d better quit using it as a profile portrait. LinkedIN helps you network, build your business circle of cantacts, so make sure you make a good first impression online. The recruiter will also pay attention to this.

3. Cover photo - which is the photo/quote space located at the top of your profile next to your profile picture. It is a good idea to include the cover photo, although it is not necessary. Soon LinkedIN will allow you to post a short video in this space so you will have a chance to introduce yourself. This is a great way for a recruiter visiting your profile to see you "live".

4. Experience details - update them with specific dates (month/year) and responsibilities. These are available under Add section in profile/professional achievements/experience.

5. Achievements - it is a good idea to briefly describe your key achievements giving selected successes, results, measured in numbers where possible. You can write about specific accomplishments in various sections, including:

• Option I - after clicking on the buton add section in the profile/professional achievements select the section professional experience. Here, when describing your experience, it is worth mentioning your responsibilities, dates but also the most important achievements.
• Option II - after clicking on the buton add a part in the profile, select the achievements section. People who have a specific portfolio, media/academic publications or completed important courses
• Option III - the information section under the header - is a place to describe who you are, what is important to you, what you specialize in. Key achievements can be repeated here

6. Skills- make sure you have completed this section of your profile. Choose the skills that make you stand out the most. This can be from a few to dozens of skills (up to 30).

If you have completed this section, others can confirm your selection by clicking on the plus next to the entry. For example, if you work in HR this will be skills such as recruiting or talent acquisition and others that you will indicate.

Be sure to include information on your language skills and state your level of proficiency.

7. Recommendations - it is worth trying to get recommendations from other people, including former employers, colleagues and partners. You can request it by clicking on the bottom of your profile or on the profile of a specific person on the ‘ask for recommendation’ button. You can also recommend a person by going to their profile and clicking the ‘recommend a user’ button.

8. Personalized URL - LinkedIN automatically assigns you a URL as a string of random characters. To increase the visibility of your profile not only to recruiter searches but also to SEO, it's a good idea to change the URL by renaming it using your last name, first name and possibly your job title as well.

Click the Edit public profile and URL button in the upper right corner.

9. Mark ‘open to job change’ - if you are open to job change you can mark it in your settings so that only people using an extended or premium account (aka recruiter) can see that you are considering this option. This option works especially well for candidates who are not actively looking for a job and do not want, for example, a colleague or supervisor to see that they are interested in changing jobs. Such people will appear first in search results.

The second option is to add a green ‘open to work’ overlay to your photo which is visible to all LinkedIN users regardless of account type. This solution can be useful when you are temporarily out of work.

       Be authentic, share knowledge, make recommendations. On LinkedIN, as in offline life, reciprocity works. If you support other users, they support you, and the visibility of your profile increases steadily. Good luck!

If you would like to speak to our consultants visit our @RICG profile or consultant profiles and message us on LinkedIn. You can also contact us by calling: +48 22 827 76 67 or writing to: biuro@ricg. eu