Will LinkedIn replace CVs?
For the foreseeable future – we don’t think so. Why not?
There’s no doubt that CV writing has come a long way, with a shift from paper to digital, and a trend towards fewer total pages. Many people now pay good money for an artful and on-point scribe to polish up their credentials in search of new opportunities. Twitter is awash with so-called experts in this space. Whereas CVs and resumes should really provide a fuller record of your work history, achievements, and the learning and development that has paced the path of your success, LinkedIn provides a good showcase of what you most want people to know about you. It provides a good hook, so to speak, to be backed up by the considered detail of a CV.
The fact that a CV is likely to stick around at least for the foreseeable future should not deter you from putting as much effort, if not more, into your online presence. One of the first ways to ‘show up’ is through having a well-completed LinkedIn profile. Recruiters and future employers stand a chance of finding you, and you get to influence those all-important first impressions they form – it could be the difference between a selection in or out.
Here are five tips for polishing up your LinkedIn profile.
- Personalise your URL. Many profiles have a string of numbers after their name. You can and should take as many of the additional characters as possible off your URL so that you return higher in search. Click onto your profile and on the right-hand side “Edit public profile & URL”, and then “Edit your custom URL”.
- Add a professional, friendly, approachable profile photo, preferably of just you (not your friends, partner, or pet). You should update your photo every two years or so. This is especially important if you have a ‘common’ name, as in, many people have the same name as you!
- Consider a benefits statement plus a few keywords in your “Headline”. This is the descriptor that appears just below your name. Why? It makes your profile immediately more engaging and helps get you noticed. If you do not add your own statement, LinkedIn automatically takes your current job title. And that, quite frankly, can be a little boring!
- Keep your recommendations up to date. The advantage of having recommendations on your profile is that we are able to access the contents as well as the person recommending – providing a richer set of information about you and your network.
- Clear out skills that are not relevant. Most profiles have far too many skills and this leads to a natural dilution of endorsements. You should have fewer skills in less relevant areas, to get recognised in your core areas of focus.
- Engage: through liking, sharing and commenting on posts. This raises visibility in your network and helps to build a footprint of your professional interests and values over time.
Will the CV ever replace LinkedIn? Not likely, but we suggest that you focus on putting your best foot forward through both LinkedIn and CV!
Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roundrecruitment
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoundRec
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/roundrecruitment/
Until next time,
The Round team.