How important is your LinkedIn Profile?

LinkedIn has been seen as a resource to network with individuals and to connect with professionals in your field. In today's market, LinkedIn has proven to be just as important or even more important than your Resume. According to Capterra, 89% of Recruiters have reported hiring a candidate through LinkedIn. I always emphasize to my clients the importance of having your LinkedIn and Resume up to date and I help them have the most appealing profile.

So why is it important to have your LinkedIn updated? The answer to the question is twofold. The first reason is that your LinkedIn profile serves as a Digital Resume to Recruiters when searching for candidates. Even when you are not actively applying for roles, Recruiters are constantly looking on LinkedIn for potential candidates in your field! Recruiters are always hedging for future openings and building a pipeline of candidates for potential roles that are in budget. So even though there might not be an official opening on their career site, this does not mean they are not sourcing for future job posts. Furthermore, when searching for candidates on LinkedIn, Recruiters are using Boolean/keyword searches when searching for key skills/requirements. Rule of thumb is that if you are putting your skill sets on your resume, you should also list them on your LinkedIn so that your profile will appear when Recruiters are on the search.

Secondly, Recruiters will look at your LinkedIn even after you applied for their role. Recruiters are doing this to reaffirm the information you put on your Resume and to validate that both are consistent. If a position appears only on your resume but not on your LinkedIn, to some Recruiters/Hiring Managers that could raise a red flag.

In conclusion, it is important to have your LinkedIn profile updated with the same job history and skill sets you have on your Resume. You never know when Recruiters/Hiring Managers are checking you out for your next potential opportunity!