When you apply for a role, most hirers will have just a few minutes to review your application. That means providing clear, concise information on you is key to standing out in those few minutes.
This, my friends is where a professional profile can help. While your resume and covering letter are the building blocks of a strong job application, a profile will give employers an overview of your skills and experience briefly, helping to capture their attention. A professional profile can be placed strategically at the beginning of your resume (a good idea if you’re unable to load a covering letter) you should also have it set up on LinkedIn and Seek (both platforms will guide you with layouts etc).
It means employers can get in touch with you about a great job opportunity, it’s also an opportunity for you to showcase yourself, what you’re looking for in an employer, what you can deliver, how you operate, while you’re also provided with job recommendations based on the information you provide.
More control over your job search- reading through hundreds of job ads and applying for each one can be time consuming but having a professional profile can take away a lot of this work. You can literally flick a switch on LinkedIn and Seek to have the recruiter or employer contact you, as well as be notified of jobs that meet your saved criteria.
A professional profile helps you find roles that align with what you’re looking for as you can choose when to be visible to companies. It puts you in the driver’s seat where before it used to be the employer.
Make a great first impression, quickly- yes, it is true 2 minutes or less is all it takes to review a CV and decide whether to progress you or not, it is like anything that you do repeatedly you get good and fast at doing it, not to be confused with lack of care and attentiveness. That means you need to quickly make a great first impression.
Giving employers a summary of your skills and experience is key to standing out, and that is exactly what a professional profile does. A profile could be the ticket to landing that next great opportunity, but not if you’re lacking the essential information potential employers are looking for. Just like your CV you need to keep it updated, even if you’re not actively seeking work.
Arm yourself with relevant market insights- your profile not only helps you stand out to hirers, but also helps you to keep informed about the job market and your industry. The more up to date the information you provide, the better your search experience will be as you’ll be served more relevant job opportunities that compliment your needs, experience, and interests. Additionally, the information you provide in your profile will help ensure you’re served relevant information about employment and salary trends in your industry.
Boost your chances of getting head hunted- being head hunted is much easier than job hunting. It is becoming more common lately as well with job seekers in short supply and recruiters increasingly searching for the people they need online. Even if you’re not actively looking for a job, there may be a great opportunity out there that you don’t know about. Having a professional profile means you won’t miss out on seeing these.
Build your personal brand- your profile can also be an extension of your professional brand acting like your own online marketing tool that works 24/7. In fact, 39% of job seekers agree that a professional profile allows them to add their personality in to make their application stand out.
Getting started- It is a great way to make yourself relevant and appealing to potential employers, and edge you closer to your next job. It can be your best asset in keeping your career options open.