Stand Out: Tips for Improving your LinkedIn Presence

As of this year, LinkedIn boasts more than 810 million global users across 200 countries and territories, making it the largest professional network on the planet. It is a platform that is perfect for staying up to date on industry trends or emerging professional roles.

Alternatively, LinkedIn can also be leveraged to attract people in your network to our company by sharing opportunities and business highlights. This allows us to leverage one another’s connections to build our brand and attract the best talent. It’s estimated that roughly 80% of the jobs filled are through personal and professional connections.   

As a Senior Recruiting Consultant, I’ve learned in my 20 years of experience that networking is key if you're serious about your career and professional advancement. But it isn’t just about having a presence on LinkedIn or other networking sites. Don't just "set it and forget it." You need a great LinkedIn presence that highlights your expertise, interests and personality. That way, you're able to connect with the people who can help you expand your career. 

At Assurant, our guiding mission as a responsible employer is to foster a culture that values diversity, equity and inclusion while recognizing the importance of investing in employee talent. 

We see a lot of fantastic candidates applying for roles at Assurant. Here’s a few tips for making yourself stand out in your job search or networking endeavors:

In your settings, turn your profile on to public

• Friends, current or past colleagues, recruiters or industry networking opportunities won’t be able to find you if your profile visibility is limited.

Connect with people who send you an invitation

• Try connecting with like-minded and skilled individuals to expand your industry impact and potentially advance your career. 
• Once connected to people, try to make a point to engage with them and their content. Make comments on relevant stories. Answer any messages. The possibilities for engagement and networking are out there and can work to your benefit.

Add substance to your profile with specific details 

• Update your profile with a picture of yourself so people can recognize you. 
• Choose a memorable background photo that features your interests or expertise. It helps to tell a visual story about who you are.
• Craft a standout LinkedIn headline. Having a headline on your profile is key to making a positive impression and concisely explaining what you bring to the table.
• Tell your story in the summary section. Some people may simply use it to list their recent job titles or most valuable skills, but this section also has the potential to help you provide unique information about who you are and can differentiate you from the competition. 

Edit your profile regularly 

• Did you move recently? Update your location so that recruiters know where you’re located.
• Try to regularly update your other content, such as adding new skills or projects you completed recently. This shows to recruiters that you’re committed to growing and learning, which is always an attractive quality.

Ask your colleagues for recommendations on your skills. This is a great way to boost your profile to the people looking to connect with you while adding credibility to you as a professional and a teammate.  

I am reminded of a time when we hired an employee who I connected with on LinkedIn a while back. Although it didn’t work out for that specific position I was looking to fill, he reached out when he saw that I had posted a new role on my LinkedIn that very much aligned with his background. So, you see, building your profile and expanding your network can lead to new, boundless opportunities.

It’s estimated that roughly 80% of the jobs filled are through personal and professional connections. As our “new normal” has moved to a more virtual work environment, forging those connections through social networking has become even more critical, so let’s start building our connections!  

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