A recent Jobvite study indicated that more than 94 percent of recruiters use social media of which Linkedin was listed as the top source for new hires. In addition, you can think of Linkedin as the Facebook for professionals. It is a way to meet people, update your knowledge and explore your options.
While more than 70 percent of businesses plan to increase recruiting through social media, only 40 percent said they would increase spending through online job portals. In just three years, recruiters hiring through LinkedIn nearly doubled – from about 45 percent to more than 70 percent.
The job-search market has changed from post your resume online and wait for results to a job-seeking approach based more on relationships. Your online reputation, presentation, and appearance counts, including your connections on LinkedIn and how you are portrayed on other social media sites. If you don’t look good online, employers don’t much care what you’re like in person. In other words, your first impression is going to be an online impression.
Just Pasting Your resume onto your LinkedIn Page Doesn’t Work
Employers read your resume when you apply for a position. Your LinkedIn profile, though, is often viewed before you are asked to apply for a position. The two forms of media are dramatically different. Even if your resume looks good on the printed page, that doesn’t mean it’s going to present well online.
Your LinkedIn profile allows you to provide “social proof” that you can’t do with a resume.
Each item listed in your “Experience” section provides you the opportunity to display other people’s recommendations and good feedback.
Connections are not obvious on a resume. A robust listing of your connections demonstrates to potential employers that you are engaged as a member of a community – a network of professionals.
A resume doesn’t allow for real-time updates. You mail yours off to a recruiter or human resources manager, and you’re done. Your LinkedIn profile, however, can be updated tonight, or tomorrow, with status updates that showcase who you are and what you’re all about.
We Know How to Make You Stand Out
If you have a linkedin profile and want to improve or want to get one started, contact your resume writer at A Better Resume Service.
