As of June 2017, professional networking site LinkedIn has more than 500 million members across 200 countries around the world. With such a large pool of professionals available, there’s a good chance your next boss could be one of them. According to a 2015 social recruitment survey from Jobvite , a massive 96 per cent of recruiters utilise social media during the recruitment process, with 87 per cent of them focussing on LinkedIn to look for candidates.

It’s evident that a LinkedIn profile is now an essential tool for your job search that allows you to tap into online opportunities. But how do you make sure your profile is going to grab the attention of employers? Here are our tips to create a dazzling LinkedIn profile:

1. Get it all filled out

Don’t leave the job half done – in order to get the most our of your LinkedIn profile, it’s important that you complete all sections thoroughly. This includes filling out the personal summary, describing your achievements and including a professional-looking photo of yourself. Doing so will emphasise your experience and well-roundedness, and help you to highlight your many employable qualities.

“If you maximise your LinkedIn profile, you may not be looking for your next job.” said management author Suzy Welch to CNBC. “It could come find you.”

2. Cultivate your connections

One of the central features of LinkedIn is the ability to develop an online professional network. LinkedIn’s Job Search Guide reveals that 89 per cent of candidates leverage their connections during their job search. A carefully chosen network gives you a better chance of being hired from within your contacts, and also increases the likelihood of getting the attention of employers with mutual connections. If you’re looking to grow your network, it’s important to branch outside of your immediate friend group – University Alumni and past work colleagues are a great place to start. Don’t forget to ask for endorsements!

3. Make it searchable

Lastly, Google is king in the age of the internet, and you can increase your chances of being found by recruiters through optimising your LinkedIn profile for search. Forbes recommends plugging in the keywords you want to be recognised for throughout your profile, particularly in your headline and summary.

With your LinkedIn profile in good order, you’re ready to take on your job search and make a splash in social recruitment world.

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