How Your LinkedIn Profile Could Help You Land Your Next Health and Safety Role
Since 2003 LinkedIn has become the world’s largest professional network and has over 875 million users in 200 countries worldwide.
It is estimated that over 52 million people actively look through LinkedIn every week for their next role and the platform has designed a job search page to make it easy for applicants to find their desired position.
The HSEQ sector is one of the leading adopters of the platform, and every major employer uses LinkedIn.
Our Talent Consultant Kelly Leong recently ran a ‘LinkedIn Workshop’ webinar to detail how you can optimise your LinkedIn profile, network with industry professionals and increase your chances of being discovered by potential employers.
Using our expertise and questions asked during the webinar, here are our top tips on how best to utilise your LinkedIn profile:
Should I use the ‘open to work’ banner if I am actively looking for a job?
If you are publicly looking for new opportunities, the open to work banner is a great way to let your network know that you are actively seeking a new role. However, you could also use the private (recruiter only) open to work setting so that recruiters can see that you are open to work but the rest of your audience can’t. This all depends on your personal preference and ‘who’ you want to know that you are seeking a new position.
Is it necessary to have a profile picture?
There are plenty of benefits of having a personal profile picture and it is a key element of your LinkedIn presence. Research shows that by having a picture, it makes your profile 14 times more likely to be viewed by others.
However, it can be common that some people don’t feel comfortable with having a public profile picture. This could be for several reasons, including privacy. But, if you don’t have a profile picture, it’s best to use the default LinkedIn avatar rather than an unprofessional picture, such as one of your pets.
Should I list all my credentials after my last name?
If you hold a credential of high value that is sought for in the industry, this would definitely be beneficial. Nevertheless, try to only list ones that are easily recognizable (e.g. NEBOSH in the UK, CSP in the USA, CRSP in Canada). It’s not necessary to list every credential you’ve ever received as most people won’t know what the acronyms stand for, so they won’t add much value.
Should I add additional details when listing my work experience?
Adding additional details when listing your work experience is a great idea. It gives those who are reading your profile an idea of what your previous roles have entailed. It’s also a great place to list any notable projects you have been involved in or accomplishments whilst in that role.