In the modern world, social media plays an increasingly vital role, regardless of what field you are in.
But whilst Twitter and Facebook have their place, the one form of media which really stands out for professionals is LinkedIn.
If you have never used LinkedIn or perhaps aren’t quite sure how to manage it, here’s some information which should help you use it more effectively.
Social networking brings typing your CV and recruitment bang up to date
The basics
Unlike other forms of social media, LinkedIn is specifically designed for professionals looking to enhance their career.
Suitable for every different industry, the individual simply posts a profile and then links to contacts they know who also have a LinkedIn presence. The whole concept is a kind of virtual networking and allows you to broadcast your skills and experience as well as be found much more easily.
However, as well as waiting to be discovered you can also use LinkedIn to conduct your own job searches as it has an integrated and intuitive tool designed for this use.
You can put as much or as little information about yourself on LinkedIn as you want but in order to have a successful profile, you will want to ensure that there are enough details to keep people interested. It also needs to be kept up to date; having an old profile can be more off-putting to potential employers than not having one at all!
What to include
When faced with the task of an empty page, you might be a bit stuck for ideas about how to get started and what to include.
Starting with the obvious: your photo. You might prefer normally to leave the photo section blank but when it comes to job searches of this kind, it’s really important. Pick a simple head and shoulders shot that makes you look professional – you might think you look better on a snap taken on a night out but that won’t convey the right image!
Having a picture will not only make your profile appear more complete to recruiters, it could also help with individuals who are trying to find you but aren’t 100% sure of your name. Perhaps you attended a seminar and impressed some-one? Or maybe a recruiter saw you at work and only caught your first name? Having your photo on their makes it easier for you to be linked with and identified.
When it comes to the actual content, treat it like a CV; add all the relevant information about your experience, qualifications and knowledge.
One thing to bear in mind is that recruiters often search for keywords so making sure any that are relevant are incorporated into your profile naturally will help boost your chances of being found. Therefore, if you are a cardiac physiologist make sure both words appear in your text along with any other phrases you know would be important. If you have had particular training, such as attending Venepuncture or CPET courses, including these keywords could help show where your expertise lies.
You can also get recommendations added from individuals you have worked for in the past, an addition really worth considering as it’s almost like an up-front reference for potential employers!
Make sure your LinkedIn profile covers the whole range of your skills and expertise
Create your brand
Whatever your field of expertise, creating your brand is an essential part of maximising the potential of LinkedIn.
In practice, this means that all information should be professional and relevant and consistent with the image you want to project.
Having a heading is a way for some-one to find out what you are all about without having to trawl through your whole profile; keeping it punchy, succinct and attention-grabbing will improve your chances of success.
You should also consider claiming your unique LinkedIn URL; this can be achieved by simply making your profile public. The benefit is that when your name is typed into a search engine, your LinkedIn profile will appear high on the list – exactly how you want to be found.
Finally, as well as the recommendations mentioned earlier, having some badges on your profile can help show you take an interest in the industry. You won’t want to go wild and cover your page but a few well-chosen professional links can enhance your credibility.
Conclusion
LinkedIn is a great way of highlighting your skills as a physiologist and showing potential employers all of the expertise you have gained. A way for recruiters (such as Nuffield) to see at a glance just how much knowledge and experience you have, LinkedIn could create far more opportunities, particularly if you network with colleagues and fellow professionals that you know.
Social media is the way of the future so getting your LinkedIn profile up and running will make sure you aren’t getting left behind.
Image credits: Wikipedia 1 and 2
Categories: Health | Tags: how to, LinkedIn, manage, profile, Social Media | Permalink