When it comes to professional networking, LinkedIn is still supreme. With an estimated 500 million users, it’s almost a must for people in any industry.
Whether you’re in your first job or approaching retirement, it’s important to keep a presence on the site; not only does it give prospective employers a chance to see more about you, but it allows connections from previous jobs and experiences to stay in touch.
Of course, simply having a profile isn’t enough. If you want to bolster your chances of being noticed, make sure you’re doing more than just the status quo. Invest the time and effort to create a profile that not only reflects who you are and what you’ve done, but where you want to go. And make sure to check out sites like Comparably to help you figure out how much you can earn and what company culture is like at your dream gig.
Here are some secrets of the best LinkedIn users right now.
1. They never use the default “I want to connect” message.
When you connect with someone on LinkedIn, you’re given the option of writing your own message or using the default. Always write your own message. The person you’re connecting with, especially if he or she is someone you’ve never met in person or met a long while back, will want some kind of clue as to why you’re looking to connect. Write something short but thoughtful.
2. They use a hi-res professional photo.
One of the first things someone sees when they go to your profile is your photo. Make it count: have a professional photo taken if you don’t have one already. It needs to be high resolution or else it will appear grainy, which conveys a lack of tech savviness on your part. Make sure any photo you use is current and somewhat formal; a photo of you at a beach barbeque five years ago is probably not going to cut it.
3. They create a tagline that goes beyond “I’m looking for new opportunities.”
Your tagline should be something that reels people in. If you’re an engineer with special certification in something, find a way to include it. If you’re a former employee of a well-known company, think about including that as well. Most importantly, make your tagline something that reflects who you are (instead of “social media professional” maybe “connector of people.” Try to stay away from taglines that make you seem needy, like “I’m looking for new opportunities.”
Related: How to Tell if Your New Employer Has Good Company Culture
4. They respond in a timely matter and move the conversation offline efficiently.
If you are corresponding with people through LinkedIn, be sure to answer that person’s reply within a few days of their message. This can be challenging for people who don’t use LinkedIn every day. For that reason, consider taking the message offline very quickly. Ask the person if they’d prefer to carry on through email and ask for their email address.
5. They engage with their connections.
It may look good to have 500+ connections, but if you don’t ever engage with them, what’s the point? Consider recommending someone’s skills or wishing someone a congratulations for their work anniversary. For people who you know particularly well and worked with directly, consider writing a full testimonial that reflects the work you did together and specific examples of how their performance stood out. Employers are always interested in seeing not only how you tend to perform, but who from your network is going out of their way to recommend you.
