Recent figures show that over 44 million people in the UK use LinkedIn – millions of whom are senior-level professionals.
When used effectively, LinkedIn helps you build an engaged professional network, your personal brand, and your reputation as a thought leader.
However, the majority of people don’t utilise the platform until they are actively searching for a job.
If you wait until you’ve been made redundant or are looking for a new job before using LinkedIn, you could be missing out on valuable opportunities.
Here are some of the reasons you should build a LinkedIn presence before job hunting.
Make a great first impression
Whether you are actively job hunting or not, your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression you make on other professionals online.
Making sure your profile is consistently up-to-date ensures that, when the time comes to find a new role, recruiters, headhunters, and employers can see an accurate summary of what you bring to the table.
Tip: Set regular calendar tasks to review your headline, summary, and experience sections. Make sure these sections emphasise your value as an employee, your current goals, and recent achievements.
For more advice on how to optimise your LinkedIn profile, check out this blog post.
Nurture your network as you go
Strong professional networks aren’t built overnight.
It takes time to create meaningful relationships. If you work on establishing a network over time, it will be there when you need it most.
If you are made redundant or decide it’s time for a new challenge, proactively nurturing your LinkedIn network means you will have cultivated connections with people in your industry who can offer advice or recommend you for new opportunities.
Tip: Make LinkedIn a part of your daily routine and ensure every interaction you have on the platform is intentional.
For example:
- Share relevant industry-specific news and add your insights based on your experience.
- Comment on relevant posts with a thoughtful question.
- Congratulate connections on their achievements.
- Send personalised messages to your connections to build rapport.
Build your personal brand
At this stage in your career, a strong personal brand is key – and LinkedIn is one of the most effective platforms for showcasing your hard-earned experience and expertise.
The most effective way to build your personal brand is by sharing consistent and relevant content that will build your authority and credibility to your network.
Research shows that people with strong personal brands are 12 times more likely to get referred for new roles and opportunities.
Therefore, spending months – or even years – building your personal brand can pave the way for incredible opportunities when you are seeking a new role.
Tip: Posting once or twice a week can build brand awareness without overwhelming your schedule.
The content you post could include:
- Sharing key lessons you’ve learned from your leadership experience.
- Celebrating team wins and new projects you’re a part of.
- Talking about industry trends and providing insights based on your personal experience.
- Creating articles, videos, and posts about your area of expertise.
Be top-of-mind for opportunities
Many executive-level positions are not listed on public job postings. These roles are often filled through referrals and introductions.
Building connections with industry-specific recruiters or headhunters – whether you’re in the market for a new role or not – can be invaluable. Even if they get in touch with a position you’re not interested in, respond and be clear about what you’re looking for so they keep you in mind for future opportunities.
By connecting with the right people and maintaining a consistent presence on LinkedIn, you’ll be the first person that comes to mind when a relevant opportunity comes up.
Optimise your visibility
There are certain tweaks you can make to your profile to boost your discoverability on LinkedIn, whether you want to get noticed by potential employers, clients, or collaborators.
It doesn’t signal that you’re actively looking for opportunities like the ‘Open To Work’ feature does, but simply enhances your personal brand and builds credibility within your network.
Some of the small changes you can make to your profile are:
- Adding relevant keywords to your Headline and About section.
- Updating your skills section.
- Requesting recommendations from connections you’ve worked with.
- Highlighting quantifiable achievements.
- Choosing a professional, high-quality profile picture.
Tip: Create a branded banner image and write a compelling ‘About’ section that highlights your biggest achievements and contributions in previous roles.
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Don’t put off maintaining your LinkedIn presence until you really need it. Start building your network now to feel the long-term benefits the platform has to offer!
Put the same care and investment into your profile now that you would in a CV and cover letter when applying for a job.
At The CV Guru, we help professionals create standout LinkedIn profiles aligned with their experience and goals. Find out more about our LinkedIn Services or browse our CV, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Profile bundles here.