5 Things You Can Do To Help Recruiters Find You on LinkedIn

1. Update Your Profile

If you want to be visible, you need to make your profile public. This also means completing all parts of your profile. A completed profile is given more preference over those that are incomplete in the search engine’s ranking of results. Your profile should also include a photo, but one that is professional – you want to appear dressed for the job.

2. Include Keywords

When a recruiter searches for candidates, it often means using keywords like a job title, the name of an employer, or common terms used in the field. If your profile does not appear with any of these keywords, it’s not going to show up in search results. Make sure your profile is updated with the proper keywords, including them in your sub-header (the headline right below your name), summary, description of work experiences, and under specialties. If you want to be thorough on keywords, also look at job postings you’re applying to for common terms and phrases. It’ll help build up your profile’s searchability.

3. Obtain Recommendations

A LinkedIn profile with recommendations informs recruiters that you are active in the workforce, and have the support of others vouching your skills and talent. It also encourages recruiters to want to click on your profile to read further into what your experience, skills, and talents are.

4. Make Connections

The more relevant connections you have, the greater the likelihood your profile will show up. For instance, if your profile is connected to five other contacts the recruiter is also connected to, it makes your profile more favorable than someone with no related connections.

5. Have A Voice

When you stay active on LinkedIn, your profile will get in front of more contacts. Think about sharing relevant articles with your contacts, joining group discussions – particularly industry and job specific ones recruiters comb through, commenting on shared content, and so on. The more interaction, the greater visibility your profile will have.


Read more at http://www.careerealism.com/linkedin-recruiters-help-find/#ofZpb4qmEjSu1CpB.99

Yes, Resume Formatting Matters

You are putting together your resume in the hopes that it will reflect the awesomeness that is you, your work experience and skills. That's great!

Let's put content aside and talk strictly about the nuts and bolts of formatting for a moment...

In today's job market unless to you are going into a very creative field, it's a great idea to stay away from the following:
• Text boxes with various icons and lots of changes in the fonts and colors
• Graphics that over power the resume or distract. One simple line at the top to delineate your name if you must is sufficient
• Too many dots, dashes, roman numerals, and numbering. Bullet points are great for each position to highlight accomplishments.
• Always include your name, address (city & state are sufficient) a contact phone number and email address
• There is no need to label your contact information such as email address: janedoe@yahoo.com simply type the email address. It will be apparent that it’s an email address. The same with phone numbers, etc... You can indicate (C) for cell (H) for home phone if needed
• Choose a straightforward professional format with your contact information at the top. It’s a good idea to make the contact information larger than the remaining resume content so it jumps out at your reader.
• There is still plenty of room for individuality in what font(s) you use, how you format the resume content and even how you lay out your contact information. Experiment with different looks and templates, being sure you stay in the guidelines of “clean, straightforward, and easy to read”

This advice goes against the long standing accepted practice of resume design. That was before the introduction of technology that changed the way a resume is seen, evaluated and processed. Today many HR Managers, Hiring Managers and Recruiters are using ATS (applicant tracking systems) so reducing the amount of formatting “fluff” will be greatly appreciated when they are viewing, and trying to upload your resume to their company’s data base. Bear that in mind when constructing your resume and it will be the right reflection you are looking for. Good Luck to You!