At Recruitment Avenue we search for the best of the best to join our candidate list. We spend a lot of time looking for suitable people for the jobs we advertise. One of the places we look is of course LinkedIn, and we have found some amazing people there. But it is a time consuming task and we also come across some less than suitable candidates and so we have developed a sixth sense. No we don’t see dead people, but we do get a feel for who are the best and the people we want.
The headline is the first thing we see when we are looking for people, and a headline can make all the difference. We get a feel for what we are want. Also your headline determines your place in the search results. So you can see it’s an important part of your LinkedIn profile to get right.
To help those that get missed because their headline lets them down, here are some tips on what NOT to do. By avoiding the below, you can develop a profile that gets the attention you deserve from us recruiters.
1. Forget to include the important keywords relevant to your career
The profile headline is a place to include relevant keywords. LinkedIn uses these key words when recruiters search to see if you are what we are looking for. You need to reference the skills you have and your work experience. If you are not sure what skills you should add to your headline, do a search for other professionals and see what keywords are being used.
Don’t use generic keywords such as “College Grad” or “Unemployed” – They don’t tell me as a recruiter what skills and experience you have. Instead use keywords like “Social Media Manager” or “GDS Specialist”. If that’s what I am looking for, you have my attention already.
2. Include annoying buzzwords
“I’m a Creative and Driven Individual with an Innovative mind” – Well that sounds great. But I don’t know what you do, what you want or any of your skills. As a recruiter, I see these buzz words all over CV’s and profiles. They don’t tell me what I need to know, and it creates more work for me.
One thing you should know, EVERYONE is creative and driven if you believe what you read on CV’s and profiles. By using these words you become a generic clone of everyone else. If you want to stand out, then drop the Buzz words.
A clever way to stand out is to showcase skills you have and past experience.
3. Include your skills with Microsoft Office
So its 2014 and every man and his dog knows how to work email and Microsoft Office if they work in an office environment. Your headline is not the place to advertise how efficient you are at Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
Take it from a recruiter, we take it as read that you have these skills. So tell us about skills you have that we don’t know. For example, if you use any industry standard systems that are unique to your sector, then we want to know about it. These set you apart from the rest.
4. Lie or overstate seniority
It’s tempting to misrepresent yourself on your profile. This can lead to disaster. Everything put on your profile needs to be accurate and not fabricated. You may be asked to prove something you have told them when it comes to the interview. If you say you have experience in something you don’t, then when asked a question only someone with experience would know, you will be come unstuck and tossed out.
Keep it honest, and request recommendations if possible to validate your skills or experience.
5. Give no reason to employ you
A potential employer or a recruiter wants to see why they should hire you or send you for an interview. Give them that reason. Qualifications are great, and you need them for some jobs. However it is just as important that you will succeed in the role and in the company. I always look out for statements of success in a headline. “Generated £xx Sales In My First Year At XXX” gets my attention faster than “I Have A Diploma In Business”.
So sell me your success in your headline rather than your qualifications. If you are advertising yourself for a job that requires certain qualifications, then you more than likely have them.
Your LinkedIn profile headline might seem unimportant but it’s actually one of the most important parts. It’s how you get seen and pull the attention of a recruiter. If I don’t like your headline and skip past you, then all the qualifications and experience in the world will not get you the job I have to offer.
So remember to sell your experience and any skills that put you above the rest.