When You Should Update Your LinkedIn Profile (And Tips on How) - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

When You Should Update Your LinkedIn Profile (And Tips on How) - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. Having an updated online presence in todays society is crucial, especially for your LinkedIn profile. Regardless of whether you are looking for a job, getting a promotion or are happy and content where youre at, having an updated profile is beneficial. But when should you update your Linkedin profile, and what should you update if you do? Check it out below. When When You Start a New Job Starting a new job is one of the best times to update your LinkedIn profile. Your position is fresh, you understand some of your responsibilities that you’re expected of and what your role is. While Working Long-Term at A Position Once you’ve established your position at your current company, it’s worth noting on your profile. What has changed? Can you add any new responsibilities you have taken on? Any certifications you may have gotten? Projects you have been a part of or completed? This is the perfect time to bulk up your job experience while youre in the thick of things. When You Get A Promotion Expanding off the previous point, getting a promotion is another great time to update your LinkedIn profile. Elaborate on your new role and any new responsibilities it may hold. You can even turn on your notification bell so your connections are notified of your promotion. When You’re Looking for a New Job Having an updated LinkedIn profile when you’re actively searching for a new position is going to be crucial in assisting your search. Aside from reviewing your resume, companies are more than likely going to look you up on LinkedIn. And if your LinkedIn is not filled out or up to date, an employer is going to have a tough time deciding whether you would be a good asset to their team. So take advantage of this added platform. How Revive and Join Groups Utilizing groups in LinkedIn can be totally overlooked. People tend to focus their attention on their own profiles and dont utilize the entire platform for all it has to offer: networking being one of them. Go through your groups (if you are a part of any) and check to see if they are still relevant to you. Remove any that may not be useful anymore and focus on two to three groups that youre excited about. If there aren’t any, that’s ok! Search current groups, and join a few that pique your interest. Once you have those, pop into them, check out the feed and interact when you can. Having a presence with other professionals in these groups can be the exact type of connection you may need down the road. Filter Through Sections Sift through the skills, certifications and endorsements section on your profile. Are the things that are listed accurately representing you right now? Chances are there are some listed that are “fluff” or irrelevant, and now would be a great time to do some spring cleaning and remove them. People don’t know how current things are â€" they just see that they’re listed and associate you with them. Remove skills or endorsements that don’t necessarily pertain to you and add in things that are more relative. Take Inventory of Your Profile Photo Chances are when you made your LinkedIn you selected the best current photo of yourself that you had. Therefore it’s time to take inventory and see how well it represents you. Is it a clear, bright photo? Do you look proud, confident, or only other great qualities that an employer would want in an employee? If not, it’s time to swap it out for a new one. That is the first thing they see when they go to your profile, so you want to accurately represent yourself. Connect with Your Current Team One of the first and more obvious things you should do when getting a new position is connecting with your current coworkers. Take advantage and connect with people you work with! Optimize Your Profile Search When employers or recruiters are performing searches, theyll generally type in keywords or terms to populate their search. So, ensure that you have certain keywords that relate to you and your experience. For example, if you are in marketing, make sure the term “Marketing” is included. Also, include your location for easier search, and that your contact information is up to date. These may seem minuscule, but all together they make up a strong, searchable profile and will help you pop up in searches. How do you ensure you have a solid LinkedIn profile? Comment below!