What recruiters look for on your LinkedIn profile

Even if LinkedIn isn't directly helpful for finding a career opportunity, recruiters and interviewers still look through an applicant's profile before an interview or while reviewing his or her resume. Here are a few things which recruiters look for on your profile: 1) A complete profile (an incomplete profile doesn't tell the whole story). 2) A professional profile picture (selfies don't count). 3) A decent sized network (around 300 is a solid number). 4) Consistent information between your resume and profile. 5) A concise summary of your intentions. 6) Your professional headline (should include your title and job function). 7) Clear language for your job title. 8) Professionalism in what you post, like, and comment on. 9) Valuable recommendations. 10) Letting recruiters privately know you're looking for jobs.

All of these points are very helpful. Most people I know aren't active on LinkedIn when it comes to sharing and posting content. Are there any other things which recruiters look for on your profile? How do you maintain your professional appearance?

21 Comments
 

I am unsure what industry this applies to, but every recruiter who's ever reached out to me through LinkedIn didn't care about any of those, just about industry and employer. The rest they'll usually gather on the phone.

I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing. See my Blog & AMA
 
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Every recruiter that has ever reached out to me on linkedin has completely ignored the fact that I am obviously a RE guy (Degree, extra curriculars, work history). And has tried to get me some shitty sales job because they see that my job is 'investment sales,' and automatically assume that I would like to leave CRE to become some "VP of Regional Account Management Executive' in a "growing industry" with "unlimited income potential, possibly even in the six figures."

However I do think having a well maintained profile is important and it's obviously giving me some kind of presence. Does having a larger network help? I've never had more than 150 people or so.

 

I just filled out an online application yesterday and they asked for a link to my LinkedIn profile. First time I've had to do that, but it forced me to update a few things I hadn't gotten around to on my profile to match my resume.

 

Things to remember before creating your LinkedIn profile, these points recruiters look: 1. Are You Smiling In Your Photo? 2. Write a Meaningful Headline 3. Treat Your Career History Like a Resume, Sort Of 4. Who Are Your Connections? 5. Keep Your Education Up to Date

 

As Sil mentioned ,make sure to do your research on headhunters

Recruitment is very cut throat and bad recruiters see candidates as nothing more than inventory. I would suggest doing some research on notable recruitment firms and proactively reaching out or connecting with them on Linkedin.

To answer your question, recruiters certainly look at linkedin and it's important you have a passable profile. As a part of my job I see hundreds of bankers Linkedin profiles. The best ones have a brief summary of their competencies and list off notable announced transactions.

 
"Sil"

Headhunters reach out to you based on the bank that you work at, not what's on your LinkedIn. The headhunters pouring over LinkedIn profiles are the ones you want to avoid.

To be honest, there's no need to avoid any headhunter (at least in Europe). Personal experience suggests that sometimes even the seemingly dodgy headhunters have an ultra exciting opportunity or two from time to time.

 

At the bare minimum include your broom closet internship in middle school. Headhunters usually prefer to see fetuses with front office experience.

I think- therefore I fuck
 

I thought it was common knowledge that LinkedIn is mainly used as a tool to show off to eager freshmen and sophomores at the college you went to.

 

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